VEGETABLES. 141 



be better, but it must be well drained in order to give early 

 crops. If sloping, it would probably be naturally drained, 

 but in a flat or level section, unless attended to, the best 

 results must not be expected. The amount of manure to be 

 used will be indicated to some extent by the kind of vegetable 

 cultivated. A garden may be too rich in fertilizing elements 

 for some vegetables, but, as a rule, the more manure used 

 the larger the yield, and corresponding satisfaction to the 

 owner. 



Loring W. Puffer, Chairman. 



NANTUCKET. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Vegetables. — The raising of vegetables requires so much 

 intelligence, skill, and large experience, that many fail in their 

 attempts. There are departments in agriculture, whose treat- 

 ment would fill many volumes, and yet leave much unsaid ; such 

 is the subject of manures. Their various kinds and the cheapest 

 way of securing them, the best method of application, the 

 condition of the soil calling for several varieties, the succes- 

 sion of crops as connected with nutritive ingredients present 

 in the soil, or already taken from it, the precise effects of 

 different kinds of manures, and the circumstances under 

 which they finally exhaust the soil, are themes for profound 

 philosophy and research. There is not a single crop which 

 does not suggest curious and practical inquiries as to the vari- 

 ety of seed to be chosen, its method of selection, the condition 

 of the soil, and the details of cultivating the plant. 



The soil with which the farmer deals is more like a living 

 than a dead agent. It is found that plants feed with the same 

 daintiness, and require the same skill of preparation in their 

 food, as animals. The effect of thorough pulverization, of air, 

 of moisture, of length of time, and the form in which manures 

 have lain in the ground, are to be considered, and render it 

 impossible to apply a chemical theory without testing it prac- 

 tically at every step. While rules greatly aid us, they must 

 fall into intelligent hands to be entirely successful ; they 

 cannot travel from farm to farm, from field to field, without 



