96 MASSACHUSETTS AGllICULTURE. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



From the Report of the Committee on Root-Orojjs. 



Vegetables, — " The object of every practical farmer is to 

 grow from a given extent of land, the hirgest qnantity of the 

 most valuable product at the least expense ; and at the same 

 time with the least injury to the soil." 



Experience ought to teach every farmer that here on our 

 old sterile soils of Worcester North, it is folly to think 

 that either cereals or root-crops without deep and thorough 

 tillage, which is eifected mainly by efficient ploughing, can 

 throw out strong roots, luxuriant stalks and an abundant 

 harvest. 



It is obvious, too, that the little seed, after breaking the shell, 

 delicate, thread-like as it is, cannot penetrate the soil unless it 

 be made soft and fine ; neither can these small rootlets extend 

 their researches for food unless the soil has a correspond- 

 ing depth and richness to feed upon ; hence, thorough tilhige 

 must be resorted to, and this cannot be effected unless the 

 soil itself be in proper condition at the outset. 



All vegetables, in their various stages of growth, require air, 

 warmth and moisture ; otherwise life and health are not sup- 

 ported. Below the surface of the ground there is a body of 

 cold, stagnant water, — sometimes, however, to great depth, 

 but frequent!}^ near the surface,— ^and in retentive soils within 

 a foot or so of the surface. Now this stagnant water not 

 only excludes the air and warmth, but renders the soil wet 

 and cold ; and being of itself no benefit without air and 

 warmth, its removal to a greater depth is desirable ; hence 

 underdraining, preliminary to deep tillage. In fact, a thorough 

 pulverization of soil cannot be reached without the removal 

 of the staifnant water below the surface. 



As farm drainage is yet in its infancy in this section 

 (Worcester North) , questions are frequently put by young 

 farmers, and those also of long experience : What lands 

 require drainage? For what crops should soils be drained, 

 and for what purpose ? 



To the first, it may be said that soils having comparatively 

 a deep surface, soil impregnated with clay and retentive of 



