94 



Mr. Jaques, who presents potato and cabbage crops for 

 our consideration, has been foremost to take advantage of 

 the draining of Ash swamp, by Judge Bradley, who owns 

 some three hundred acres of this land, which he is reclaim- 

 ing ; we see no reason why this swamp is not capable of 

 producing as large crops as those of Mr. Newhall and Mr. 

 George. There are many hundred acres in the township 

 which might be reclaimed, we think, at a great profit, 

 yielding many tons of English hay, where now grow bush- 

 es and coarse grasses ; none of this land is rougher than 

 that which Mr. Jaques has had the pluck to grapple with ; 

 he has cropped this meadow without using any manure 

 with the exception of twelve hundred lbs. phosphate ; with 

 what success his statement will show. 



At North Andover we had a, pleasant visit with Mr. 

 Carleton, who presented his cabbage crop for our inspec- 

 tion, and if the premiums he has received are evidence of 

 his skill in this branch of his farming, he certainly under- 

 stands how to raise cabbage. In order to get medium 

 sized heads, which are more salable in the market than 

 overgrown ones are, he plants thick and thus gets a large 

 crop, and although very low prices rule this season, he 

 makes a fair show of profit. 



Our last call was on Mr. Manning at Topsfield ; although 

 too late to see his onions in the field, we were in season to 

 examine his carrots and turnips ; the turnips were of fine 

 quality, but his yield is doubtless diminished by the hard 

 freeze which occurred a few daj^s before, killing many of 

 the loaves, thereby stopping in a measure, the growth. 

 His crop of onions was a good one and showed evidence of 

 good farming, as did all his crops. 



Never before we think, in the history of the Society, has 

 there been so many entries by so many competitors, show- 

 ing an increased interest in high cultivation, and of friend- 

 ly rivalry among our farmers. 



