WORCESTER SOCIETY. 201 



PER CONTRA CREDIT. 



1850.— Nov. By 5,853 pounds from 1st quarter, - $29 26 



" 5,936 " " 2d " - 29 68 



" 5,856 " " 3d '' - 29 03 



" Tops, 3 00 



$90 97 



The great cost of this crop, the committee will perceive, is 

 for weeding, being nearly one half of the whole expense. This 

 is to be accounted for, first, that this was literally a season of 

 weeds, and second, that the land was, in parts of it, almost 

 matted with couch grass. Were I to give the crop credit for 

 the value added to the land, by the removal of this pest, (which 

 I might well do,) its worth would be still more apparent. 



I have credited the crop with three dollars, the supposed val- 

 ue of the tops. This sum was fixed upon, because that was 

 the amount offered for them, to be used in the manufacture of 

 woad. Their actual value to me was much greater ; how 

 much, the committee may judge from the fact that, for eleven 

 days, they constituted the principal food of a stock of five cows 

 and six young cattle. 



It will be seen, also, that I have deviated from the hitherto 

 general custom of crediting " one third^^ of manure for the next 

 crop. This has been omitted, since I think it questionable 

 whether, if in a succession of years this practice was followed, 

 the land would not be gradually but surely impoverished. I 

 have not yet noticed the instance of the next crop being 

 charged with one third surplus of the preceding year's ma- 

 nuring. 



In regard to the crop, the committee will see that it is a light 

 one. This was, perhaps, occasioned in part by the slight 

 amount of manure furnished for its support ; but in part it is 

 chargeable to the blight which appeared generally over the 

 field, early in August, causing an almost total loss of the leaves, 

 and, for a time, suspending the growth of the root. For this 

 disease I know neither cause nor remedy. 



Worcester, Nov. 18, 1850. 

 26 



