ESSEX SOCIETY. 37 



Andreio NidioWs Statement. 



The land on which this experiment was made, is nearly- 

 level, one corner being a little elevated, and sloping towards 

 the centre of the lot. The subsoil is sand or loose gravel, 

 the soil a loamy mould, which, as analyzed by Dr. Dana, in 

 1840, contains soluble geine, 4.56 per cent., insoluble geine, 

 3.50 ; sulphates, 1.30 ; phosphates, .84 ; granite sand, 89.80. 

 (See Society's Transactions, 1840.) On the larger portion of 

 it, onions had been cultivated for one or more years. On a 

 small portion of it cabbages grew last year. About the mid- 

 dle of April the ground was ploughed seven inches deep, and 

 manured with a compost, formed by mixing twelve cart-loads 

 of barn manure with fourteen of muck, of the same kind as 

 that analyzed by Dr. Dana, (see Transactions, 1840,) and 

 thoroughly harrowed, raked smooth, and one and three-fourths 

 pound of seed sown thereon. They were weeded four times ; 

 twenty-four days labor. 



Soon after the first weeding, one bushel of dry, wood ashes 

 was sown broadcast over the whole piece. After the second 

 weeding, one bushel of plaster of Paris was strewn over it in 

 the same manner. After the third weeding, the western end 

 of the piece, on a part of which cabbages grew last year, was 

 less promising as to a crop, then elsewhere. One peck of 

 guano, mixed with one peck of plaster of Paris, was scattered 

 over this part of the field, about one-fomih of the whole. 

 This apparently had the desired effect ; gave the crop a luxu- 

 riant appearance, and at harvest the largest product. 



Andrew Nichols. 

 Danvers, Nov. 6, 1852. 



This certifies, that under my own supervision. Dr. Andrew 

 Nichols, on his farm, in Middleton, experimenting on one-half 

 acre of land, raised, on seventy square rods, from seed, three 

 hundred and fifty-five bushels of onions; that on the remain- 

 ing ten square rods, small onions, and a few seed onions were 

 set, and a good crop of what are called rare-ripes, and seed, 

 obtained ; but as there were many of them pulled early for the 

 market, and sold, week after week, in small bunches, it is now 

 impossible for me to say how many bushels, or the equivalent 



