23 



and got forty bushels per acre. When planted on sward, at that 

 season of the year, the decomposition of the sward takes place 

 quickly, and the growth of the corn is very rapid. 



Mr. S. greatly prefers sweet corn to the common kinds for fod- 

 der. He stated that in feeding his cows last Avinter on the fodder 

 of sweet corn, the sup])ly became temporarily exhausted, and in- 

 stead of the fodder a full supply of the best hay was given, the 

 keeping in other respects being the same that it was before ; but the 

 quantity of milk decreased considerably, till by removing some 

 hay another supply of corn-fodder was reached, and on returning 

 to it the cows soon gave the former quantity of milk. This was 

 the dried stalks from which the ears had been sent to market as 

 " green corn." The stalks were cut close to the ground soon 

 after the ears were gathered.* 



A portion of the Committee visited the farm of Ellis Tucker, 

 of Canton, on the 2d of July. They were unfortunately pre- 

 vented by rain from making as extensive examinations in the 

 neighborhood as they had intended. Mr. Tucker's farm was occu- 

 pied by his ancestoi's for several generations. Since it came into 

 his possession he has repaired some of the buildings, made impor- 

 tant additions, and erected a convenient stable and carriage-house. 

 The farm is situated on the eastern shore of Massapoag pond, a 

 portion of it sloping very handsomely to that fine body of water. 

 Most of it is naturally very good for grass, though a considerable 

 part would be benefited by drainage. Some small streams, 

 rising from springs on the land, might, if drains were first pro- 

 perly laid, be readily made to irrigate several acres. Some of 

 Mr. T.'s land has been in pasture a long time — probably ever 

 since the original forest was cut ofi", two hundred years ago. The 

 best of it still produces very good feed, but not as much or of as 

 good a quality as formerly. Among the various means which have 

 been resorted to for the improvement of pastures, wood ashes 

 have been found to produce the best results. The effect of fifty 

 bushels to the acre, unleached, is to produce the most luxuriant 

 and nutritious feed for many years. We are not aware that any 



* Since this Report was written, Cheever Newhall, Esq., has informed the Chair- 

 man that lie planted three-fourths of an acre of sweet corn, in the latter part of 

 May, drop))ini:j the seed with a corn-planter, in rows three feet apart, and in hills 

 ahout two feet apart. The enltivation was nearly all done with the cultivator. 

 Sixty liarrcls of ears were sent to Boston from the lot, and on the 15th of Sej)- 

 tenil)er the crop was cut close to the <;™n'id and shocked — the stalks iieins quite 

 prccn, as tiic variety was late. It remained on the field in shock till about the 

 middle of Novcniher, when it was housed. Mr. N. states that he has fed the fod- 

 der to a cow and to his horses, which eat it with evident relish, and witiiout the 

 least waste, although the stalks were not cut. He is so well convinced of the 

 value of the fodder of sweet corn that he intends to raise enough in future to feed 

 his horses through the winter. 



