76 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



upon a certain amount of guano, this year, with the 

 same dressing, fell thirty bushels short ! Who can 

 account for this, especially when we take into con- 

 sideration that the farm was more highly favored 

 with seasonable rains in the smnmer of 1855, than 

 in the summer of 1854, — it being generally con- 

 ceded that guano acts more beneficially in wet than 

 in dry summers ? 



The results, in all these carefully conducted ex- 

 periments with manures, we regret to say, have 

 been not only unsatisfactory, but contradictory, 

 ending, thus far, in confusion and uncertainty, rath- 

 er than leading to any well settled principles. The 

 reports of these gentlemen are not yet completed, 

 so that we can not state their precise terms, or draw 

 inferences from them that would be of any value. 

 When they are published, if not earlier, we hope 

 to give the inquiring reader a better view of them. 

 The gentlemen who had the charge of experi- 

 ments with Stock, were Messrs. Bkooks, of Prince- 

 ton, and Newell, of West Newbury. In prosecut- 

 ing their trial of cows through a period of six 

 months, the animals were weighed, morning and 

 evening, at the expiration of each twenty days ; 

 their food was also weighed, the kind noted, and 

 the average quantity given which was consumed, 

 daily, during the twenty days. A table, similar to 

 the one below was made out for each of the periods 

 contained in the twenty days. This is given to show 

 the results obtained, as well as the systematic mode 

 of proceeding by the committee. 



Statement of milk and food, &c., of cows, from 

 Feb. 1 to Feb. 20, both inclusive, 20 days, 1855. 



cents, or eight cents and twenty-one hundredths 

 (8.21) the gallon of ten pounds. 



Average number of cows milked daily 15.41 



Average flow of milk daily 233.65 pounds. 



Average iiumVjer of pounds of milk given by 



each cow daily throughout the two hundred 



and sixty days 15.24 pounds. 



Average number of days of giving milk after 



calving 166J 



Reports were also made from the committees to 

 whom were assigned the subjects of Permanent 

 Improvements, Labor, and from the delegates 'sent 

 to the several county societies. All these reports 

 were subjected to a pretty thorough discussion, 

 which in some cases demanded an analysis, or sy- 

 nopsis, of them, and several were recommitted for 

 emendation, enlargement, or explanation. 



In the afternoon of the second day, a most in- 

 teresting discussion arose upon the propriety of the 

 introduction of the trotting course into the show 

 grounds, and its influence upon the general pros- 

 perity of the societj', and on the morals of the people. 

 The arguments presented were varied, ingenious 

 and earnest, but pressed with that courtesy and dig- 

 nity which has ever characterized the proceedings 

 of the Board. 



The following are the principal crops raised the 

 past summer : 



Peas 15^ bushels. 



Potatoes 1647 bushels on 12 acres. 



Corn 982 bushels on 21 acres. 



Oats 286 bushels on 10 acres. 



Beans 60i bHshels on 2 acres. 



Carrots, 62 tons 2480 



Rye 160 



Turnips 1000 



Hay 66 



Onions 461 



Parsnips, Beets, kc 260 



Cabbages 4000 



Corn fodder 30 



bushels on 6 acres. 



bushels on 10 acres. 



bu.shels ou 2J acres. 



tons. 



bushels on IJ acres. 



heads, 

 tons. 



The milk given by these cows in the thirteen 

 trials of two hundred and sixty days, was sixty-one 

 thousand two hundred and sixty-nine pounds, which 

 cost five hundred and three dollars and nineteen 



The following propositions 

 were submitted by Mr. French, 

 from the Norfolk Society, and 

 severally adopted : 



Voted, That the Secretary be 

 requested to invite such farmers 

 in this Commonwealth as he 

 may deem proper, to furnish to 

 this Board the manner of their 

 feed of cows, their weight, ex- 

 pense, and yield of milk for a 

 given time ; also the feed of ox- 

 en, their weight, expense and 

 work at the time ; also the feed 

 of horses, the expense, their 

 weight and work at the time, 

 and also the breed of each. 



Voted, That Messrs. French, 

 Sprague, and Brooks, be a 

 committee to consider and re- 

 port to this Board what dispo- 

 sition of the rooms, now grant- 

 ed for their use, should be made, 

 with a view to best serve the 

 cause of Agriculture. 

 Voted, That Messrs. French,^ Brooks, Lewis, 

 Brown and Sprague be a committee to consider, 

 and report to this Board what measures, if any, are 

 best adapted to serve the cause of Agriculture in 

 this Commonwealth. 



