SECRETARY'S REPORT. 309 



a herd of pure-bred Jerseys, eight in number, owned by T. 

 M. Stoughton, Esq., of GiU. 



In those towns situated on the river, viz., Northfidd, Gill, 

 Montague, Sunderland, Whatcly, Decrfield and Greenfield, there 

 has been considerable change in the course of husbandry within 

 a few years, effected more particularly by the introduction of 

 the tobacco crop. Less corn and broom-corn is raised than 

 formerly, and though the hay crop has been increased, a large 

 qviantity is brought in from the neighboring hill towns, and some 

 even from the West. Much grain, also, is brought from the 

 West. The high price which tobacco has commanded, has made 

 manure — without a liberal supply of which the crop cannot be 

 raised — a matter of much importance and interest to the farmers, 

 and they have purchased and fed hay and grain freely for the 

 sake of the manure, as well as the profit on the stock fattened. 

 Thus the farms have been enriched, a higher state of cultivation 

 attained, and the general tone of farming raised ; while the 

 profits of the crop, for the last five years, have freed many farms 

 from debt, and introduced a somewhat more liberal style of 

 living among the farmers. 



The mode of cultivation of the crop is similar in all the 

 towns, and it is becoming more common not to continue the 

 crop on the same ground more than one or two years in succes- 

 sion, and then heavy crops of hay, corn and wheat follow. The 

 crop requires close attention, though for a short time only, the 

 growth being very rapid. The plants are transplanted about the 

 first of June, and the crop ready to harvest the last of August 

 or the first of September. 



In the town of Sunderland the cultivation of onions has been 

 introduced, and the crop is becoming an important one. The 

 crop in the town is estimated at not less than 25,000 bushels 

 each of the last two years, the population of the town being 

 850. One gentleman had a piece of one and three-quarter acres 

 last year, which yielded at the rate of 1,013 bushels to the acre. 

 The profits of the crop have fluctuated widely, but it has never 

 failed to bring a fair return ; and the thorough cultivation and 

 liberal supply of manure required, have had a good effect upon 

 farms and farmers. 



The requirements of both these crops, tobacco and onions, 

 have led to the use of large quantities of foreign manures, prin- 



