158 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



entering their fields for premium. "We know of several lots 

 that yielded, with one exception, crops fully equal to those to 

 which premiums were assigned, that were not entered. We 

 are happy to state that the drought was less injurious than 

 had been anticipated. The crop, though smaller than that of 

 last year, is fully an average one, and, on good land well cul- 

 tivated, amply repays the labor and expense bestowed upon it. 

 We are aware of diversities of opinion respecting the profita- 

 bleness of Indian corn, some farmers having discontinued rais- 

 ing it on account of its small returns ; others affirming that it 

 is less profitable than grass,* others that it is the best crop 

 they raise. A distinguished farmer grows no corn because in 

 former trials he could get no more than sixty bushels from an 

 acre ! Others are satisfied with forty as a remunerating yield. 

 We believe that on this subject most farmers have yet much to 

 learn, especially in regard to what the yield may be when the 

 land is properly prepared and cultivated. We apprehend that 

 few know what their grain crop costs ; at least their knowledge 

 is so indefinite as to furnish no satisfactory opinion of its prof- 

 itableness. By this we mean that they keep no exact account 

 of their expenditures. The corn in the bin speaks for itself : 

 but how much the land is worth ; how much is spent for labor ; 

 how much for manure ; what is the value of the stover, — these 

 have scarcely ever been accurately ascertained. And without 

 this knowledge it is impossible to determine what the corn 

 costs. One farmer says that corn may be raised in Norfolk 

 for fifty cents a bushel ; another, that a dollar will hardly cover 

 the expense. But neither knows what it docs cost, for want of 

 a system of farm accounts. The difference in their opinion 

 looks very much as if they contented themselves with guessing. 

 Some of our most judicious farmers, however, assure us in gen- 

 eral terms that nothing pays better than corn, both in the crop 

 itself and in the preparation of tho land for grass. We have 

 found the most favorable opinion on this subject in men who 

 have taken the most pains ; who have expended the most labor 

 and money; who have ploughed deep and manured well; who 

 have kept their laud in the best condition. They certainly arc 

 the most competent judges. They observe that method of 

 cultivation which in other things pays a good interest. No 



