30 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



with half a shovelful to the hill, of cow manure from the barn 

 cellar. 



The potatoes were dug about the first of August following, 

 and two hundred bushels were put into our cellar, and the 

 balance of the crop was sold in the Boston market for something 

 over six hundred dollars. In September of the same year, I 

 commenced to break up the other seven acres, with a team of 

 six oxen and five men, at the rate of about one-third of an 

 acre per day, till all was completed. I then harrowed it with a 

 heavy, long tooth harrow, using four oxen to draw it, turning 

 up as many stones as possible. I then proceeded to dig out 

 with bars, the large, and pick and put in heaps the loose stones, 

 there being a large quantity ready to haul off in winter. After 

 the snow fell, I commenced hauling them off on a large drag, 

 made for the purpose. The largest of the rocks built thirty 

 rods of wall on one side of the land, besides many loads which 

 were taken by Mr. Merrill, and the remainder were hauled ofi" 

 and dumped in piles. 



The land being now (1865) in good order for spring work, 

 the fourth day of April I commenced to cross-plough the whole 

 piece, with four oxen and two men, at the rate of one acre per 

 day, till completed. I then harrowed the same well with one 

 pair of horses, then furrowed out, following with planting 

 potatoes, eight and a half acres ; corn, four and a half acres ; 

 turnips, one-half acre ; cabbage, one-half acre ; — total, fourteen 

 acres. Potatoes and corn were manured in hill ; cabbages and 

 turnips in the drills, with manure made on the farm, composted 

 with one-third muck. This piece of land was not /m7/7/ manured, 

 on account of being short of supply. 



The crop looked very promising until the long and severe 

 drought set in, which cut it short, — the potatoes, say one-half 

 crop ; corn, three-fourths do. ; cabbages, almost a failure ; 

 turnips, one-half crop. 



Cost of cultivation, with value of crop, of seven acres, in 

 1864 :— 



Picking and hauling off stones, . . . $50 00 



Ploughing, 25 00 



Harrowing, 4 00 



Furrowing, 10 00 



