194 WORCESTER SOCIETY. 



The crop of ruta bagas, grown by Benjamin N. Childs, as by 

 his statement, amounted to 240 bushels on one-quarter acre of 

 land. It is to be regretted that, as he had no competitor, he 

 should not have given the information desired by the society, 

 in a manner that would have been useful. But when he states, 

 in answer to the first question — what was the general state of 

 the land in 1848? — that it was medium; and to the second 

 question — manner of cultivation in 1848 ? — that it is the " usual 

 method ; he gives no information to any agriculturist, of the 

 manner by which he may obtain a similar crop. The " usual 

 method " of Mr. Childs may vary much from that of others, 

 and the public would wish to be definitely informed, what is 

 his " usual method," that they might have a guide for their 

 cultivation. If the committee might judge from the evidence 

 resulting from their personal examination of this crop, they 

 have reason to believe, that the " usual method " is a very good 

 one, but have no information of the details. They are dis- 

 posed, under the circumstances, to recommend that Mr. Childs 

 be given a copy of Coleman's European Agriculture, as a 

 gratuity for his crop of ruta bagas. 



JOHN W. LINCOLN, Chairman. 



Harvey Dodge's Statement. 



The land on which my half acre of carrots were raised the 

 present season, is naturally quite moist, with a clayey, compact 

 subsoil. The condition of the land in 1848 was good ; it was 

 in grass and had been for ten years. Twenty loads of good 

 stable manure were spread on the half acre the 24th of May, 

 and immediately ploughed under, eight inches deep ; twenty- 

 five bushels of spent ashes were spread on the furrow and har- 

 rowed in, and then planted with corn. The product was thirty 

 bushels. 



