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I certify to the veracity of Mr. Courtis, from personal 

 knowledge of the party ; also that I have received evidence 

 sujEficient to satisfy me of the correctness of his statements. 



J. J. H. Gregory, Marblehead, Mass. 



STATEMENT OF HAZEN AYERS. 



To the Committee on Root Crops: 



I have a crop of Beets, commonly called Mangol-Wurtzel, 

 covering forty-four square rods of land, near my barn. They 

 have grown luxm-iantly, and are devoured voraciously by all 

 animals to which I have fed them. The largest weigh ten or 

 twelve pounds. One square rod yielded eight hundred and 

 thirty-two pounds ; which, if I figure right, is equal to sixty- 

 six tons to the acre. I have never raised so large or so valua- 

 ble a crop of any other vegetable. I am aware that it does not 

 come up to your prescribed rule of half an acre — but such as 

 I have I bring before you. 



South Danvers, Oct. 22, 1861. 



[Note. — The Trustees awarded to ]\[r. Aycr a gratuity of 

 five dollars for his experiment, and directed the publication of 

 his statement.] 



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