ROOTS. 41 



to almost any desirable depth we choose — at least in very many of our 

 fields. 



A member of this committee having used it the past autumn on his 

 fields, is well satisfied of its good effects ; the positive proof of its use 

 however is yet to be seen in after crops ; most authors on fruit 

 culture speak of it in high terms, — consider it almost an indispensable 

 utensil in preparing the soil for the growth of fruit trees ; if so, the rule 

 may follow that it should be in use for many other purposes, especially 

 so for those crops that grow deep in the soil. 



Of the carrot crop only two entries were made, one by Mr. Ebenezer 

 Bird of Leominster, whose field produced at the rate of one thousand 

 bushels per acre, to whom we award the first premium, $4.00. 



The other field, by Mr. Martin Johnson of Lunenburg ; the product 

 from this field was eight hundred bushels per acre ; the root we consid- 

 er of a superior kind. Mr. Johnson, however, failed to make his 

 return and statement to the committee at the time appointed, conse- 

 quently we were obliged to withhold a premium. 



TURNIPS. 



Three fields of this root were entered, one of which wag withdrawn ; 

 of the others we did not consider either worthy a premium. 



POTATOES. 



Of this crop five entries were made; two of the same were withdrawn. 



The product from the field entered by C. Kilburn of Lunenburg, 

 was sixty four and one-third bushels to one-fourth acre, as estimated 

 from the square rod selected ; the whole cost of cultivation seventeen 

 dollars. 



The product from Mr. E. Bird's field of Leominster, was seventy- 

 four and two-third bushels ; whole cost of cultivation twenty-two dollars. 

 And that of Mr. H. Harris of North Ashburnham, one hundred seven 

 and two-third bushels ; cost of cultivation forty. five dollars. As the 

 committee, in accordance with the Society's rules, are to award premi- 

 ums for the most profitable crops instead of the greatest, we give them 

 as follows : 



To Cyrus Kilburn, Lunenburg, 1st premium, $8 00 



To Ebenezer Bird, Leominster, 2d premium, 5 00 



To Humphrey Harris, N. Ashburnham, 3d prem., Grasses ^ Forage. 



As it respects the cultivation of this very useful and profitable root, 

 many expeDipents have been made, and various suggestions offered. 

 The experiment made by a member of the committee is to seed with 

 whole potatoes, instead of cuttings, and the result was a large per cent, 

 above those that were cut,— rows standing side by side in the same 

 field. Another member has also tried the experiment, — only, however, 

 to a limited extent, — by cutting off" the seed end," or the part having 



