230 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The committee will notice that I have not added interest of 

 land to the bills of expense, which is worth $300 per acre for 

 agricultural purposes, which would amount to $13.67. Against 

 this I put the tops, which are a valuable feed for stock, worth 

 $5, and the balance of interest I think the committee will agree 

 should go against the growth of fifty young apple trees of 

 three and seven years growth. 



The method of cultivating has been about the same the 

 present season, that I have recommended for the last ten years, 

 namely, deep and clean culture, and all the work to be done 

 while the sun shines. No weeding or hoeing should be permit- 

 ted in wet weather, or while the dew is on, as it always in- 

 creases weeds. A hand cultivator has been used by me for the 

 first time, this season, and with marked advantage ; I think it 

 saves twenty per cent, of all the labor. I take the present 

 opportunity to say that I have changed my mind in relation to 

 thinning the crop ; a few rows being left and not thinned out at 

 all, gave more weight than those thinned to stand two inches 

 apart. In regard to using leeched ashes for manure, I have 

 had but little experience until this year. Having used about 

 one thousand bushels on my root crop this year, I know 

 nothing of the effect they will have on the land in years to 

 come. The crop was much more free from weeds than in for- 

 mer years, when compost or stable manure was used, and the same 

 remarks can with safety be made in regard to grubs and worms, 

 which have of late years become very troublesome, owing, no 

 doubt, to the indulgence of farmers in permitting idle boys and 

 sometimes would-be men, to hunt and destroy a large share of the 

 feathered tribe, which a wise Providence evidently intended to 

 aid us in destroying worms and insects. Have we not a right, 

 as well as the mechanic, to write on our gate posts. No 

 admittance without a permit ? 



Sutton, November 8tli, 18o3. 



Mr. Jonathan Warren, of Grafton, entered half an acre, upon 

 which, it will be seen, he raised three hundred and sixty bush- 

 els of carrots. He produced a weigher's certificate, stating 

 that eighty bushels of them weighed 4,016 pounds. In that 

 proportion, if the eighty bushels which were weighed were an 



