106 



one-half acres were ploughed in June, thus late to avoid the 

 jilant louse, so destructive when sowing is done early ; and the 

 Committee's judgment was that from two thousand to two 

 thousand five hundred bushels would be harvested from that 

 field. The roots were smooth and beautiful, and usually com- 

 mand one dollar per barrel. Dr. Loring's method of keeping 

 the ruta baga is interesting, because it saves labor besides being 

 effectual. The roots are put into 2)^ts dug some four feet deep 

 and of about the same width, and twenty feet long, more or 

 less. Notwithstanding the fair price of this crop at market, 

 we understand the owner to say all his roots are fed out to the 

 cattle and horses ; beginning from the time of their coming to 

 the barn. Everything except the roots is subjected to the 

 steaming process — apparatus for which is not wanting. 



CARROTS. 



This crop, grown upon three-fourths of an acre, seems not 

 fully to have realized the reasonable expectations of the 

 owner. Still it is a fair one — we should call it a great one, 

 did not other root crops exceed it, though of the amount no 

 estimate by the Committee was made. 



INDIAN CORN. 



The cornfield, of fourteen acres (together with one acre of 

 turnips), is west of the railroad from Boston to Salem. The 

 time of the Committee did not admit of visiting this field in 

 November. That it suffered in spots from the worms was evi- 

 dent in August. 



MANURES. 



Fresh meadow mud is dug in September to the amount of 

 some five hundred ox-cart loads, and kept exposed to the frost 

 during the winter. It is then mixed with one hundred casks 

 of lime and well forked over. Dr. Loring applies phosphate 

 of lime in the hill before dropping the corn. About one ton 

 was used upon the above mentioned fourteen acre lot, west of 

 and adjoining the railroad. Dr. Loring's method of treating 



