126 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the early part of the season, looked very promising, and, I 

 think, in an ordinarily wet season would have been one-third 

 larger than now. Soils like this seem to bake in a severe 

 drought, and suffer much more than more sandy loams. I am 

 often asked at what time to plant this vegetable, and would 

 say, as early as the land is in suitable condition. 



Statement of Josiah L. Bassett of Bridgeivater. 



Mangolds. — The land on which my beets grew has been 

 used as a garden and for the cultivation of roots, for the last 

 two years, and has been liberally manured. The soil is a 

 dark sandy loam. Last spring, eight loads of compost were 

 spread on, and ploughed in about eight inches deep. It was 

 then furrowed twenty inches apart, and eight loads of com- 

 post, with two hundred pounds of ground bone, put in the 

 furrow. Planted May 16, by hand, using about one pound 

 of Long Red Mangold seed. Cultivated and hoed three times. 

 October 11, one rod was harvested, which weighed 482^ 

 pounds, or at the rate of 1,286| bushels per acre. 



Expenses. 



Ploughing, etc., 



Manure, . 



Seed and planting, . 



Cultivation, 



Harvesting, 



Total, 



$4 00 

 28 00 



5 00 

 12 00 



8 00 



$57 00 



Statement of Heman Copeland of West Bvidgewater. 



Carrots. — The plot on which my carrots grew is a 

 heavy loam, in potatoes in 1874, and in cabbages in 

 1875, being well manured both years. The first of last 

 May, two cords of manure were ploughed in eight inches 

 deep, and 375 pounds of phosphates harrowed in. May 

 11, sowed with a machine, using three-quarters of a pound 

 of Danvers Orange seed. Shuffle-hoed three times, and 

 weeded by hand twice. October 17, the supervisor bar- 



