146 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Thomas, as will be seen by the foregoing statement, 

 reaches a result similar to that reported by him last year, viz., 

 a considerably larger yield when determined by the weight of 

 the merchantable crop, December 1, as required by the regula- 

 tions of the State Board, than when computed at 85 pounds of 

 ears to the bushel at harvest time. Either result is but an 

 approximation to the true yield, as the shrinkage of corn con- 

 tinues long after December 1st of the year in which it is raised. 



While all farmers admit that the corn crop needs at some 

 period of its growth some slight connection with the ground, 

 there are many who hasten to sever that connection at the 

 earliest practicable moment, and who claim that their corn 

 is benefited by the process. It may be and doubtless is true 

 that in some seasons an immature crop in the shock is prefera- 

 ble to a frozen one in the field ; and on this ground killing the 

 plant to save its life may be advisable. It may in some cases 

 be good husbandry to increase the fodder in the barn at the 

 expense of the corn in the crib. But when, for these or other 

 reasons, the plant is killed or mutilated before arriving at matu- 

 rity, it cannot be expected to produce grain as sound and heavy 

 as when each of its organs continues to perform its appropriate 

 function in the economy of growth, till nature, having no fur- 

 ther use for it, suffers it to pass gradually into the " sere and 

 yellow leaf" or the withered and sapless stalk. 



Statement of Albert Thomas. 

 Oats. — The land on which my oats grew was a sandy loam, 

 and measured 162 square rods. In potatoes in 1866, manured 

 with thirty-three loads, of thirty bushels each, of barnyard 

 manure ; in turnips in 1867, with the same kind and quantity 

 of manure ; ploughed twice eight inches deep in April, 1868 ; 

 three bushels of seed sown April 15, without manure ; cradled 

 July 27. Product, 1,448 pounds, or 45^ bushels of oats and 1| 

 tons of straw. 



EXPENSES. 



Ploughing, •. . . $6 00 



Seed, ^. ... 3 00 



Sowing, 2 00 



Harvesting, .... t ... 6 00 



Total, •|!17 00 



