MANURES. • 205 



two dollars. The statement of Mr. Ciishman shows a series of 

 experiments for two years, pursued with his characteristic 

 energy and carefulness, and will be of much service to the far- 

 mers who study this subject. To him we award the first pre- 

 mium of six dollars. To Franklin H. Williams, of Sunderland, 

 we give the second premium of four dollars. 

 For the committee, 



Chas. Hawks. 



Statement of Franklin H. Williams. 



Last spring I entered upon an experiment with ploughing in 

 green crop, or stalks, as manure, rather than burn the same on 

 the ground. I have about six acres of sandy soil, which had 

 been sown to rye so long that it was nearly worthless. About 

 ten years ago my father came mto possession of this land in a 

 very low condition. Since that time it has been covered with 

 muck at different times. The muck, we became satisfied, was 

 the very thing needed to restore this poor soil to fertility. For 

 the past three years we have been satisfied that we could return 

 more carbon (which was the object desired) to the soil, and get 

 a paying crop every year, by raising broomcorn and ploughing 

 the stalks m green as soon as the brush was taken off, cheaper 

 than to haul muck two miles, which we have to do. Below I 

 give our method of manuring and ploughing in the stalks last 

 year, which is our common practice. When the broomcorn is 

 ready to cut it is cut close to the ground with corn slashers and 

 laid between the rows. When the brush is cut and taken to 

 the barn, we turn a furrow of about three inches deep upon 

 each row. This so thoroiighly rots the stalks before the next 

 spring, that they are out of the way for the next crop with a 

 valuable addition of carbon to the soil to enrich the future crop. 

 Last winter I sledded about 40 cords of muck two miles, which 

 was left upon this ground. The muck was drawn green from 

 the swamp in very cold weather and put thin, allowing it to 

 freeze hard, in which case it is much finer to compost in spring. 

 In May, 20 loads of green manure were drawn to the field and 

 composted with the piles of muck. When this was well warmed 

 it was spread upon the surface and ploughed under. Last 

 season the crop was estimated at 4,000 lbs., or two tons of 

 brush, and I measured up 300 bushels of seed that weighed 43 



