27 



Until within the last two years, the town of West Newbury has al- 

 ways raised a sufficiency for its own wants ; and some for sale. 

 Good crops have been produced in some places in the county this 

 year. In Newbury, two acres produced fifty-seven bushels of sound 

 grain. This was the Black Sea wheat. In another instance, 32 

 bushels and 14 quarts were obtained from an acre. In Lynn, a good 

 crop of 20 bushels to the acre was obtained. In Haverhill a crop 

 of 25 bushels to the acre. In Ipswich likewise there have been 

 good crops. In Gloucester, a small piece of land yielded at the 

 rate of 24 bushels to the acre. 



The crop can hardly be considered as an established product of 

 the county ; and the amount raised at any time bears an inconsidera- 

 ble proportion to the wants of the population. There are parts of 

 the county, especially the northeastern, where the soil is clayey; and 

 where, by proper management, it may be cultivated to advantage. A 

 farmer in Newbury states, that " he has raised wheat and rye on his 

 farm since the year 1812, and has found no difficulty except in 1836." 

 This year his crop was excellent, yielding more than 26 bushels to 

 the acre. He adds, " I have always sown wheat on ground in good 

 condition; and, at the same time, have laid the land down to grass ; 

 and I have thought the roots of wheat decomposed soon, enriched 

 the ground, and were better for the grass than full sowing without the 

 wheat. I have always sown spring wheat; and in 1836, sowed 

 Black Sea wheat. It came up mixed as to kinds, but of a good 

 quality. I sowed the wheat I raised last year in 1837, and it was 

 good in quantity and quality." 



1. Wheat is still, however, regarded as an uncertain crop. Some 

 portion of lime in the soil is deemed essential to its success. Soils, 

 containing only one hundredth per centage of lime, are found capable 

 of bearing wheat. In this county, this can be procured only al 

 considerable expense. The value of lime to corn is almost as great 

 as to wheat, though to the latter crop, some measure of it is indis- 

 pensable. The prospect that the cost of lime will be considera- 

 bly reduced, by cheaper methods of burning it being employed in the 

 great lime depositories in Maine, leads to the hope that it may be 

 more accessible to the Essex farmers. The use of ground bones, 

 which will soon be extended, will, in some measure, supply its place. 



