78 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Tlio crops of Mr. Merrill are more varied than is usual among 

 tlie cultivators of this vicinity, commencing with the earliest 

 lettuce under glass in the spring, with other crops constantly 

 maturing, and terminating with the late root crops in the 

 autumn. One advantage of this system is, that if an unfa- 

 vorable condition of the season affects one crop injuriously, 

 others may com|)ensatc for the failure by uncommon excel- 

 lence ; or if some crops sell at a low rate in the market, others 

 will bring such prices as to keep the scale even. This fact was 

 particularly noticeable within a year or two, when it ha[)poncd 

 that the earliest vegetables under glass sold at very high prices, 

 while those maturing late in the season barely paid the cost of 

 cultivation. 



During the visits of your Committee they saw many of the 

 crops which are enumerated in tlie statement of Mr. Merrill on 

 the ground, and they appeared to l)e al)undant in quantity and 

 of suj)erior quality. Other crops which had been harvested and 

 sold, some of which were seen by a portion of the members at 

 an early visit, thoy liave no reason to doubt are fairly repre- 

 sented by figures in the statement. 



Many sj)ecimens of vegetables from the crops raised on this 

 farm have been exhibited at our annual exhibitions, and suffi- 

 ciently attest the success which has attended the labors of the 

 proprietor, which success may, in our judgment, be attributed 

 to the abundant ap[)lication of good manure, the thorough 

 working and pulverization of the soil, care and judgment in 

 the selection of seeds, aiul the use of those only of known purity 

 and excellence, the planting of the several varieties in such lo- 

 calities with regard to their haljits and wants as will insure 

 their best growth and most comj)lete maturity, and such clean 

 and careful cultivation and attention as only can secure the 

 desirable results. When these requisites are united witii the 

 capacity to market the j)roduct in the best condition, regard 

 })eing had to its jjroper maturity, and to the time when it can 

 be disposed of for the highest price, whether (if a late croj)) by 

 putting it at once in the market, or reserving it a few weeks or 

 months for a more favorable sale, the farmer cannot fail in ordi- 

 nary seasons to receive a fair, though moderate compensation 

 for his labor. 



