FARM IMPROVEMENTS. 



61 



adjoining this piece, which was treated in the same manner, 

 and the yield was 2,082 pounds per acre, and of fine quality 

 and color. In 1873, 1 had 10^ acres of tobacco, adding 5^ acres 

 to former piece, treated in the same manner, and the average 

 yield was 2,160 pounds. This year I added to the tobacco-field 

 the piece of 4^ acres, and the whole crop was very even, 

 good growth and fine quality. Mr. E. Albro, who raised the 

 tobacco upon shares, in 1873, and also this year, thinks the 

 1874 crop will not be less than 5 per cent, better than last 

 year. The clay I hauled an average distance of 73 rods. 



EXPENSES. 



Ploughing land in fall of 1871, per acre, . 



To 52| cords clay, per acre, teams, men and tools, 

 $1.28 per cord, .... 

 spreading, man and team, to the acre, 

 rolling with large roller, . 

 harrowing with Shares' harrow, per acre, 

 rolling, at the rate of 200 acres per day, 

 harrowing with fine harrow, 

 bushing, at the rate of 2 acres per day, 



Whole expense of clay and preparing the land for 

 the crop, ..... 



$3 00 



$84 20 



The lands which I have prepared in this way are retentive 

 of moisture, and produce as heavy crops as any land upon a 

 river-bottom. 



William Mattoon. 



Statement of B. B. Loomis. 

 Pastures. — This piece of three acres of bush pasture-land, 

 three years ago last spring, was a stony, rocky bush-pasture ; 

 the brush, white birch, alders, ivy, white bush, laurel, soft 

 maple sprouts, white and yellow pines, and finally, all sorts of 

 brush growing upon it — a complete thick mat of brush, and so 

 thick that I could generally not find my cattle without looking 

 some time for them. I put the fence back, so as to have the 

 piece inclosed with my meadow-lot, and commenced in June, 

 with two heavy pairs of oxen and with left-hand or side-hill 

 plough with coulter. It being on a side-hill, it took myself and 



