ON GRAIN CROPS. 57 



the branches, without any perceptible injury to the fruit ; but if de- 

 ferred until the growth commences, we use it much weaker. 



On the effect of sea sand (so much used in Cornwall) we have 

 had some little experience, having in the fall of 1841 drawn from the 

 shore eight to ten horse cart loads, and placed them upon one quar- 

 ter of an acre of light sandy loam ; it was then spread over the sur- 

 face and ploughed in. The spring following (April IStli) we sowed 

 half a bushel of peach seed (the stones being first cracked) in drills. 

 These came up well, and upon the first week in September following 

 we budded several hundreds. These averaged larger than any seed- 

 ling I had previously seen ; many of them measured an inch thi'ough 

 at the butt, and this season I have taken fruit from the unbudded 

 ones, consisting of seventy-five varieties. 



In applying salt to the land, we prefer the winter or towards the 

 spring, but always previous to the swelling of the buds. Our method 

 is to spread it upon the surface, where it remains until the ground 

 is in a proper state to work ; it is then dug or ploughed in. 



I have, the past season of 1846, used rock-weed taken wet from 

 the ocean, in planting potatoes, placing the weed in drills about three 

 feet distant, and planting a set at each end of the weed, covering all 

 about four inches deep with soil, the crop Avas good, entirely free 

 from the rot or wire worn. 



J. M. lYES. 



Salem, November 23, 1846. 



ON GRAIN CROPS. 

 The Committee on Grain Crops respectfully Report: 

 That Mr. C. H. Holmes, of Topsfield, is the only claimant for the 

 premium of the Society for the best conducted experiment in culti- 

 vating beans. The Committee did not on the whole think that he 

 was entitled to the premium ; but recommend that for his experi- 

 ment in the cultivation of this article, and the account of them in 

 his communication to the Society, a gratuity of five dollars be award- 

 ed to him. They also recommend that the following extract from 

 his statement be published in the Transactions of the Society. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



For the Committee, 



F. HOWES. 

 Lynn, October 1st, 1846. 



