APPENDIX. 113 



[ i:. ] 



On Cnllivotion of Rye. — John Keely's Statement. 



TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY : 



Gentlemen, — Having for some years past been more than com- 

 monly successful in raising large crops of winter rye by a process of 

 cultivation which I believe is entirely new ; I have been induced by 

 the suggestion of some gentlemen whose judgment I very much respect, 

 to submit for your consideration a statement of the mode of culture 

 with the produce. And that the success of the experiment this season, 

 may not appear to be altogether accidental, it will perhaps be as well 

 to communicate the result of the process for the three or four previous 

 years. 



The land on which the experiment has been conducted is situated 

 on the Merrimack, about a mile and a half east of Haverhill bridge; 

 and came into possession of my father in 1827. The soil is a sand, 

 approaching to loam as it recedes from the river. Perhaps the term 

 idnin land (by which it usually passes) will better convey an idea of 

 the quality of the soil. It is altogether too light for grass. The crops 

 we find most profitable to cultivate on it are winter rye, Indian corn, 

 potatoes, and to some extent turnips. Oats might probably be raised 

 to advantage were it not that the land is completely filled with the 

 weed commonly called charlock, which renders it entirely unfit for any 

 spring crop, excepting such as can be hoed. The crops of rye, on 

 the neighboring soil of the same nature, vary I believe from seven or 

 eight, to twelve or thirteen bushels per acre, according to the cultiva- 

 tion and their approximation to tlie river. We usually raise on the land 

 from thirteen to thirty bushels of Indian corn per acre. Potatoes are 

 very good in quality, but the quantity is quite small ; not suflicient to 

 be profitable were it not that the land is very easily cultivated. 



In the summer of 1827, we sowed three bushels of winter rye near 

 the river, on about two acres of land, which produced twenty eight 

 bushels. 



In 1828, we sowed four bushels on four acres of land running the 

 whole extent of the plain from the river. This piece was sowed in 

 the spring with oats ; but they were completely smothered with char- 

 lock, and about the middle of June, the whole crop was mowed to 

 prevent the charlock seeding. By about the middle of August, a 

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