36 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



William Pyncho7is Statement. 



Having entered my farm for premium, I respectfully submit 

 the following statement for the consideration of youi* commit- 

 tee : — 



My farm contains ninety acres, which are divided as follows : 

 The lot upon which my barn is built, contains fifty acres, and 

 with the exception of twelve acres, which I have purchased 

 the present season, enclosed with good post and rail and slab 

 fence, the latter along the public road. 



My principal crops are hay, corn, potatoes, tobacco, rye, and 

 oats, and these fifty acres are mostly appropriated to these 

 products in the following proportion : — about thirty acres in 

 grass, seven to eight acres in corn, two to three acres in 

 tobacco, and the balance in oats, potatoes, and other small 

 crops. My usual way of managing this land, is as follows : — 

 for my corn crop, I take that portion of my grass land which 

 has been the longest seeded down, and consequently the tightest 

 bound, and put on about ten cords of good manure per acre, 

 and cover it to the depth of ten inches. This produces from 

 seventy-five to eighty bushels per acre. For my tobacco crop, 

 I take a portion of the land that I planted in corn the year 

 before, and plough again to the depth of ten inches, and then 

 spread on from the cart a good coat of compost, which I make 

 with soil and yard manure, in the proportion of two parts of 

 the former to one of the latter. This I harrow in thoroughly, 

 and until the ground is very mellow. My tobacco land, pre- 

 pared in this way, produces two thousand pounds per acre, and 

 leaves the land in fine condition for restocking, which I do as 

 soon as the tobacco is off. I use no plough in this operation, 

 but give the land a good harrowing, and sow on the seed and 

 roll it in. I think this preferable to ploughing, having tried both 

 ways. The balance of my corn land I usually put in oats and 

 stock at the same time. My oats average about sixty bushels 

 per acre. My potato crop varies with the seasons. For my 

 rye, and other small crops, I select such portions of land as 

 need the plough and a little stimulus in the way of manure, 

 and restock as opportunity ofi'ers. I use compost on my grass 

 land, preferring the fall season for this purpose. After going 



