186 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



divided into three nearly ecjual parts, and each year we have 

 the manuring rotated. We rotate manures, instead of crops. 

 It is naturally good grass land, and that is the result. But, 

 because raijged robin and some other weeds were rather gain- 

 ing on the field, we broke it up in 1902, a portion of it, "just 

 after cutting the first crop. We plowed it, and then fol- 

 lowed the Clark system of harrowing. We harrowed until 

 about the 15th of August, when we seeded more heavily 

 than Dr. Wheeler has spoken of, and this past year we had 

 a bigger hay crop on that portion of the laiid than I have 

 ever seen. It amounted to about 5 tons on part of the 

 land, — a little over 5 tons to the acre with two crops. I 

 think it will pay to re-plow or re-seed some of the land 

 occasionally, but not often. 



Question. You want good sod to start on? 



Professor Brooks. Yes. I believe Dr. Wheeler says, 

 and I know that it is not appreciated to the full value, to 

 cover every inch with grass. That is why I use more seed. 

 I think my experience would indicate that, if you sow as 

 little seed as he stated is used, you would not get so close a 

 turf, and some weeds would be liable to get the start. 



Mr. B. p. Ware (of Marblehead). I have the impres- 

 sion that your land requires lime more than the average land 

 of New England. Is that so? 



Dr. Wheeler. I think there are lands in New England 

 that require it as much as our own. 



Mr. Ware. How can we ascertain whether our land is 

 needing lime or not? There is some simple way by which 

 we can ascertiiin, I suppose. 



Dr. Wheeler. In regard to ascertaining whether soils 

 are acid, that is easily done by taking some blue litmus 

 paper, stirring up a little of the soil with a knife, and using 

 enough water to make it of the consistency of thick gi-iddle- 

 cake dough. Insert the blue litmus paper, and let it stand 

 for half an hour. If at the end of that time the blue color 

 has disappeared and red appears, you may be sure the soil 

 is distinctly acid. There is another test, which is to take 

 two teaspoonfuls of soil in a glass, fill it half full of water, 

 and add a little annnonia water, — a tablespoonful or two of 



