NEW 
« TO IMPROVE THE SOIL AND MIND.” 
SERIES. 
Vol. IV. 
ALBANY, DECEMBER, 1847. 
No. 12. 
SKETCHES OF MASSACHUSETTS FARMING 
During a short excursion to Massachusetts, in the 
month of October last, we had a better opportunity of 
seeing a portion of the valley of the Connecticut river 
north of Springfield, thait We ever had before. Having 
attended the cattle-shows at Pittsfield and Springfield, 
we spent a few days very pleasantly in visiting some 
of the farms from Springfield to Greenfield; and after 
being present at the show at Northampton, we passed 
down the river and attended that at Hartford, Ct. 
Cultivation without Fences.— The attention of 
a person not acquainted with the customs of Massa¬ 
chusetts, is attracted by the large amount of land in 
some neighborhoods, lying as u commons.” or unfenced. 
Along the Connecticut, between the intervale or <( mea¬ 
dows ” and the hills, on each side of the river, there 
are tracts varying from two to six or eight miles in 
width, called plains. The soil is sandy, but varies in 
lightness from that which is blown about by winds to 
that v/hich is called sandy loam. The natural growth 
varies with the soil, being in some instances only scrub- 
oak and small bushes, in others white and pitch pine, 
and in others chestnut, and other hard-wood trees. A 
large portion of this land is unenclosed, yet there are 
thousands of acres under cultivation, and some of it 
produces fair crops of rye, Indian corn, buckwheat, and 
potatoes. A law of the state prohibits live-stock of 
all kinds from running at large; and so strictly is the 
law observed, that not an animal is seen in the high¬ 
way unless under the care of a keeper; and crops grown 
on the commons are considered equally as safe as 
though they were surrounded by the best fences. We 
passed many pieces of corn and other crops, which had 
received no injury, and it was. evident that none was 
feared. 
Heretofore this plain land has not been deemed of 
much value. Until within a few years, that which was 
situated not more than two or three miles from the 
principal business street in Springfield, could have 
been bought at from three to five dollars per acre. 
But latterly it has been found that under suitable ma¬ 
nagement this land may be greatly improved, and that 
by proper cultivation it will afford good profits. Its 
value is therefore now reckoned higher by a hundred 
or two hundred per cent, than it was ten years ago. 
Mr. Horatio Sargent, of Springfield, and other 
owners of this land, haVe been successful in its im¬ 
provement. That which is in its natural state, or 
which has not been cropped, is most readily brought 
into profitable condition. The trees or bushes are cut 
off. the land plowed and got into clover as soon as pos¬ 
sible. Plaster is sown on the clover at the rate of from 
sixty to a hundred and twenty pounds per acre. The 
clover is mowed or pastured the first year, and the 
second year the principal part of the growth is left on 
the ground—r-the land plowed and sowed to rye, or left 
till the following spring and planted to corn or pota¬ 
toes. After one or two crops have been taken, it is 
again put in clover, a dressing of plaster given, and 
the clover continued as long as it produces well. Some¬ 
times grass seeds are sown, and the land pastured for 
several years. By this course it is found that the land 
does not deteriorate, and by the addition of only alight 
dressing of manure when it is plowed, it actually im¬ 
proves. 
Land of this kind which has formerly been cropped, 
and called worn out, is rapidly improved by manure, 
ashes, clover, and plaster. Considerable of it, has been 
brought up in this way. It is found best, we were told, 
to apply the manure in the form of well rotted com¬ 
post, and to spread it evenly over the surface, and only 
cover it slightly. If animal manure is applied in an 
unfermented state, it seems to “ burn away,” and ren¬ 
der the soil dry without doing much good. But when 
made into compost, and applied as above-mentioned, 
it rather attracts moisture, and renders the soil more 
cohesive. 
Cultivation of Tobacco. —The culture of tobac¬ 
co in the valley of the Connecticut, has, within a few 
years, become an object of considerable importance. 
The variety here produced is known in the market as 
“ Connecticut Seed-Leaf,” and it usually brings double 
the price, or more, of the tobacco grown in Virginia or 
Kentucky. To give a profitable crop it requires pretty 
rich land—though the sandy soils, manured at the rate 
of ten to twenty common two-horse or ox loads per 
acre, produce well. With good management the usual 
yield is from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds per acre, of mar¬ 
ketable tobacco, and the average price may be said to 
be seven to eight cents per pound. 
Mr. Sargent, Of Springfield, and Messrs. Wells 
and Paoli Lathrop, of South Hadley, are considera¬ 
bly engaged in the tobacco culture. The former had 
seventeen acres the past season. At the above rates 
of yield and price, which it will probably equal, it will 
give an average return of $105 to $160 per acre. 
With the course that is here pursued; tobacco is by 
no means an injurious crop to the soil; on the contra¬ 
ry it is found to be an ameliorating one. The liberal 
manuring and clean cultivation which it is necessary 
to bestow on the tobacco, fits the soil admirably for 
other crops; and it is found that wheat and other 
grains and grass flourish better where tobacco forms a 
part of the rotation, than where that plant is not culti¬ 
vated. Messrs. Lathrop mentioned an instance of 
their having put $36 worth of manure on an acre and 
a hundred rods of land, which they planted with tobac- 
