ON ROOT CROPS, 115 



The quantity of seed sown was three pounds. The cultivator 

 was twice used before the Cth of August, and hoed twice. In 

 the month of July the plants were thinned, and left from eight 

 to sixteen inches apart in the rows. The expense of cultiva- 

 tion was as follows : 



Interest on land, _ . _ . 



Ploughing, - - - - - 



Harrowing, . _ - - - 



Eleven cords compost, at three dollars per cord. 

 Furrowing with horse, - - - - 



Carting and spreading compost, 

 Seed, -_---- 

 Cultivating with horse, _ - . 



Hoeing, - 



Thinning plants, - - - - 



Digging and carting, _ - . - 



Total of Expenses, _ - - 



The value of crop, at six dollars per ton, 



The value of tops, _ - - - 



One half manure on land. 



Total, ----- 



Expenses, - - - - , 



Net profit,* - - - - - $21 OG 



Andover, Nov. 15, 1850. 



* This specification came to hand after the premium had been awarded for 

 the experiment in cultivation. As this was the only claim presented for the 

 cultivation of beets, the committee were disposed to regard it with favor. On 

 examining It, it ai>pears that the land on which they grew, is of small value and 

 of very poor quality, such as ordinarily produces no crop at all. If he who 

 makes twu blades of grass to grow where but one grew before, is to be reckon- 

 ed a public benefactor, surely he who makes a decent crop to grow where none 

 grew before, cannot be undeserving the Society's premium, although some of 

 his more fortunate neighbors, in the possession of better lands, shall be favored 

 with crops more abundant. The skill exhibited in the production, and not the 

 1 amount produced, is what we aim to approve. 



