216 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



while those on land ploughed six inches deep were of a greater 

 length, and those on land of eight or nine inches, of the greatest 

 length. From the facts above named, and many others that 

 could be mentioned, he has arrived at the conclusion that land 

 ploughed eight or nine inches deep, manured with long or green 

 manure annually, and sown with carrots for years in succession, 

 will produce at the least expense, with the least labor, and to 

 the greatest profit ; and that carrot rows eighteen inches apart, 

 with the carrots often so near as to crowd each other a little, 

 and about eight inches in length, on land ploughed and manured 

 as aforesaid, will produce the greatest weight of carrots to the 

 acre, and of the best quality. A few of the reasons, not 

 before named, for such a conclusion, are these : That land 

 ploughed eighteen inches deep requires double the manure that 

 nine inches does, and also double the labor in ploughing, con- 

 sequently doubles the expense in fitting the land for the seed ; 

 that it is natural for heat to ascend, and not to descend ; that 

 the nine inches receives nearly as much of the sun's heat as the 

 eighteen inches ; that eighteen inches cannot all be sufficiently 

 warmed by the rays of the sun, but in part by warm water, and 

 when that fails, as in case of a dry season, a sufficient quantity 

 of heat cannot be furnished to those lower regions; that the 

 weight of the carrot is in the first eight inches from the top, 

 while the part below is slender and light ; that the carrot which 

 strikes a stone in running down six inches will grow larger in 

 diameter and of about equal weight to that which runs down 

 ten inches; that it is natural for roots of trees, corn, potatoes, 

 plants and vegetables, to run near to the top of the ground in 

 search of light and heat; that nine inches will stand i\\o 

 drought or the flood as well as eighteen inches. This state- 

 ment, made in so much haste, is not intended for a guide, but 

 only for a hint from which other experiments may be made and 

 reported to this society. The object of the society is agricul- 

 tural improvement; and without experiments, hints, reports, 

 conversation and meetings, improvements in agriculture will 

 advance but slowly towards perfection. 



Charles Biugiiam, Chairman. 



