1840.J SENATE— No, 36. 187 



sun is, I think, amply sufficient for the purpose. If from further 

 experiments it should be found economical to water grass lands and 

 grain crops, a large cask or casks placed on wheels and drawn by oxen 

 or horse power, the liquor from the casks being at pleasure let into a 

 long narrow box perforated with numerous small holes, which would 

 spread the same over a strip of ground, some six, eight or ten feet in 

 breadth, as it is drawn over the field in the same manner as the streets 

 in cities are watered in summer. 



The piece of land mentioned in the foregoing statement, contained 

 two acres, three quarters, thirty-one rods. 



Danvers, December, 1839. 



ON PLOUGHING IN CROPS FOR MANURE. 



Boston, March 25, 1840. 

 Dr. S. L. Dana, 



Dear Sir, — Two successful and experienced farmers one in Frank- 

 lin and one in Berkshire county, have come to the conclusion, that, 

 in turning in crops by way of enriching the land, more benefit is de- 

 rived, that is, the fertility of the land is more advanced by ploughing 

 in a crop^after it has become dried or dead, than by turning it in in its 

 greatest luxuriance and greenness. One of them showed me the re- 

 sults of an experiment tending to this point, which appeared strongly 

 to favor his conclusions. A well-established fact is better than the 

 most elaborate hypothesis; and prejudices, however strong, must yield 

 to facts. 



Allow me under these circumstances, to inquire whether, upon your 

 principles or philosophy of vegetation, there occur to you any good 

 reasons for a result so much at variance with popular opinion. Your 

 views in full on this subject, will add to the obligations under which 

 you have already laid the public and your respectful friend and servant, 



HENRY COLMAN. 



