590 



yrEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



A FIELD-DAY ON THE FARM OF DR. 

 NICHOLS. 



Hot \renthcr—Gatherinfi; of Farmers on the shores of 

 Lake Keiioza — Trustees of Essex Agricultural Society 

 — New llainpshire farmers present— Objects of the 

 gather! iig— Subjects discussed and opinions compared 

 — Dinner and after-dinner talk — Examination of crops 

 — Modes ot culture and use of fertilizers explained — 

 A ride through the city, and views of the surrounding 

 country. 



A Pleasant Gathering of Farmers. 

 Many times, in these columns, have we 

 urged the importance of farmers coming to- 

 gether to find change of thought, make new 

 friends, discuss topics relating to their busi- 

 ness, and gain strength and wisdom by so 

 doing. 



Persons engaged in other avocations do 

 these things, and find profit and encourage- 

 ment in them. They have no more spare 

 time than has the farmer, and they have less 

 conveniences and facilities for social gather- 

 ings. 



A few days ago, Dr. J. R. Nichols, of 

 Haverhill, Mass., invited the Trustees of the 

 Essex County Agricultural Society to visit 

 him at his farm, which is about one mile from 

 the city. A few other gentlemen were tilso 

 invited, the whole number being about eighty. 

 Some of the leading New Hampshire farmers 

 were present from Exeter, Hampton, Epping 

 and Hampton Falls. John B. Clark, Esq., 

 Editor of the Mirror and Farmer, Manches- 

 ter, was also present, and some of the Bos- 

 ton daily papers were represented. 



The weather was hot ; one of the hottest 

 dog-days ; but in the cool shade of the charm- 

 ing oaks on the banks of Kenoza Lake, and 

 fanned hy the fresh breeze that came to us 

 after rippling the surface of the sparkling 

 waters, we found the temperature just right 

 for an out-door gathering. 



The objects sought in coming together were 

 to know each other more intimately, and to 

 learn of our host something of his new modes 

 of fertilizing and cultivating the soil. The 

 crops of the farm were examined b)' niany 

 persons competent to judge of them, and pro- 

 nounced good, even for a highly favorable sea- 

 son. The corn was stout and tall, the ears 

 large, and in many instances two perfect ones 

 upon a stalk, and promises a harvest of near 

 one hundred bushels to the acre, besides a 

 large crop of excellent fodder. 



The potato crop was carefully examined. 



and it was judged would yield three hundred 

 bushels to the acre. 



Standing in the midst of those crops, the in- 

 quiry was made, — "What was the condition 

 of the land before the potatoes were put upon 

 it?'' The reply was : "Three years ago it 

 was covered with young oaks. These were 

 pulled out by the roots, the land thoroughly 

 ploughed and pulverized, and last year planted 

 with potatoes. Gypsum and ground bone were 

 applied to the hill, and the crop was a large one. 

 Last spring it was ploughed deeply again, pul- 

 verized finely, applied the same fertilizer, 

 kept the weeds down, and here is the result. 

 They have had no stable manure ichatever ! 

 The potatoes were large, fair, and as good- 

 looking as potatoes could well be. The reader 

 ought to know, however, that the potato field 

 was on the edge of a meadow of a rich black 

 soil, and that it received the wash of a nar- 

 row strip above on its whole length. These 

 advantages would not, we should judge, bring 

 such a crop of themselves. 



The corn crop was carefully examined. The 

 soil planted was treated much as was that for 

 potatoes. Numerous questions were put, all 

 of which were replied to minutely by the Dr., 

 stating the names of the fertilizers used, the 

 quantity, and when applied. 



The grass crop excited surprise. About 

 twenty-three acres had been mown, and fifty 

 tons, by measure, of as good hay as was ever 

 stowed away, were upon the scaffolds and in 

 the bays. It was bright, and as fragrant as a 

 nosegay. We walked over the acres where 

 this was cut, and found another crop which it 

 was estimated would yield 1500 lbs. per acre, 

 or about seventeen tons more! Some of the 

 acres would give a ton, as the thick herds- 

 grass stood knee high! 



The Dr. keeps five horses and some ten 

 head of cows, and all the manure nia^-. in 

 every way, is used upon the farm. But'«jere 

 it has been employed the fact was stated. On 

 one piece, a high and dry knoll, an experi- 

 ment has been going on for seven years. Not 

 a shovelful of stable manure has been added. 

 Last year we saw the crop growing upon it, 

 and estimated it at fully a ton per acre, but did 

 not inquire what it was this year. It is the 

 aim of the Dr., and his advnce to all is, to 

 make all the manure possible, and use it on 

 the farm. In most cases, this is not enough, — 



