No. 4.] MARKET GARDENING. 135 



Mr. Howard. On some 20 acres we used to think it was 

 necessary when we started in business to clean off all the 

 beets by the 7th or 8th of July, and we usually got them all 

 off; but now we do not. We start j)ulling about the 16th 

 and I7th of June, and now a good many times we don't 

 clean them all off before the 25th of July or 1st of August. 



Mr. Russell. Do you thin them as heavily as you used 

 to? 



Mr. Howard. We thin them as thin on the early ]ilant- 

 ing, but the late planting we let stand a good deal thicker 

 than we used to. The early planting we let stand 5 or 6 

 inches apart, and the late planting 2l/o. 



Secretary Ellsworth. I move that the Board extend a 

 vqte of thanks to the Middlesex South Agricultural Society 

 for providing the hall and for the manner in which they have 

 entertained us. I feel very much flattered with the recep- 

 tion that has been given here by all the people, as well as by 

 the Framingham Board of Trade. 



Carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned. 



