ROOT CROPS. 181 



and finished on the 2-3d, having taken in seventy-six loads 

 of two thousand five hundred pounds each. We ascertained 

 the weight by sending an average load to the city scales, and 

 weighing it, and using the same wagon to haul in the whole, 

 and keeping each day a strict account of the number of loads 

 secured. The following is an accurate account of the labor 

 and fertilizers used : — 



5 days of man and team, ploughing, &c., . $10 00 

 12 days' labor in May, . . . . 12 00 



25 " " June, . . . . 25 OO" 



11 " " August, . . . . 11 00 



158 00 



47 50 



27|- days' harvesting in October, . . . $21 50 

 10 days, man and team, . . . . 20 00 



13 cords stable manure at $6, 



1,500 pounds vitriohzed bone, (home-made,) 18 75 



IG bushels salt at 20 cts., . . . . 3 20 



99 95 



Total cost of labor and manure, . . . $205 45 



The land produced seventy-six loads of mangold wurzel, two 

 thousand five hundred pounds per load, or ninety-five tons ; 

 eighteen loads of tops stripped before harvesting, twelve ditto 

 when harvesting, (thirty loads,) and four hundred heads of 

 cabbage, — making altogether the total value of the crop about 

 eight hundred dollars. Deduct cost of labor and manure as 

 above, two hundred and five dollars and forty-five cents ; 

 balance of profit, five hundred and ninety-four dollars and fifty- 

 five cents. Estimating the weight per bushel of the mangolds 

 harvested at sixty pounds, (which is the actual weight,) we 

 have three thousand one hundred and sixty-six bushels, and the 

 whole cost of labor and manure being two hundred and five 

 dollars, the crop has cost, when safely stored in the cellar, 

 about six and one-half cents per bushel. I estimate that 

 the improved condition of the land, after the crop is taken off, 

 will more than balance the interest on its cost for the year. 



Springfield, November, 1860. 



