266 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and the grass whicli grows in its valleys and on its hillsides 

 produces the very finest of beef and mutton. 



The farmers of Chilmark — more especially those along the 

 seacoast — are favored by the enormous quantities of rock-weed 

 or kelp, which is torn from the rocks by the surging of the 

 ocean and piled up along their shores. This kelp possesses 

 wonderful fertilizing properties, much of it being almost identi- 

 cal with the Irish moss, from which the simple but nutritious 

 blanc-mange is made. Applied, in its natural state, to the land, 

 it readily dissolves, forming, at first, a gelatinous mass, and grad- 

 ually disappearing ; going into the earth, to be taken up by the 

 delicate feeders of the plants, and converted into a fine crop of 

 grass, corn or grain. The writer has been told that one remark- 

 able feature in regard to the use of kelp as a manure is the 

 almost entire immunity of the crop from the ravages of the cut- 

 worm. 



Peat abounds in this section, and is extensively used for fuel. 

 It is also combined with barn manure and kelp, with which it 

 forms an excellent dressing. This section is the most favorable 

 part of Martha's Vineyard for stock-raising, and in this respect 

 will, perhaps, compare favorably with any part of New England. 



The middle section of the island, or Tisbury, is more level, 

 with the exception of the northern part of the town, where the 

 ranges of hills of Chilmark are continued down the north shore, 

 being lost in the north-western part of Edgartown. 



The soil is of a finer grade than that of Chilmark, but is still 

 a gravelly loam. 



This portion of the island, although not so favorable for 

 grazing, the pastures not generally being considered so sweet, is 

 adapted to the raising of general crops. 



The land is easily tilled, and responds readily to any exertion 

 made to increase its fertility. Some large crops of hay and grain 

 have been raised on fields long since worn out by repeated crop- 

 ping without manure, but reanimated by the generous use of 

 ashes and other dressing. In a few instances, fields have been 

 made to yield from two to three tons of hay to the acre, at one 

 cutting. 



This section is well watered, there being two moderate sized 

 streams of water, having their rise in the hill country of Chil- 



