ROOT CROPS. 



81 



in June, and once in July. The first weeding was commenced 

 as soon as the onions were of sufficient height to be plainly seen. 

 They were much the best on the two acres where the manure 

 was carried on to the field in the spring, and each of these two 

 acres yielded at least one-third more onions than the one where 

 the manure was carried out in the fall, and lay in heaps over 

 winter ; and the acre sowed first yielded the best of the three. 

 I hired all the labor done on the land, except the sowing of the 

 onion seed, which I did myself. I paid for labor in the months 

 of April and May, $1.75 per day, and for the remainder of the 

 season, $1.50 per day, for men, and the same for a horse, in 

 preparing the ground. The onions were ripe and harvested the 

 last of September. 



Net profits, 



$291 73 



In the above statement no credit is given for the improved 

 condition of the land, which is an item of considerable impor- 

 tance, as only a small portion of the manure is expended, and 

 the land is cleared from stone and foul growth of weeds and 

 roots, which will not impede the cultivation another year. I 

 estimate the improvement of the land at $150, which, added to 

 the value of the crop over its cost, makes a gain of $441.73. 



D. H. MERRIA3I. 

 FiTCHBURG, November 27, 1865. 



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