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advantage as hay. It appears to be necessary that a certain volume 

 should be given to the feed rather than that the feed however nutri- 

 tious, should be given in a concentrated form ; but it is not believed 

 that there is much nutriment contained in the straw itself. I know 

 of no experiments made to ascertain the amount of rye, wheat, bar- 

 ley, or oat straw upon an acre ; but where the crop of rye is equal 

 to twenty bushels, it would be fair to estimate a ton. This, at the 

 prices which it usually commands in the vicinity of large towns, will 

 nearly or quite pay all the expenses of cultivation. A certain quan- 

 tity of rye, for fatting beef or pork, is of equal value with any grain 

 that can be given. It is an excellent feed for horses mixed with cut 

 fodder. It is superior to any other feed to be given to milch cows 

 for promoting secretions of milk ; and it is a crop that deserves 

 much more attention than it commonly receives. One of the best 

 farmers in Hamilton says, he always succeeds with rye if put in early. 



Barley is cultivated in many parts of the county to advantage. 

 Some few years since, owing to the importation of some barley from 

 Holland, by a brewer in Newburyport, an insect was introduced 

 which for several years destroyed the crops. The cultivation was 

 generally suspended for a time, and the insect has disappeared. The 

 crops reported to me in difierent towns in the county, areas follows: 

 in Manchester 20 bushels to an acre; Gloucester 26 bs. ; Essex 

 30 bs. ; Ipswich 30 bs. ; Amesbury 20 bs. ; Salisbury 30 bs. ; 

 Andover 54 bs. On one farm in Danvers 220 bushels have been 

 raised this year, averaging 27j bushels to an acre. In Beverly, 633 

 bushels have been raised on one farm this year, averaging 38 bushels 

 to the acre. At 30 bushels to the acre, barley is a valuable crop. 

 For fattening swine, it is considered by many good farmers, of equal 

 value pound for pound with Indian corn. To horses it is injurious. 

 At Danvers Alms House, it is made to supply the place of rye and 

 wheat, and makes an agreeable bread. 



The price of barley is seldom less than 70 cents, and rarely over 

 $1 per bushel. The seed sown upon an acre is usually 3 bushels. 

 The straw is not of equal value for the market as rye straw ; 

 but considered better for the feed of cattle as it is softer. The 

 expense of cultivation and harvesting, may be estimated, exclusive 



