71 



The soil, not sandy, but rather a dark, dense, heavy loam. 

 My description of the soil may not he scientific. 



The onions have all been sold to various parties, except 52 

 bushels in my cellar. The buyers consider the size and qual- 

 ty unsurpassed. 



STATEMENT OF SAMUEL A. MERRILL. 



Essex Agricultural Society : 



Statement concerning a crop of onions raised by Samuel A. 

 Merrill, in the town of Danvers, on the Burley Farm. Meas- 

 urement of land planted, 300 feet long by 70 feet wide. 



In 1872 and 1873 the land was planted Avith onions. The 

 manure used each of these years, as well as the past year, 

 was a compost of barnyard manure, night-soil manure and 

 muck, in about equal parts, at the rate of 8 cords to the acre. 

 Soil is a yellowish loam, with clay pan. In preparing the 

 land I did not plough it at all, but pulverized it four inches 

 deep with Nesmith Cultivator — this process was used once be- 

 fore spreading the manure ; and after the last cultivation I 

 smoothed the land with a drag. Did not rake ground, it 

 containing no stone. The cost of preparing the land, ex- 

 clusive of the manure, was $2.50. The value of the manure 

 on the land was $40.00. Planted upon the 20th of April, 

 with the Dan\'ers Sower. Used the Danvers Silverskin seed, 

 one and a half pounds, at $5.00 a pound. 



Cost of planting, $1.00 ; hoeing and weeding four times — 

 no thinning out was necessary — $12.00. Pulled the onions 

 September 28th, and after leaving them to dry on the ground 

 till October 13th, carted them into the barn that day. The 

 cost of harvesting and topping amounts to $25.00. The on- 

 ions measured, after topping, 3S)0 bushels. Value in barn, 

 $1.00 per bushel. 



The land was measured by Alonzo Ilurd and myself. 



Danvers, Nov. 9, 1874. 



