98 



down, after rotting, is a pretty good manure of itself. I think 

 top dressing old sod land with barn yard manure is almost like 

 throwing money away, compared with working in the manure 

 after ploughing. After the ground is down a year a top-dressing 

 of sea manure works splendidly, especially on low land ; the 

 more wet on the surface the better for it. 



I prefer horse and cow manure mixed, if the animals are 

 grained well, which makes the good ingredients. 



I may say the board drain is very simple to make ; hemlock 

 plank would be better than boards in some cases, especially if 

 there is heavy teaming over it. Using plank they need not be 

 so wide and the cost would not be but a little more. Only a 

 few nails are required to keep the tops in place, a little opening 

 being left all the better. I am sure such drains will give satis- 

 faction in low land where you cannot go deep. The distance 

 apart I put the drains is 50 feet. 



Beply of M. F. Batchelder of Peabody^ Mass., who received 



premiums for Beets, Carrots and Cabbages, and had 



other Vegetables, ^c, very good. 



In reply to your note of Oct. 13, I will give you what in- 

 formation I can in regard to the cultivation of Vegetables, &c. 



Onions can be raised on most any soil where corn will grow ; 

 black or loamy soil the best, manured with horse manure six 

 to ten cords to the acre. Crop 300 to 600 bushels to the acre. 

 Sow early, about three pounds of seed to the acre. 



Cabbages will grow on most any kind of land that is moist 

 and rich. The earlier you plant, the better, and the richer the 

 land the better they will grow. Plant in hills two feet by three. 

 When they begin to harden up we begin to harvest them, from 

 July until frost comes. 



Potatoes. The earlier they are planted the better ; manure 

 very high. Plant in drills three feet by one. When the the tops 

 dry down begin to harvest. 150 to 200 bushels per acre. 



Corn. Same kind of soil and same manure. 50 to 75 

 bushels per acre. Seed from good ripe corn. 



