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to such is yes, if you will guarantee the following conditions, 

 viz.: — That the seed shall be planted at the proper time, that 

 the weather shall be neither too hot or too cold, too wet or too 

 dry that too much manure shall not be used, or too little, that no 

 insect shall molest the crop and that every condition of nature 

 shall be perfect. Crops often fail from many of these natural 

 causes when the seedsman is censured and his seed condemned. 



Reply of Francis H. Ajjpleton, of Broadfelds Farm, Peahody. 



This season (1879) I harvested from 3 acres 31,424 ft. of 

 land 169| bushels of oats, and 8 tons, 215 pounds of straw and 

 chaft ; or at the rate of 45.55 bushels of oats and 2 tons, 89 

 pounds straw and chaff per acre. 



In 1877 the same land had Hungarian grass, except half an 

 acre where potatoes were planted on stable manure. The 

 Hungarian was a thin crop grown on an old mossy pasture sod, 

 with a fertilizer, and the potatoes were also a light crop. 



In 1878 the part of the same field, where the Hungarian 

 grew, was dressed with 18 cords stable manure, but no stable 

 manure was put where the potatoes were ; the whole was also 

 fertilized in drill with " Stockbridge Hill & Drill Phosphate" 

 and sown to Indian corn. The yield was 441 bushels of corn- 

 on-cob, and 8 tons 776 pounds of stover. 



Last Autumn I ploughed the fields, and early this Spring 

 divided it into two parts for experimental purposes. 



Tlie north part, containing 1 acre, 35,827 ft., I dressed 

 (without again plowing) with five bags " Stockbridge Oat Fer- 

 tilizer," costing '122.50, and harrowed it well in ; then sowed 

 heavily, with 6 bushels of seed. I should say that besides 

 wanting to seed heavily, I am much troubled by crows and had 

 to allow for their depredations. The seed was bought of a 

 grain dealer in Salem. This part has yielded 82 3-4 bushels 

 of oats, and 4 tons, 154 pounds of straw and chaff. 



The south part, containing 1 acre 39,157 ft. I dressed with 

 3| bags Rectified Peruvian Guano, costing $24.50. 



The treatment was the same over the whole field, and 6 



