the ^Agriculture of Massachusetts. 149 



extends his cultivation by hiring occasionally small lots in his neigh- 

 borhood, 



"The extent of his out-lots is not given; but it may be inferred 

 from the fact that for one of them he pays an annual rent of 35 dol- 

 lars; for the other piece 40 dollars. 



"The amount of sales from the whole three within the year thus 

 far, is ^3428 54. The amount of sales from his home lot of seven 

 acres is $p2675 54. The amount paid for labor on the whole up to 

 this date (27th Nov., 1841,) is $499 99, without including the ex- 

 pense of board of the men. This, I presume, does not embrace any 

 charge for his own labor and supervision and marketing. The bills 

 paid since the last spring for manure amount to $224 75; but he 

 thinks the whole used has amounted to twice that sum. 



"His i)articular aim is to raise fruit and vegetables for the market, 

 such as apples, peaches, strawberries, i-aspberries; and lettilce, rad- 

 ishes, spinach, and other greens, early cabbage, cucumbers, squashes, 

 melons of various kinds, cauliflower, brocoli, beets, carrots, turnips, 

 peas, beans, onions, &c., all of which are profitable crops, when he 

 is successful in growing them. 



"He plants little of corn and potatoes, as he thinks he can use the 

 ground to much better advantage. Some of his most productive crops 

 the present season have been fall-sowed onions, from a piece of land 

 S rods in width and 8 rods in length, which gave him 167 dollars. 

 Another profitable crop was saba, or, as they are sometimes called, 

 seve beans. There were 1248 hills, which, on the first picking, 

 yielded 38 dollars. The yield, according to the account kept, amount- 

 ed to 70 dollars, when, having lost his minutes, he was unable to 

 ascertain the entire amount. Of string beans he had the last season 

 two acres. From this lot it was not unusual to carry ten barrels in 

 a day to market. In two weeks he carried to market from this lot 

 172 bushels, the average price of which was 67 cents per bushel, or 

 $115 24. At the same time this ground was occupied with other 

 crops, such as melons, tomatoes, cauliflowers, cabbages, &c. As 

 soon as the beans had ceased to bear, the vines were immediately 

 removed, and the ground being well cultivated, there was ample 

 room and time for the other crops to grow. Many of his early veg- 

 etables are forwarded in hot-beds under glass. On most of the 

 ground which he cultivates, he gets from two to four crops. A crop 

 of radishes, lettuce, beans, and cucumbers may be had on the same 

 ground the same season; and to these a fifth crop, fall spinach, is 

 sometimes added. In the past season he says he has had crops, 

 which, by the old modes of husbandry, would have occupied ten 

 acres, growing upon four acres. 



"His practice is for the first crop to give such a dressing of manure 

 as will carry that and the succeeding crops well through without re- 

 newal. He never manures sparingly. 



"His onions are sowed in July or the first of August. They are 

 lightly covered with litter in the fall, and early in the spring are un- 

 covered and become soon fit for the market; and the crop is off" the 

 ground in season for its successor. 



"Mr. Pierce values very highly stable manure, and wishes to apply 

 it to his crops in its hottest state. It then forces vegetation most rap- 



