40 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



In applying the salt to the land, we prefer the winter or towards 

 the spring, but aXwdiYS previous to the swelling of the buds. Our 

 method is, to spread it upon the surface, where it remains until 

 the ground is in a proper state to work; it is then dug or 

 ploughed in. 



We have, the past season of 1846, used rock-weed taken wet 

 from the ocean, in planting potatoes, placing the weed in drills 

 about three feet distant, and planting a set at each end of the 

 weed, covering all about four inches deep with soil ; the crop 

 was good, entirely free from the rot or wire-worm. 



I. M. IVES. 



Salem, November 23, 1846. 



Grain Crops. 



The Committee, F. Howes, chairman, reported that C. H. 

 Hohues, of Topsfield; was the only claimant for the premium 

 of the society for the best-conducted experiment in cultivating 

 beans. They did not, on the whole, think that he was entitled 

 to the premium ; but recommended that, for his experiments in 

 the cultivation of this article, and the account of them in his 

 statement, a gratuity of five dollars be awarded to him. 



C. H. Holmes'' s Statem,ent. 



It is singular that the cultivation of the bean is not more ex- 

 tensive among Yankee farmers, who generally have an eye to 

 their own interest, for certainly there is no crop raised, (except 

 in the neighborhood of a market) which yields so great a profit ; 

 — as the bean is adapted to every soil, yielding from fifteen to 

 twenty-five and sometimes forty bushels per acre, and requiring 

 a small outlay of manure and labor to its production. The 

 small pea bean has my preference to all others, because it pro- 

 duces more to the acre, is not so liable to be fractured in thresh- 

 ing, and, last but not least, is worth twelve per cent, more in the 



