76 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



rivers and the result is a fertile soil. Analysis finds nothing in 

 coal ashes. Apply these ashes to your trees and mix them with 

 the earth, and the brute matter expresses its thankfulness in a 

 more luxuriant foliage and a greater burden of fruit. On every 

 hand the farmer is admonished by nature to mix, mix, mix] 

 Now, in the case of the farmer to whom we have alluded, were 

 he to adopt the plan of employing a man with a horse and cart 

 to draw in absorbent matter to mix thoroughly with his manure 

 he would never after have occasion to complain that he was 

 short of manure even though he might cultivate double the land 

 he now does. 



J. -F. C. Hayes, Chairman. 



Statement of Hiram A. Stiles. 



The crop of 1863, on the land on which is the crop of turnips 

 I now offer for premium, was one-half grass with no manure, 

 the other half turnips, on which was applied four loads of manure 

 made up of 125 pounds of Coe's superphosphate of lime and one 

 barrel of fish guano. Quantity of land, two acres and sixty-nine 

 rods. 



The crop of 1864, on four-fifths of the land, was turnips — 

 on the remainder grass. On the turnip land was applied nine 

 loads of manure — 125 pounds Coe's superphosphate of lime, 60 

 pounds Pacific guano and 250 pounds Rhoades' superphosphate. 

 The nature of the soil is sandy loam and leachy. 



For the crop of the present year I ploughed once from six to 

 eight inches in depth, the grass land in March, and the old land 

 in April, and harrowed twice with tooth harrow and once with 

 bush. Cost of ploughing and preparation, $12. 



I applied eleven loads of manure spread evenly on the surface 

 and 300 pounds of Pacific guano, with 100 pounds of Rhoades' 

 superphosphate and one barrel of poudrette. Value of manure, 

 $50. 



Sowed at different times, from March 28th to April 25th, in 

 drills twenty inches apart, using one pound of seed of the strap 

 leaf variety to the acre. Cost, $3.75. 



Hoed twice the first time, weeding and thinning the plants, 

 leaving them from six to nine inches apart. Cost, $35. 



