ON GRAIN CROPS. S'9 



4 



tered for a premium. One piece of oats, of a very large yield, 

 came within the observation of the Committee, but was not duly- 

 entered. 



Respectfully submitted, 



JAMES STEVENS, Chairman. 



Salem, November 16, 1848. 



JOHN HATHAWAY'S STATEMENT 



To the Committee on Cfrain Crops : 



Gentlemen, — I present for your consideration a crop of winter 

 rye, raised on the town farm in Danvers, on a field containing about 

 one and a quarter acres of land. This land is a light loam, some 

 part of it gravelly. In 1845, the field yielded one small load of hay. 

 In 1846, it was ploughed, planted with corn, and yielded a good 

 crop, say from 50 to 60 bushels to the acre. The manure used was 

 such as is made in our hog-pen from meadow mud and slaughter- 

 house ofial. We put a full shovel full to the hill. In 1847, we 

 spread about five cords of like manure upon the land, and planted 

 the lot with potatoes. We used four oxen and a large plough, and 

 ploughed at least eight inches deep. The crop of potatoes was 

 large and of very good quality. Before the 20th of September, we 

 dug them. We then ploughed with four oxen, as before, harrowed 

 it, then sowed l^ths bushels of rye, and harrowed it in. This was 

 done on the 25th of September. The crop advanced through the 

 season in a most promising manner, and was harvested about the 

 middle of July in the best possible condition. We obtained from^ 

 this field 55 bushels of sound grain. We also raised on another lot, 

 of one and a half acres, forty-five bushels of spring rye. 



It will be remembered, that the soil of this farm is of ordinary 

 quality, compared with the soil on most other farms in town. The 

 improvements on it have been chiefly owing to the increase and ap- 

 plication of manure. 



JOHN HATHAAVAY. 



Danvers, August 31, 1848. 



I certify that I have measured the land on which grew the winter 



