ON FARMS. 99 



of my farm ; consequently I have devoted much attention to its cul- 

 tivation, and for this reason have given it so much space in tins 

 statement. 



JONATHAN MERRILL. 



Methuen, October, 1849. 



DAMEL MKRRU.LS STATKMKNT 



To tloe CommittM on Farms : 



GE:xTLEiMEN, — My farm consists of about 125 acres. Not fiir 

 from 75 acres of it are covered with wood, mostly of a young growth. 

 About 29 acres of the other are pasturing, and the remaining 21 

 acres are mowing and tillage. There is quite a variety of soil on 

 the farm, from the poor gravelly knoll to that of meadow land. 

 Quite a proportion of the upland has a gravelly subsoil. 



At the time I commenced on the farm, (which was about fourteen 

 years ago,) there were probably from six to eight tons of English 

 hay cut on the farm. At the present time, from eighteen to twenty 

 tons. The meadow, which consists of about four acres, I commenced 

 improving in various ways. On certain parts of it, I took the turf 

 off, and then gravelled and seeded down to grass, and so far as I had 

 the means, top dressed it. Other parts were gravelled without top- 

 ping. In doing which I put just enough gravel upon it to kill the 

 grass. Other parts were ploughed and planted to corn or potatoes, 

 and after being well subdued, was laid down to grass. 



You may wish to know which method I consider preferable. I 

 think if the meadow be smooth and pretty free from moss, it may 

 be as well to cover without topping. But if otherwise, the topping 

 system I think is preferable, esiiecially if it does not take too deep. 

 Ploughing should be resorted to when other crops than grass are de- 

 sired, or when it is necessary to level without lowering the surface. 

 I usually put on my meadow a light top dressing each season, gen- 

 erally late in the autumn. As near as I can judge, I cut from two 

 to three tons of hay to the acre at the first and second time of 

 mowing. 



As I sell my milk, my object is to raise such crops as will increase 

 its quantity. Grass and roots, with green corn, are my principal 

 crops, with the exception of apples. To the raising of apples I have 



