80 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



must, perforce, accept the statement, even if we do so Avith a 

 degree of hesitation incompatible with implicit ftiith in guber- 

 natorial infallibility. But while we are wondering at the bound- 

 less possibilities of profit from corn-raising, thus shadowed 

 forth, there comes another specialist, who, with almost a sneer 

 at this despised crop, and, perhaps, a shade of pity for the 

 beniofhted mortals who favor it, assures us that two bushels of 

 potatoes can be produced at as little cost as one of corn. A 

 few years since, at a meeting in the society's hall, it was dem- 

 onstrated, to the satisfiiction of some enthusiastic individuals, 

 that the farmer's open road to wealth was to be found in rais- 

 ing turnips at seventy-five cents a bushel. Last year the 

 turnip-crop was almost a total ftiilure in this vicinity, and it 

 will scarcely prove remunerative the present season. 



Opinions diifer as widely in respect to fertilizers as to crops. 

 One believes that only excrementitious manures are worth 

 applying, and that, except in bulk, nothing is gained by mix- 

 ing them with other substances, the labor incident to the proc- 

 ess being misdirected and profitless. Another advocates the 

 composting of all manuring substances, believing himself well 

 employed while mixing and combining all manner of waste and 

 decaying matter, vegetable or animal, with any attainable 

 salts, earths, or other minerals; and a third will urge upon 

 both the others that they can afford to give away their bulky 

 manures rather than be at the expense of removing and apply- 

 ing them, and supply their place with some modern invention 

 which need only be applied in almost infinitesimal quantities. 

 Verily, in the midtitude of such counsellors there can be only 

 confusion. 



But at the foundation of each of these individual peculiar- 

 ities of belief, there is a stratum of sound common-sense, 

 which enables its possessor to discern apparent truths, but 

 which does not prevent his drawing hasty conclusions from a 

 partial knowledge of facts, as in assuming that what has proved 

 true within his own observation must necessarily be true in 

 the experience of all other men. With certain limitations, 

 special farming is to be recommended ; but its best recommenda- 

 tion to each farmer must be found in the result of his own 

 operations upon his own farm, as affected by the nature of the 

 soil, the cost of production, and the requirements of the 



