45 



the seeds for twenty-four hours i;i milk-warm water, skimmhig off 

 all that rise upon the surface, and roll the rest in pulverized plas- 

 ter. If the seeds are good, they will then be sure to vegetate. 

 Deep, heavy loam, near low land, is to be preferred for parsnips. 

 Proceeding in this way, I have grown, upon half an acre of 

 ground, 1;20 barrels of good merchantable parsnips, most of which 

 "were sold for $1.50 per barrel, and some, in the Spring, for $2.25. 

 They were harvested by running a large plough closely to the 

 rows and pulling the roots up by their tops. I consider the above, 

 however, an extraordinary yield, and the cost per barrel I am 

 unable to state exactly. Parsnips afford good food for stock or 

 swine. I have fed store pigs with raw parsnips in the winter 

 season, giving no other food, and found that the pigs throve well. 



Land, which produces good corn, I consider best for grass. 

 Good crops of grass niaj'', indeed, be produced on low grounds, 

 too wet for corn ; but the quality of such grass cannot be so good 

 as that grown on drier land. 



I think the best time for cutting grass is when it is in full blos- 

 som, sliould the weather then be suitable. With })roper care two 

 tons per acre may be harvested. I use only the scythe in mowing, 

 and rake the hay with a horse-rake, saving thereby full one half 

 the labor. 



It has been my custom to employ native workmen. I think 

 they are the most skilful ; they understand more readily and ex- 

 ecute more rapidly. I usually employ five men for eight months 

 in the year, and have endeavored to obtain men of rugged con- 

 stitution and of good moral cbaracter. I treat them like men, 

 and, in almost every instance, if I wanted one to perform any 

 labor, at any hour of the day or the night, I had only to make the 

 request. Or, if I wished, at any time, to accomplish an extra 

 amount of labor, for a day's work, I have seldom failed to do it. 



The average wages I have paid, for five years past, has been 

 $15.50 per month, and all whom I have hired have been ready 

 to commence work at sunrise, and to continue it till sundown, or 

 later, if necessary. Yours respectfully, 



E. W. Robinson. 



LETTER FROM ELIJAH TUCKER, ESQ. 



Milton, October, 1858. 



Gentlemen, — Having read your circular I cheerfully comply 

 ■with the request it contains by giving my experience upon some of 

 the questions you propose ; — not expecting, however, that I shall 

 advance any new ideas. 



My farm contains ninety acres. Consequently, having land 

 enough, my object is to make the most of my labor and manure. 



