ROOTS. 41 



gas that decomposes the silicates of potash in the sand ; and the potash 

 converts the insoluble into soluble manure, which produces the crop. A 

 word to our young farmers or farmer's boys. Take a few square rods 

 of your light soil, if any you have, and try the experiment as suggested 

 and we believe with an outlay of ;?20 on ^ of an acre in labor,°wiU in 

 due time produce from 50 to 100 bushels of onions, or its equivalent in 

 Eome other crop ; will you try it ? 



CABBAGE. 



Of this crop three entries were made : one by Lawrin Pratt of So. 

 Fitchburg, the others by Ephraim Graham and Martin Johnson of 

 Lunenburg. 



The product fropa the squre rod selected from L. Pratt's field weigh- 

 ed 248 J lbs., to whom we award the first premium, S2.00. 



The product from the rod on E. Graham's field was 248 lbs., to 

 whom we award the 2d premium, $1.00. 



Evidently this crop can be grown on almost any soil where a crop of 

 corn can be cultivated with success. Generally, however, in this sec- 

 tion, we get the best return where the surface soil is black loam, 

 approaching muck, and a clay subsoil, or on reclaimed meadow ; in 

 case the surface soil is sandy, a compost of muck, night soil and leached 

 ashes will produce a stronger and more remunerative crop than the 

 same amount of barn manure. 



The best variety for fall and winter use doubtless is the " Stone 

 Mason"; heads have been grown from plants the present year 

 weighing from twenty to twenty-five pounds, equal in flavor to the 

 " Savoy," and selling in some sections at a higher rate. The 10th af 

 June is the proper time to plant for winter use ; if planted earlier they 

 are liable to crack and decay. The best and more successful crops are 

 usually grown by preparing the soil as for a field of corn, manuring in 

 the hill, dropping the seed and covering from one-half an inch to three- 

 fourths in depth, without transplanting. 



From the circumstance that such extensive crops have been grown 

 the past year, the growers have been obliged to sell at comparatively low 

 prices, yet "i'ankee skill has guessed it out" that we may "have a home 

 market " for the crop. A very extensive milk producer in this section 

 having purchased some ten tons to feed out to cows, says, to quote his 

 own language ; " My cows, since feeding with cabbage, have increased 

 their milk from fifteen to twenty per cent.'' Says another, " My ex- 

 perience is that cabbage produces flesh, as well as milk," which facts 

 go to show that we can at any time find ready sale for the crop. 



CARROTS. 



"All vegetation, in various stages of growth, requires warmth, air and 

 moisture to support life and health. Below the surface of the ground 

 there is a body of stagnant water, sometimes to great depth, but in 



