8; 



GRAIN CROPS. 



The Committee on Grain Crops regret to report but 

 one entry for the society's premiums, that of R. Frank 

 Dodge, of Wenham, on his crop of Indian corn, and we 

 award to him the first premium $10. 



Mr. Dodge's crop was viewed September 12, and the 

 committee were pleased to see so fine a field of corn, and 

 such evidences of clean and careful culture. Scarce a 

 Weed was seen ; not a missing hill was noticed. ' The crop 

 was remarkably even, with few barren, and no overgrown, 

 unripe stalks seen. 



We emphasize the regret first expressed, for we feel 

 that far too little attention is given to the grain crops of 

 old Essex, and trust that more attention will be given 

 them in the future. 



Respectfully submitted, 



William Little, Aaron Low, Charles J. Peabody — Com- 

 mittee. 



STATEMENT CONCERNING A CROP OF INDIAN CORN, 



RAISED BY ROBERT FRANK DODGE, IN THE TOWN 



OF WENHAM, MASS., 188?. 



Gentlemen : 



The land upon which my corn was raised had been in 

 grass for several years. The crop of 1885 was English 

 hay, about 1500 pounds per acre. No manure was used. 

 The hay of 1886 amounted to about 1200 pounds, with 

 no manure. The soil is dark loam, and is seldom affected 

 by drought. Plowing was done May 11, six inches deep. 

 Barn manure was spread after plowing, twenty-five loads 

 of thirty bushels each, and harrowed in. Value of man- 

 ure $2 per load. Cost of plowing and harrowing, $8. 

 Used 500 pounds of fertilizer in the hills, at a cost of 

 $10. Planted the field May 14, by hand, using one peck 

 •of eight-rowed yellow corn, with hills three and one-half 

 feet apart. Cost of planting, $4. Cultivated twice each 



