196 MASSACHCrSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



There is no doubt that ruta-bagas are easily cultivated, on 

 light, warm land ; and I am satisfied from experience that they 

 are the most useful root the farmer can raise for store and 

 fattening cattle. 



Salem, November 15, 1862. 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



Statement of J. E. Wight. 



Turnips. — My turnips grew on 120 rods of ground, soil 

 heavy loam ; 76|^ rods of this piece have grown turnips three 

 years in succession. 1860, spread six loads sheep manure, 

 and set 1,000 Scotch turnip plants. 700 lived and I had 100 

 bushels ; the residue was sown to English turnips. 1861, applied 

 ten loads sheep manure, ploughed under, set 4,000 Scotch 

 turnips, and harvested 25,780 pounds, or 12 tons, 1,870 pounds 

 — about 26 tons per acre. 1862, June 7th, spread on fourteen 

 loads sheep manure, harrowed in, (this includes the 120 rods,) 

 and let it rest until the last of June, when I rolled and harrowed 

 thoroughly, made hills as for tobacco, and used phosphate in 

 the hill ; June 30th, (rainy day) transplanted from my garden 

 6,500 turnip plants, hills two feet apart in rows, rows about 

 three feet apart. About forty-eight rods of the ground grew 

 Indian corn last year, with a fair dressing of manure ; yield of 

 corn should think about forty bushels per acre ; yield of turnips 

 about the same on the two pieces. Hoed three times, harvested 

 the first day of November ; amount of turnips on one-fourth 

 of an acre, by actual weight, 13,970 pounds ; on 120 rods, 

 41,910 pounds, or a little over twenty-seven tons per acre. 



COST OF CROP. 



14 loads manure, $3 per load, (half expended,) 

 Ploughing, harrowing and fitting land, 

 Super-phosphate, ..... 



Setting plants and hoeing; .... 



Harvesting, 



Interest on land and taxes. 



Total, 



41,910 lbs., or 20 tons, 800 lbs. at $4 per ton, 

 I^'or use 120 rods of land, .... 

 IIati'ikld, November, 18G2. 



