1862. 



NEW ENGLAXD FARMER. 



315 



LEGISLATIVE AGRICULTUBAL SOCIETY. 



[Reported for tue Farmer bt D. W. Loturop.] 



The third meeting of the series was held at the 

 Bepresentativcs' Hall, on Monday evening last, 

 and the subject under consideration was — Crops, 

 and tlte Economy and Cost of Cultivation. Dr. 

 G. B. LoniXG, of Salem, was invited to preside. 



He said the subject opened a wide field for dis- 

 cussion, and involved the whole business of agri- 

 culture. Everything coming from the land, com- 

 merce, manufiictures, and all vocations, depend 

 upon its successful culture. lu respect to the 

 profit and economy of the various crops, there 

 seemed to be no law for the different localities of 

 the State. The farmers of Berksliire think the 

 small grains the most profitable, and those of Es- 

 sex would say the root crops were the most eco- 

 nomical. Then, again, others advocate the corn, 

 hay and fruit crops. In fact, it is impossible to 

 tell what is the most profitable. A contest in this 

 State has been waged between grass and root 

 crops, but has not been decided. What does it 

 cost to raise an acre of corn? One says $100, 

 another $30, &c. But the cost of a crop is not 

 always an index of the benefit of such crop, for the 

 soil and mode of cultivation affect the former, and 

 home consumption or markets the latter. Corn 

 at 25 bushels to the acre Avas of doubtful profit, but 

 at 100 bushels to the acre, at 35 cents per bushel, 

 it would pay. Generally speaking. Dr. L. thought 

 there was no unprofitable crop in New England, 

 but very much depended vipon the skill of the 

 cidtirator. The corn crop can always be made 

 profitable, and skill applied to the raising of all 

 farm products will meet its reward. The Englisli 

 think turnips the most profitable, as they are fed 

 down on the land in the autumn and winter by 

 sheep, whose droppings easily enrich the soil. In 

 this connection Dr. L. spoke of English fallows, 

 but there is no necessity of them here. Cora, po- 

 tatoes and grass are staple crops, and in their cul- 

 tivation there is no loss. But shall we introduce 

 new ones ? He had great faith in root crops — not 

 that they, like patent pills, were a remedy for 

 everytliing — but they greatly improve the land. 

 He instanced carrots, of which he could raise 35 

 tons to the acre, and of Swedes 18 to 22. These 

 he compared with the products of corn and hay, 

 and concluded that as they were easy of cultm-e, 

 and useful as an auxiliary, farmers should not 

 neglect them. In conclusion, he said he had 

 touched upon many topics of discussion, and 

 hoped that some of the following speakers might 

 disagree with him. 



Mr. Stedman, of Chicopee, inquired if root 

 crops were profitable to the chairman in his own 

 case. 



Dr. Lo'pJNG said he did not intend to say that 

 they were so much so as with some others. 



!Mr. Stedman then spoke of the diversity of ex- 

 perience in regard to carrots. From 15 to 18 tons 

 per acre could be raised, and at from 5 to 8 cents 

 per bushel. Generally they were more profitable 

 to sell than to feed. Mangold wurtzels couid be 

 raised at the rate of 30 tons to the acre. He 

 thought root crops were increasing, and it was 

 well, as they tend to cleanse the soil. Cum is a 

 staple, and for a single crop it is the best. 



Dr. LomxG said the yield of carrots diners very 

 much from different modes of culture. lie though 

 Iris statements were no exaggeration. 



Ml*. Howard, of the Boston Cultivator, being 

 called upon, said he had not thought much upon the 

 subject, but wdiere much stock is kept, ho believed 

 it good economy to use root crops as an auxiliary 

 in feeding. Turnips do not flourish as well here 

 as in England, neither can we feed them v\ith that 

 advantage. The English feed them ofi' by turn- 

 ing in sheep during the winter. But our winters 

 are too severe for this procedure. lie alluded, 

 however, to a gentleman in Saratoga county, 

 N. Y., who fed his sheep in this maimer with sat- 

 isfaction, but the speaker had his doubts about it. 

 The relative value of different crops was a desi- 

 deratum, and we ought to have a fund to establish 

 certain facts in the fcedmg of crops. Milli from 

 caiTots is very good, and the best for butter. 



Mr. Stedjian inquired at what distance carrots 

 should be groAvn. 



Dr. LoraxG replied ten or eleven inches apart, 

 lie commended the orange carrot, with a heavy 

 blunt root. The wheel hoe is used ia Essex coun- 

 ty for tilHng this crop, as well as for onions. 



jNIr. Stone, of Hull, inquired what root would 

 produce the most milk. 



Mr. Stedman replied the mangold wurtzel. 



Dr. LoRlNG. "Whatever will produce food will 

 produce milli, though corn was regai'ded as a fat- 

 tening principle. Tilangolds give the best milli, 

 but the Sv/edes are better for fattening. Daniel 

 Webster used salt hay and turnips for fattening 

 cattle in the winter, witli an addition of meal. 

 Good English hay and corn meal are useful for 

 milk. 



;Mr. McLaughlin, of Duxbuiy, v.as much 

 pleased with roots. Carrots were good for the 

 horse, and they produced richer milk from the 

 cow than turnips. He feeds all his cattle daily 

 from roots, and he finds their growth improves his 

 land. 



Dr. LoraNG said he had computed the value of 

 the various grain crops, and referred to a lot of 

 land of 15 acres which he had prepared, conclud- 

 ing that if planted to corn rather than barley, the 

 difl'orence in favor of the former would be $250. 



Mr. Davis, of Plymouth, said the solution of 

 some of these questions depended upon the 

 amount of land available, and remarked that the 



