ROOT CROPS. 73 



EOOT CROPS. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The field of turnips offered for premium by Mr. Hiram A. 

 Stiles, of Middleton, lies cast of Beach Brook, near the Essex 

 Railway. The soil in some parts is of a light, gravelly texture, 

 and in others is a fine loam. The turnips, planted in drills, 

 had been somewhat affected by mildew, but were generally 

 looking Tery well. The field was not kept as clean from weeds 

 as some of the committee thought consistent witli good hus- 

 bandry, but as Mr. Stiles manifested considerable regret that 

 the weeds had not been rooted from among the " roots '* to 

 which he had called the official attention of so august a body as 

 this committee, it is deemed prudent to say nothing whatever 

 abovit them. Mr. Stiles's facilities for preparing his turnips for 

 market are worthy of commendation. Beach Brook, whose 

 tortuous course is supposed by some to have been marked out 

 at the subsidence of the dejuge by a bewilde'red sea-serpent in 

 search of the Atlantic, runs between the turnip field and the 

 residence of Mr. S. Over this brook he has erected a shed with 

 all the " modern improvements " for washing, trimming and 

 packing his crop for market. From the field the turnips are 

 carted to this shed where with the aid of a brush and an abun- 

 dance of water, all adhering matter is quickly brushed from the 

 tubers, a clip from a knife severs the leaves and they are ready 

 for tying into bunches for market. As Mr. S. is the only 

 applicaiit for a premium on English turnips the committee have 

 had no means of comparing his with the crops of others, who, 

 it may be, had better crops ; but it is presumed that no one had 

 or they would have " done themselves the honor " of calling 

 the attention of your " discriminating and intelligent " com- 

 mittee to the same. The committee therefore recommend that 

 Mr. Stiles be awarded the highest premium for this product. 

 Mr. Stiles's statement is herewith enclosed, to which, for details, 

 the committee refer. 



On the same day of visiting Mr. Stiles's place the committee 

 responded to a call from Mr. Moody, of the Burley farm, 

 Danvers, to examine a crop of potatoes and Swedish or ruta- 

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