ROOT-CROPS. 81 



The two previous years, I used one-third part more manure, 

 • full .as much as I could well plough in, ploughing about 7 

 inches deep. ' This year, I ploughed about 4 or 5 inches 

 deep, and harrowed heavily with a heavy brush harrow, which 

 made the manure at once available, and for the whole season. 

 I got on one and a half pounds of seed more than I intended. 

 We thinned out enough to have made (we think) 50 bushels 

 — to the injury of the crop. They were not so good where 

 we thinned. 



The soil is not sandy, but rather a dark, dense, heavy 

 loam. 



The onions have all been sold to various parties, except 

 52 bushels in my cellar. The buyers consider the size and 

 quality unsurpassed. 



Statement of Samuel A. Merrill. 



Onions. — Statement concerning a crop of onions raised by 

 Samuel A. Merrill, in the town of Danvers, on the Burley 

 Farm. Measurement of land planted, 300 feet long by 70 

 feet wide. 



In 1872 and 1873 the land was planted with onions. The 

 manure used each of these years, as well as the past year, 

 was a compost of barn-yard manure, night-soil manure and 

 muck, in about equal parts, at the rate of 8 cords to the acre. 

 Soil is a yellowish loam, with clay pan. In preparing the 

 land, I did not plough it at all, but -pulverized it four inches 

 deep with the Nesmith cultivator — this process was used once 

 before spreading the manure ; and after the last cultivation, I 

 smoothed the land with a drag. Did not rake ground ; it con- 

 taining no stone. The cost of preparing the land, exclusive 

 of the manure, was $2.50. The value of the manure on the 

 land was $40. Planted upon the 30th of April, with the 

 Danvers sower. Used the Danvers Silverskin seed, one 

 and a half pounds, at $5 a pound. 



Cost of planting, $1 ; hoeing and weeding four times — 

 no thinning out was necessary — $12. Pulled the onions 

 September 28, and, after leaving them to dry on the ground 

 till October 13, carted them into the barn that day. 

 The cost of harvesting and topping amounts to $25. The 

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