91 



the last spring. This farm, before Mr. Merrill's occupation, 

 was in the care of an administrator, who testifies that for a se- 

 ries of years no manure was applied, but sufficient crops were 

 taken off to reduce the land to the lowest condition. 



Mr, Merrill, according to his statement which accompanies 

 this report, took the only course possible to restore it to fertil- 

 ity, viz. : the application of large quantities of manure of va- 

 rious kinds, and the practice of thorough cultivation ; and 

 some of the Committee who from time to time have had op- 

 portunities to witness his operations, will testify that these op- 

 erations have been conducted with an energy and a determina- 

 tion to " push things " in this line^ worthy of imitation by all 

 farmers within our borders, or even in the famed countv of 

 Middlesex. The crops raised have generally been gocd, and 

 the farm has shown an increased capacity from year to year. 



In the specialty of hot-bed culture, it appears that Mr. M. 

 has been quite successful. As will be learned from his state- 

 ment, a very long range has been laid down, and the arrange- 

 ment and management seem to have been such as to secure 

 satisfactory results. 



The crops of Mr. Merrill are more varied than is usual 

 among the cultivators of this vicinity, commencing with the 

 earliest lettuce under glass in the spring, with other crops 

 constantly maturing, and terminating with the late root crops 

 in the autumn. One advantage of this system is, that if an 

 unfavorable condition of the season affects otie crop injuriously, 

 others may compensate for the failure, by uncommon excel- 

 lence ; or if some crops sell at a low rate in the market, oth- 

 ers will bring such prices as to keep the scale even. This fact 

 was particularly noticeable within a year or two, when it hap- 

 pened that the earliest vegetables under glass sold at very 

 high prices, whila those maturing late in the season, barely 

 paid the cost of cultivation. 



Duiiug the visits of your Committee, they saw many of the 

 crops which are enumerated in the statement of Mr. Merrill, 



