62 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



hill, with one yoke of oxen ; ploughing and harrowing, one 

 man and one yoke of oxen one and a quarter days ; man and 

 horse four hours furrowing ; one man and a boy one and a half 

 days planting ; one man and a boy five hours cultivating ; hoe- 

 ing the first time, four days ; one man and a boy cultivating 

 the second time, four and a half hours ; hoeing the second 

 time, two days work ; cutting and binding stalks, about four 

 days work ; harvesting the same, about six days work. 



Nov. 12th, shelled two bushels of ears, and found the yield 

 to be one bushel and one peck. 



Byfield, Nov. 15, 1850. 



Root Crops. 



The committee have endeavored, so far as in their power, to 

 awaken attention to this subject, and to induce cultivators to 

 bring forward the results of their labors. In some instances 

 they have obtained these results, as a voluntary offering, in 

 others they have presumed to intrude, in the hope of digging 

 UP SOME ROOTS, worthy of preservation. They had hoped to 

 have obtained accounts of the culture of each of the crops of 

 this kind commonly cultivated in this vicinity, but in regard 

 to some they have been disappointed. To begin with that, 

 which has heretofore been noticed by them more distinctly 

 than any other — the onion — they have several statements, 

 drawn with much care, and which will be appended hereto, 

 condensing the facts necessary to guide in this cultivation. 

 The committee saw the crops mentioned in these statements, 

 in the field, as well as those of many other cultivators, and 

 have entire confidence that the facts stated in relation thereto, 

 are worthy of reliance. The onion crop in this vicinity was 

 never better than the present year — yielding from one and a half 

 to three hundred barrels per acre, of a value not less than one 

 dollar per barrel. When it is taken into view that the land, 

 labor, and expense of this cultivation can be fairly met for one 

 hundred dollars an acre, it must be apparent, that labor thus 

 applied is well rewarded. We are aware that some cultivators 



