250 HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY. 



In the spring of 1851, I sowed grass seed and harrowed it in 

 among the growing crop, and it now presents a very promising 

 appearance. My object in experimenting upon these two pieces 

 of land, lias been to test the qualities of compost, and its utility 

 in preserving the qualities of the soil, which has been done to 

 my entire satisfaction, both parcels being raised from a low to 

 a high state of cultivation, and can, I think, be mowed for sev- 

 eral years to come with good success. 



My anticipations have been more than realized, both in re- 

 gard to the productiveness of the land, and future prospects of 

 the crops, which are all in favor of composting, one important 

 consideration of which is its cheapness, the cost not exceed- 

 ing thirty-three cents per load, on the lot, or about one-third 

 the expense of animal manure. My practice is to mix the 

 compost one year, and use it the next. I have also applied it 

 on several other parcels of land, with equal results. In 1849, 

 I put fifteen loads of compost on one half an acre of land be- 

 side the same quantity of land on which was spread at the rate 

 of twenty-nine large cart loads of manure to the acre. The 

 corn grown from the compost was the best and produced forty 

 bushels. I also spread twenty loads on grass as a top dressing, 

 and experienced the same results. In 1851, I applied to one 

 acre about forty loads of compost, with nothing but plaster, to 

 as good purpose as heretofore, for the growing of corn. Also 

 thirty loads to another acre of corn, and procured about the 

 same as when twenty loads of manure were used, side by side. 

 In all cases where this compost has been used, not only has it 

 produced good crops, but it has much improved the land, so 

 that it is now in a good state of cultivation. 



Hadley, Oct. 20, 1851. 



David Rice's Statement. 

 I present the following statement in regard to a compost ma- 

 nure that I have used and tested for several years. It recom- 

 mends itself by several considerations. I state in the outset, 

 that the two great objects to be looked after in making ma- 

 nures, are cheapness and strength. A strong fertilizing manure, 

 \i\ t a)sts hut little, is what farmers most desire. The experi- 



