36 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Expenses : 

 1861, First cost of land, (1 acre,) 



1863, Commissioners' tax, . 



1864, First burning, 



One-half expense of 40 rods ditch at 16| cents 



1865, Man and team l day harrowing. 

 Second burning, 1 day labor, . 

 Man and team ^ day harrowing, 

 3| bushels oats at 87 cents per bushel, 

 7 quarts grass seed, ..... 

 1| days' labor man and team, sowing, harrowing 



and bushing, ..... 



2 days' mowing and spreading oats, . 

 2 days' raking and carting. 



Total expense, including land, . 



Profits : 

 2f tons of oats at $18, . . 

 Present value of land, ..... 



Deduct expenses. 

 Net profit, . 



143 20 

 50 00 



$93 20 

 36 08 



157 12 



OKCHARDS. 



ESSEX. 

 CULTIVATION OF THE PEAR. 



The Soil and its Preparation. 

 Pear trees require a deep and strong soil. Land with a clay 

 ■or hard gravel subsoil is to be preferred. If the soil is heavy 

 or without good natural drainage, it should be under-drained. 

 This can be done by digging trenches three to four feet in 

 .depth, with proper inclinations, and filling to within eighteen 

 inches of the surface with stones, over which may be placed a 

 layer of leather or wood shavings, and the remainder of the 

 trench filled with* soil. 



