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GKAIN CROPS. 

 The Committee on Grain Crops award to Ben. Perley Poore, 

 of West Newbury, for his Corn Crop, the first premium of 

 $10.00. 



To S. A. Merrill, of Salem, for his "Wheat Crop, the first 

 premium of $8.00. 



Geo. B. Loring, Chairman. 



STATEMENT OF BEN: PERLEY POORE. 

 Hon. George B. Loring, 



Chairman of Committee of Essex Agriadtural Society. 



The acre of land entered by me for premium is located on 

 the top of " Indian Hill," where the aborigines are known to 

 have planted the same crop, using the shoulder blades of the 

 moose and sharpened sticks for the preparation of the land, 

 and '* hilling " with clam-shells. The soil is a gravelly loam, 

 and water is found at the distance of fifteen or twenty feet 

 below the surface of the ground, although the top of the hill 

 is upwards of two hundred feet above the level of the nearest 

 running water. 



The crop of 1861 was grass, but hardly worth cutting, the 

 land having' been used as a parade-ground for several years. 



No manure had been applied since 1846-7, when two crops 

 of Ruta Bagas were raised on it. 



It was ploughed once, early in the spring, eight inches deep 

 and harrowed — cost $6.00. 



The previous fall twelve loads of manure, decomposed in 

 in the open yard, had been hauled up and piled on the ground. 

 Estimated value, $24.00. 



The corn was planted May 8th-12th. The ground was 

 holed with a hoe — the manure was put in the holes, and the 

 corn planted was covered with the hoe. Five kernels were 

 planted in each hill, amounting to about 12 quarts, costing 50 

 cents. Cost of planting, $4.00. 



When the corn was about four inches high, it was ploughed 



