86 [Assembly 



STATEMENT OF WILLIAM DEERE. 



PUMPKIN SQUASHES. 



West Farms, New- York, Nov. 28ih, 1845. 



The nature of the soil upon which I raised my pumpkin squashes 

 is yellow clay of indifftrent quality, After once plowing, I furrow- 

 ed the ground nine feet apart, and dug holes capable of holding aboul 

 two shovels of manure. The previous crop was potatoes, manured 

 with a compost of equal parts of marl, black mole, and yard manure, 

 of which I applied one hundred loads. I planted my seed the latter 

 part of May, dropping it in its natural state. From one quart of seed 

 I can select 25 squashes weighing one ton. 



Very respectfully, 



WILLIAM DEERE. 



PUMPKINS. 



New-York, Nov. 20, 1846. 

 The soil upon which the pumpkins were raised, that took the pre- 

 mium at the last fair, is loam mixed with a slight sprinkling of ma- 

 nure from my stable. The crop that had been previously raised on 

 the ground was one of ordinary garden vegetables. I planted the seed 

 in the early part of May, all of which failed except one, from which 

 extended six separate branches, each running about 20 feet in length, 

 each pumpkin setting as near midway of each branch as possible. 

 The seed was the same as that obtamed the year previous from Mr. 

 Gideon Moseley of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess co. In flavor and rich- 

 ness this far excels any squash or pumpkin I have ever raised. » 



Yours respectfully, 



NATHANIEL FENN. 



RUTA BAGA AND BLOOD BEETS. 



Sir — I send you the following in answer to the questions proposed 

 in your circular. ^ 



The soil is a sandy loam composed of decomposed micaceous rock, 

 well worn and porous. 



