148 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



hours ; I then shoveled the grain mto a cart, wet, mixing with 

 as much slacked lime as would adhere to it, and immediately 

 sowed broadcast, and harrowed twice. This was on the 14th 

 of April. 



The 20th day of April I sowed grass seed on the same lot, 

 and harrowed twice again, and on the 23d rolled it, which 

 finished the labor till harvest. I cut it on the 10th day of 

 August, put it into the barn on the 18th, and threshed it the 

 next week ; threshed with flail, and winnowed it twice. The 

 result has exceeded my expectations, yielding tliirty bushels 

 strong of plump grain, weighing sixty pounds per bushel to 

 the acre. No manure or dressing of any kind was applied to 

 the crop this year, only as above stated. The soil is a heavy 

 loam, underlying which is a slate ledge, which in many places 

 comes to the surface. 



As wheat is the most valuable of the cereal grasses, so it 

 requires the greater care to produce it. The soil intended for 

 its reception, should be brought into as fine condition as pos- 

 sible. To accomplish this, manuring and thorough culture are 

 indispensable. If this is attended to, the soil will be in a loose 

 and fertile state, and will possess such a depth of tiltli as will 

 have a tendency to preserve it in good condition. Some crops 

 especially corn, require high manuring, but with wlieat, I think 

 the case is otherwise. Land very rich, or very highly manured, 

 is apt to cause, during the hot season of summer, a too rapid 

 growth of straw at the expense of the seed ; and rust, lodging, 

 and ultimate failure, is frequently the consequence. But I find 

 myself digressing from a mere statement of the crop in ques- 

 tion, and return to give an estimate of cost, &c., in making up 

 which, I charge the usual price for such woik in this vicinity. 



EXPENSE OF CROP. 



To one day, self, man, and two yoke of oxen, ploughing, 



" " and two horses, harrowing. 



Three bushels seed, ....... 



Sowing and rolling, ...... 



Cutting, ........ 



Binding up and putting into barn, .... 



Threshing and clearing up, ..... 



Interest on land, $200 per acre, .... 



$42 75 



