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which was the preceding year phiuted with potatoes, and in 

 the spring of 1875 was manured with five cords of stal)le 

 manure, and fifty bushels of ashes, which I estimate at one 

 half the cost, the other half remaining in the soil for future 

 crops. The plants were set in May, 1875, in rows three feet 

 apart, and twenty inches apart in the rows, making beds five 

 and one half wide, and paths one and one half Avide. The 

 runners were allowed to grow and fill the space between the 

 rows. In the autumn, about the middle of November, the 

 whole piece was mulched with a light coat of pine leaves, 

 which was left on the following summer. On top of the pine 

 leaves was put a good coat of meadow hay, which was re- 

 moved about the middle of April. 



The manure was harrowed in with a Randall Harrow, 

 (which, by the way, is an excellent tool to have on a farm.) 

 When I entered my crop, (about the middle of June,) the 

 plants were looking finely, but soon after, the rust injured the 

 vines very much, so that I cannot report over two-thirds of 

 an average crop. 



The following is the cost of cultivation : — * 



Preparing ground, setting plants, weeding, &c., 



33 days $49.50 



Picking 2700 boxes, at 2j- cents, . . 67.50 



Marketing, .15.00 



Manure and ashes, .... 25.00 — $157.00 



Credit by 2700 boxes of berries, at 15 cents, $405.00 



2500 plants sold, . . . 12.50— $417.50 



Balance in favor of crop, . . . $260.50 



From actual measurement I hereby certify that the above 

 crop covered ninety rods of land. 



Joseph Merrill. 



