182 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



" traders," whose bargains are as sharp as their wits. But this 

 is not the case, and he loses on both sides — loses a part of the true 

 value of his own products, and often loses by paying too much 

 for that which he purchases, beside the cost of transportation. 



As a general thing, where the cultivation is skilfully con- 

 ducted, tlie wheat crop is as certain as the corn or rye crop, and 

 many instances are recorded where thirty bushels to the acre 

 have been attained. In order to accomplish this, it should be 

 put upon rather stiff land — that is, land of granite formation, 

 or of a clayey texture — aijd that was liberally manured the pre- 

 vious year for some other crop. The second thing of impor- 

 tance is, to get the seed in early, whether it be of the winter or 

 spring variety. If winter wheat is sown as early as the last of 

 August or first of September, it will root so deep before the 

 ground is frozen as to resist the changes of temperature that 

 follow, and sustain itself against the etfects of heaving soil 

 occasioned by the frost. If in late autumn the crop is found too 

 luxuriant, it may be partly fed off by sheep or cattle, so that no 

 danger will follow from heating and mould. In this way the 

 crop will generally come forward the following season so early 

 as to escape some of the insects that prey upon it, and produce 

 results as profitable as are realized from most of the bulky farm 

 crops. Excellent flouring mills may be found in various parts 

 of the county, where our own wheat can be manufactured into 

 sweet and nutritious flour that ought to satisfy the most exacting. 



Some of the various kinds of barley produce abundantly, and 

 make a most valuable feed for fattening swine, for poultry, and 

 for the breakfast table when presented in the form of hot cakes. 

 It is believed that this crop docs not receive the attention that its 

 merits demand. Tlie warm, quick portions of our farms that 

 incline to gravel, offer the very soil the plant requires, and on 

 such almost fabulous crops have been realized. One of your 

 committee has raised sixty bushels per acre. 



Tiic rye crop is too universal to need much comment ; but 

 your committee are inclined to express the opinion that but 

 little profit is gained from its culture in this county. A broad 

 extent of land has been devoted to it from time immemorial, 

 until barrenness is its prevailing feature. If one-half of this 

 were left to grow up to wood, and the other generously stimu- 

 lated by manures, the account would show a favorable result. 



