118 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



GRAIN CROPS. 



ESSEX. 



Statement of Oliver P. Killam. 



The land upon which was grown tlie crop of corn which I 

 offer for premium, possesses a dark, gravelly, loamy soil ; and 

 in the years 1865 and 1866, English hay was raised upon the 

 same without the use of any manure. For a corn crop, the 

 ground was ploughed once eight inches deep, just before plant- 

 ing, and seventy-six loads of manure turned under. The 

 ground upon which the corn grew measures three and three- 

 fourths acres. The land was harrowed and fnrrowed, and 

 manured in the hill with twenty loads of compost. The cost of 

 ploughing was 122.50 ; of harrowing and furrowing, $10 ; and 

 the value of the manure — twenty-four cords — on the ground, 

 was $192. The field was planted from the 20th to the 30th of 

 May, three and one-half feet apart each way, with thirty-seven 

 and one-half quarts of yellow eight-rowed corn. The cost of 

 seed and planting was $25. The field was cultivated three 

 times each way, and hoed twice before haying, and the weeds 

 were also knocked out with hoes on the 10th of August. The 

 cost of cultivation, including weeding, thinning, and clearing 

 out weeds, was $30. The top stalks were cut off from the 16tli 

 to the 21st of September, and the corn was got in and husked 

 from the 20th of October to the 7th of November. The cost of 

 cutting and securing the stalks, was $15 ; of harvesting and 

 husking, $35. Amount of corn produced on three and three- 

 fourths acres, six hundred bushels in the ear. Estimated 

 amount of top stalks, forty tons ; valued at $60. Estimated 

 amount of butt stalks, eight tons ; valued at $64. 



Statement of Eugene W. Day. 

 The land upon which this crop of oats was raised, was for- 

 merly covered with a heavy growth of oak timber, and it was 

 next used thirty years as a pasture. Within a few years it has 

 been converted into a field. In 1865, it was planted with 

 corn and potatoes, the quantity of manure used being forty 



