244 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



cial, yet it appears to me that if long or coarse manure is to be 

 used at all, it should be buried so deep that it may receive -that 

 cliemical action which is constantly going on in the soil in order 

 to reduce it to a condition that shall render it perfectly adapted 

 to the nourishment of the growing crop. 



Thus it seems we can make no rule for the application of 

 manure, which shall hold good in all cases. The true way will 

 be to follow the example of the painter, who " mixed brains 

 with his paints ; " we must mix brains with our manure. 



Jno. M. Smith. 



This Essay was followed by a" lengthy discussion, which con- 

 tinued till 1 o'clock, when it was laid on the table, and the 

 Board adjourned. 



FOURTH DAY. 



The Board met at 11 o'clock, A. M., Mr. Sewall, of Medfield, 

 in the chair. 



Mr. Hubbard submitted the following Report, upon 



THE HAY CROP. 



In calculating upon the agricultural interests of any section 

 of country, one of the first things to be considered is, what 

 crops are best suited to the soil, and at the same time what ones 

 will bring the greatest returns for the amount of capital and 

 labor expended. 



On the fertile prairies of the "West the farmer makes the 

 wheat or corn crop a specialty, because he finds the soil better 

 adapted to those than to any other crop he can cultivate. With 

 the Massachusetts farmer, generally, it is far different. There 

 are some sections, near our large cities, where the soil is easier 

 of cultivation, where it can be highly manured, and where veg- 

 etables can be easily and with small expense put into the 

 markets ; there the cultivator of the soil will find gardening far 

 more profitable than to give his attention to the raising of stock, 

 or to the cultivation of those crops that are needful for their 

 support. But with most farmers the grass crop is the important 

 one, and the one to which he must devote a good share of 

 attention if he would succeed in his business. 



