52 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



pcnd. With the view of obtaining some accurate information 

 on this subject, and of eliciting some valuable suggestions and 

 useful facts in relation to others, the following circular was 

 addressed to intelligent men in every town in the State : — 



commonwealth of massachusetts. 



Board of Agriculture, State House, ) 

 Boston, Sept. 15, 1854. ) 



Dear Sir: — Will you be so kind as to favor me with answers to the 

 following questions, together with such other suggestions as may be 

 of general interest or value to the farmers of this Commonwealth? 



If not in your power to give the desired information, you will do 

 me a great service by interesting some one in your town who will 

 procure and send it to me. 



1 . What has been the effect of the drought upon the Corn, Potato 

 and other crops, the present season, and what is their estimated yield 

 per acre ? 



2. What has been the comparative effect of the drought on deep 

 and shallow ploughed lands ? 



3. What has been the comparative effect of the drought on lands 

 where the manure was spread and ploughed in, and on those where it 

 was put in the hill ? 



4. What has been the effect of the drought on forest trees ? 



5. What is the best mode of guarding against the effects of droughts 

 like that of the present season ? 



6. Have there been any experiments in irrigation in your town ? 

 and if so, with what result ? 



7. To what extent has the disease affected the Potato the present 

 season ? 



8. What is the estimated decrease in the quantity of Potatoes cul- 

 tivated, and the decrease, per acre, on account of the disease or other 

 causes ? 



9. What has been the result of experiments this season in the use 

 of guano, superphosphate of lime, poudrette, or other concentrated 

 manures ? 



10. To what extent is guano \iscd in your town, and on what soils 

 does it produce the best results ? 



11. Have you used guano several years in succession on the same 

 soil? and if so, witli what apparent result on (he soil and crops ? 



12. What is the comparative cost or value, per ton, of the differ- 

 ent kinds of manure used on the farm, and which produces the best 

 return ? 



