90 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



at nearly twice the usual rate, from which it must be inferred 

 that no allowance is made for any part of it not consumed by 

 the crop. If we consider the 105 bushels of corn as the only 

 return for the $116 expended, the operation would appear to 

 be a losing one. But it is so only in appearance. The stover 

 at present prices is worth nearly or quite half as much as the 

 corn ; the ashes applied will benefit succeeding crops for many 

 years, and the value of the stable-manure remaining in the 

 soil is not inconsiderable. Although competitors are required 

 to return the value of the manure applied to their land, no cor- 

 rect estimate of the cost of any crop can be made unless we 

 first ascertain what proportion of the manure applied is ap- 

 propriated by that crop, which is manifestly impossible. 



Statement of Albert Thomas. 



Oats. — Oats were raised on 180 square rods of dark, sandy 

 loam, upon which I raised corn in 1871, when it was manured 

 at the rate of 40 loads, of 30 bushels each, of barn-cellar ma- 

 nure per acre. In 1872 it was planted with potatoes and tur- 

 nips, mainly the former, and was then manured with 20 loads 

 of similar manure. It was ploughed twice in April, 1873, 

 about nine inches deep, and sowed with grass-seed and ?>\ 

 bushels of oats, April 20th. The oats looked badly in the 

 dry weather, but were benefited, I think, by the deep plough- 

 ing, and they finally came out well. Cradled July 20th, and 

 threshed about Sept. 10th. The product, as appears by the 

 accompanying sworn certificate, was 2,275 lbs., or 1\\ bushels 

 of oats, and \\ tons of straw. Expenses: ploughing, etc., 

 $8; seed, $2.25; harvesting, $8.18; total, $18.43. 



Statement of Galen Latham. 



Winter Rye. — My rye grew on 170 rods of thin, gravelly 

 soil, on which, in 1871, I ploughed in about 125 cart-loads of 

 meadow muck, and six cords of compost manure, and planted 

 Indian corn. The crop of 1872 was winter rye, manured with 

 six cords of muck and manure, composted. The same quantity 

 of compost of yellow loam and manure Avas ploughed in with 

 the stubble, and winter rye again sowed, Sept. 20th, at the 



