44 



nnd to plant potatoes the next Spring. Then, in the Fall, I 

 plough in green stable manure, and in the following Spring plant 

 peas, cabbage, parsnips, carrots, or some other root crop. If, 

 ■when these crops are removed, I wish to lay down the land to 

 grass, I sow, in the Fall, winter rye and grass seed — at the rate 

 of four or five pecks of rye with a half bushel, each, of herdsgrass 

 and redtop seed. I then pick off the stones, and roll the ground 

 with a heavy roller. If any sods or bushes remain about the 

 fences, they are carefully removed. 



I commonly use clear manure, at the rate of eight cords per 

 acre, at each time of jjlanting, but none at the time of sowing 

 grain or grass seed. When grass seed is to be sown in the 

 Spring, I sow with it barley. Wheat and oats do not fill well in 

 this locality. 



I have not been in the habit of using much manure for top- 

 dressing, preferring to invert the sod and seed anew, after manur- 

 ing, if the field is to be kept in grass. 



My usual practice has been to plough green sward nine or ten 

 inches deep ; old ground, for planting or sowing, six or eight 

 inches. 



For some years past, I have raised early potatoes, by putting 

 the tubers into beds of manure about the first of April, and trans- 

 planting them with care about the first of May, putting into the 

 hills some well-rotted manure. The ground is prepared, however, 

 the preceding Fall, by ploughing in coarse manure. The potatoes 

 are hoed about one week after being transplanted, and again 

 within ten days afterwards. The crop averages about two hand- 

 red bushels of good merchantable potatoes. They will be early 

 ready for the market, be more likely to escape the rot, and to sell 

 for a good price. White Chenango potatoes are the best variety 

 for the Boston market. 



Early peas, for the market, are generally a good crop to raise. 

 Select good seed ; this is very important. Plough as soon as the 

 ground can be furrowed in the Spring, putting in manure which 

 has been thoroughly forked over and commenced heating. Use 

 the manure freely, and plant about a bushel of peas to the acre. 

 After hoeing the peas a second time, plant in the rows either 

 marrow squashes or sweet corn. When the peas have been 

 picked, pull up the vines and hoe and cultivate the corn, if that 

 was planted as soon as possible, and you will have it in season for 

 the market before any frost can injure it. 



Parsnips yield another good crop, when made to grow well. 

 Their seeds do not readily vegetate. I have usually prepared the 

 ground for them, and also the seed, in the following way : — I 

 plough the gromid to the depth of ten or more inches, putting in 

 at the same time at least ten cords of manure to the acre. I soak 



