168 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



benefit of this operation was very striking, particularly in a 

 time of severe drought. Corn, upon ground treated in this 

 way, was then perfectly green and vigorous, while that upon 

 ground under the common treatment, was pale and parched. 

 Nothing but the want of means to employ a double team, pre- 

 vented the subsequent regular use of this plough in breaking up 

 land. The use of the subsoil plough has given place to that of 

 the Michigan or sod and subsoil plough, which requires less 

 team, and may be, in most cases, equally serviceable. Either 

 plough is of peculiar value when, as in my own general method 

 of cultivation, it is intended to lay down the land the second 

 year, without disturbing the buried sod. 



I have experimented also, in the mixing of crops, and am 

 satisfied of the great benefit resulting from the practice. I 

 have planted corn and potatoes in this way ; planting first four 

 rows of corn, and then two rows of potatoes ; thus covering 

 the acre, and presenting a larger surface of corn to the air and 

 light, than can be done in the usual way, — an advantage worth 

 consideration, — and at the same time protecting the other crop 

 from scorching suns in a dry season. I think the cultivation 

 of mixed crops is deserving of more attention ; and we have in 

 our reports sufficient proof of its productiveness to encourage 

 the practice. 



It has been my custom to plant at least half an acre of corn 

 for green fodder, — preferring the sweet corn, or that and com- 

 mon field corn mixed, rather than the southern flat sort, — 

 planting it very thick, in furrows two and a half feet apart. I 

 usually put green manure into the furrows, but have found 

 guano and meadow mud to be equally serviceable. Besides 

 this, I have uniformly raised a half acre of sweet corn, plant- 

 ing it as I do field corn. This furnishes an abundant supply 

 for table use, or for market, and in connection with the corn 

 fodder and following it, the best food for milch cows, or for 

 store pigs. 



I have, for many years, laid down my cultivated grounds with 

 spring wheat and grass seed ; finding the wheat to yield twenty 

 bushels per acre, and the grass seed to take well. The ground 

 has been usually ploughed in the spring, and compost manure 

 or guano mixed with sand or loam, spread upon it and harrowed 

 in thoroughly. I then sow two bushels of wheat per acre, with 



