106 



The Committee award to him for his crop of Fottler's Im- 

 proved Brunswick Cabbage, the premium of $10. 



Ou the same day we visited the farm of Francis R. Apple- 

 ton, of Ipswich, who had entered a piece of Ruta Baga Tur- 

 nips, also a piece of Mangold Wurtzels. 



The piece of Turnips was very uneven in appearance, and 

 injured badly by lice, occasioned, doubtless, by the dry 

 weather; but as the turnip will grow late in the season, there 

 was a chance for the crop to recover and produce a good yield. 

 From the statement of Mr. Appleton, it appears there was 

 not as large a crop as he has usually grown on his farm. 



The piece of Mangold Wurtzels was, like the Turnips, very 

 uneven, with many vacant spaces. The seed of the Mangold 

 Wurtzel is very hard to get up evenly. 



The better way, we have found to be, is to soak the seed 

 in warm water for twenty-four hours, then dry it so it will 

 not cling together in sowing, or roll it in ashes or plaster and 

 sow at once, covering deep enough to insure moisture, so that 

 the seed will germinate freely. 



In the statement of Mr. Appleton, his method of raising, 

 and the amount of each crop, is given ; but as the whole 

 amount is consumed on the farm, he makes no estimate of 

 the cost of producing, or value of the same. 



The Committee award to him for his crop • of Ruta Baga 

 Turnips, the premium of $10. ; also for his crop of Mangold 

 Wurtzels, the premium of $10. 



On reading the statements of the cost of producing the 

 crops entered for the premiums of the Society, this question 

 naturally suggests itself. For what purpose does the Society 

 offer these premiums ? Is it simply for the pleasure of pay- 

 ing out the amount awarded the successful competitor? or 

 does it rather expect in return that their statements shall fur- 

 nish some new ideas or iuformation gained as to the cost of 

 producing the crop in question? 



No new iuformation can be acquired unless we step out of 



