114 



cost to me of the fish and glue compost was about three dol- 

 lars a cord ; that of the compost used in the hills very nearly 

 two-thirds of a cent for each' hill, the materials entering into 

 it having been purchased wholesale. 



The soil was strong loam, about seven inches deep, with a 

 sub-soil of admixture of sand and clay. In preparing the 

 land it was ploughed but once, about seven inches deep. 

 The cost of ploughing, harrowing and furrowing, I should 

 estimate per acre, at eight dollars. The quantity of seed 

 was half a pound to the acre, at a cost of two dollars. The 

 cost of planting the seed I should put at two dollars per acre. 

 The crop was cultivated and hoed three times, at a cost of 

 thirty dollars per acre. The thinning and transplanting I put 

 at five dollars per acre. As the Cabbages were for seed pur- 

 poses, the cost of harvesting could hardly be estimated. As 

 to the value of the crop, at the time it was gathered seed 

 Cabbages were worth about eight cents each in Boston market. 



James J. H. Gregoky. 



NEW VAEIETr OF WINTER APPLES. 



On the latter part of the second day of the Fair, the at- 

 tention of the Chairman of your Committee was called, by 

 Mr. James W. Bailey, of Bradford, to a plate of apples 

 (Ropes apple, so called) which he represented to be a new 

 kuid of fruit, for which he asks for the |100 premium. 



The premium is large, and I think ought not to be paid 

 until the applos are fully tested and proved to be of superior 

 quality, and it will take years to prove the bearing qualities 

 ©f the tree, and the keeping qualities of the fruit. I there- 

 fore thought it unnecessary to call on the other members of 

 the Committee, as no premium would be awarded this year. 

 Such measures can be taken hereafter as may be thought 



proper. 



Joseph How, Chairman. 

 Methuen, Nov. 13, 1878. 



