rHB

Massachusetts Agricultural

REPOSITORY and JOURNAL.

NUMBER I II....... VOLUME VII.

CONTENTS.

Mr. Pickering's Address . . 213

Trustees' account of the Cattle Show,
Exhibitien of Manufactures, &c. at
Brighton, 1822. . ... 238

No. I. On all the larger horned Cattle,

(except Heifers.) . . . • 238
No. II. On the smaller animals . 245
No. III. On Manufactures . . 249
No. IV. Inventions . . . 253

No. V. Working Oxen . . .255
No. VI. Ploughing Match . . .257
~N(H VII. Agricultural Experiments . 259

Indian Corn.

Carrots and Ruta Baga

271.274. 278
281

Indian Corn ; . . . 28J. 293

On raising, feeding and fattening cattle,
also on the utility and comparative
value of the cobs of Indian Corn when
used with, or without the grain itself
ground cm- broken . . . 294

On raising Corn . . . . . 299

Jacob Wilkins' claim for Barley . « 301
Indian Corn . . . 303. 3§5. 308

Spring Wheat . . ... 307
On Heifers, Swine, Sec. . , .308

On Grasses . . . . . 309i

Notico . . .•,,'..-, . 31$

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MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL.

Vol. VII.] JANUARY, 1823. [No.llL

AN ADDRESS, DELIVERED BEFORE THE MASSACHUSETTS AG-
RICULTURAL SOCIETY AT THE BRIGHTON CATTLE SHOW.
OCTOBER 9th, 1822. BY THE HON. TIMOTHY PICKERING.

GENTLEMEN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY,

FOR THE PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURE,

It appears to be expected, that at each of your anniversary
meeting?, a discourse on Agriculture should be delivered.
The Trustees of the Society have requested me to address
you at this time. But though willing to be laid under con-
tribution to the great object of your institution, it has occa-
sioned a degree of solicitude to present something meriting
your attention. From the multitude of books written on the
subject of agriculture — embracing in that word whatever
should employ the thoughts and the labours of the skilful
husbandman — the field would appear almost boundless : yet
to select topics particularly interesting to the farmers of Mas-
sachusetts, and here to discuss them so as to communicate
useful and acceptable information, was not unattended with
difficulty. My address must necessarily be miscellaneous.

Philosophers and practical husbandmen have for ages
employed their thoughts and their pens on the various op-
erations in agriculture ; yet diversities of opinion still exist;
and (he reasons of many of those operations have been little
more than conjectural. What constitutes the food of plants,
has long been a subject of diligcn' inquiry. It was natural
to suppose that if this food could be discovered, it could

Vol. VII. 28

214 mr. Pickering's address.

more easily be provided, or at least be more efficaciously
administered. The palpable differences which distinguish
the immense variety of plants, in their forms, textures, co-
lours and tastes, naturally suggested the idea, that each va-
riety required its specific nourishment. Yet it being a mat-
ter of common observation, that the same soil would nourish
and bring to maturity multitudes of different plants, of very
opposite qualities — some yielding wholesome food, and others
a deadly poison — at the same time all growing together, and
robbing one another; a nobler and more simple idea pre-
sented itself — that the food of all plants was the same ; but
that each species was endued with the power of converting
that food to its own peculiar substance : as among animal©,
the same grain produced all the varieties of flesh which go
lo sustain the life of man. In the vegetable kingdom, this
supposed power of conversion seemed strikingly apparent in
the effects of grafting of fruits. The juices imbibed by the
roots from the earth, and immediately changed to the pro-
per sap of the native stock, ascend and spread through all
the limbs ; and if each of these be grafted with a different
fruit, the varieties will be as numerous as the branches.

By the modern discoveries in chemistry, these mysterious
effects seem to be accounted for. For it appears that1 all
kinds of plants are composed of a small number of elements,
whose different arrangements and combinations produce all
the varieties in question. Seldom more than seven or eight
of those elements belong to plants, and three constitute the
greatest part of their organized matter. But each of these
is a compound, consisting of the same materials, only in dif-
ferent proportions. The three principal ingredients in the
food of plants, and which by them elaborated constitute the
food of man and other animals, are named by chemists, car-
bon, oxygene, and hydrogene : in other words, charcoal, vi-
tal air and inflammable air ; and these exist in the air we
breathe, as well as in manures consisting of vegetable and ani-
mal matters-

MR. PICKERING^ ADDRESS. 215,

It may seem incredible that the thin air, an invisible mat-
ter, should be changed, in the process of vegetation, into
solid substances, as wood and stone : but nothing has been
more clearly ascertained, than that in 100 parts of pure
limestone, 45 parts are fixed air, or carbonic acid ; which in
the act of burning the stone into lime, is expelled : for if at
that time the stone be weighed, it will be found to have lost
so much of its original weight. It is also well known that
this same lime, which slaked with water, or exposed to the
air, falls down into a powder, will immediately afterwards
begin to imbibe fixed air from the atmosphere, and even-
tually, though slowly, recover its original weight. It is this
same carbonic acid, or fixed air, which, at the bottom of
wells, every year proves fatal to a number of lives. For
this air, when separate, being heavier than the air of the at-
mosphere, sinks and remains at the bottom of wells, and is a
deadly poison. It is the oxygene in the atmosphere, called
also vital air, because essential to animal life, which, min-
gled with the fixed air, renders the latter harmless.

I have introduced these few remarks on the food of plants,
to present an idea — a very faint one indeed — of that very in-
teresting subject ; which, as already observed, has so long
employed the thoughts of philosophers and agricultural wri-
ters ; but the satisfactory discovery of which seems to have
been reserved for the present age. This view serves to ac-
count for the vast variety of plants which will grow on the
same spot of earth ; the ingredients of their food being sub-
stantially the same, but varied in the proportions peculiar to
each ; and which each has the faculty of appropriating to its
own use ; rejecting the rest, or casting it off as excrementi-
tious.

But although the same articles of food will afford nourish-
ment to a variety of plants, yet these are so formed as to re-
quire a variety of soils, adapted to their several constitu-
tions ; some preferring a stiff, others a loose or light soil —
some a moist, and others a dry one. Few, however, will

216 MR, Pickering's address.

refuse a well compounded loam. Soils (like plants) how-
ever diversified in appearance, consist of difft ur-
tions of the same elements. Four earths generally abound ill
soils ; and these, by chemists, are called alurmi siliceous*
calcareous, and magnesian ; and of these the three tirst
are the principal ; and, in familiar language, well knowti to
every farmer, as clay, sand, and lime- Magnesia is often
found in limestones; and the combination is said to gWe the
strongest lime for the farmer's use; so as in smaller quanti-
ties to serve his purpose, as well as mild lime applied in much
larger quantities.

The first object which claims the farmer's attention, is
the nature or constitution of the soil. The next embraces
the means of enriching it and preserving its fertility. That
intimate mixture of clay and sand which is called loam, is
the most desirable soil, as being already prepared for every
operation in agriculture. A stiff clay demands opening by
the addition of sand and other materials ; and a sandy soil
requires the addition of clay. But calcareous earth is con-
sidered as essential to give to soils the capacity of attaining
the highest degree of fertility. Few soils, indeed, are wholly
destitute of calcareous matter, though it may be invisible to
the eye : but very few possess so large a portion of it as
would be salutary. There can be little danger, therefore,
of applying it to excess in Massachusetts, where so little in
any form has been found. Limestone is the great source of
calcareous matter. But this is of various qualities. Very
little of it is purely calcareous. Some limestones in Great
Britain have been found to contain eleven parts in twelve of
sand. Of such lime, if sixty bushels were spread over an
acre of ground, five bushels only of calcareous matter would
be applied. To know then the constitution of the lime he
uses, is important to the farmer ; and not less so to the mason
in preparing his mortar, which will require the addition of
more or less of sand, according to the composition of the
lime. All marles contain calcareous matter, and are of

mr. Pickering's address. 217

greater or less value, according to the proportion which this
bears to the clay, sand, or other substances mingled with it.
All shell fish will supply this material. In some parts of the
United States, remote from limestone, oyster shells are burnt
to obtain lime for building ; and in all seaport towns where
many oysters are used for food, their shells will be found in '
quantities deserving the neighbouring farmer's attention ;
and if raised in piles, mingled with wood, may be burnt to
lime.

Of the vast improvements of the lands in Scotland, within
the last forty or fift) years, lime has been the basis ; and the
use of it the first step towards rendering the application of
manures, strictly so called, highly productive. There they
will lay from fifty to two hundred or more bushels on an
acre. In Pennsylvania, where lime has been long and ex-
tensively used, twenty to fifty bushels to the acre has been
found sufficient, and safer than any larger quantity, at least
in the first application. A remarkable instance of the bene-
ficial use of lime, though only at the rate of about twenty
bushels to the acre, well merits a recital. The experiment
was made on a field often acres, for which the farmer had
provided two hundred bushels ; but it being his first essay in
using lime, it so happened that the whole quantity was dis-
posed of when he had gone over nine acres. Indian corn
was planted ; and the crop was very great. The next year,
the field was fallowed, and at seed time sown, a part with
wheat and a part with rye ; and good crops were produced.
" In the Spring (says the farmer) I sowed it with clover and
timothy (4erd»gra«s) and put two bushels of plaister on an
acre; and had as great a crop of clover as could grow; it
lay three weeks before the time of mowing." He adds —
" The lime and plaister did all this ; for no land could be
poorer before. Where I laid no lime, I got no clover, al-
though I put on the plaister."*1 The kind of soil in

* Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society of Agriculture, Vol. I. page 193.

218 mr. Pickering's address.

which litne operated so powerfully, is not mentioned : but
probably it was clayey ; a very common soil in the country
where this land lay. Another like instance occurred in the
Delaware State, on a clay farm, on which plaister produced
no .ffect until the land was limed.* While lime operates
very beneficially on strong clays, it is said to be still more
useful on lighter soils. To ascertain its effects on any lands,
will require but little time and a small expense. A single
cask of lime will be sufficient for a number of comparative
experiments. If a few adjoining rods of land be set apart
for the purpose, and the lime, by slaking, brought to a fine
powder, it may be evenly spread on the several small strips,
in different proportions, at the rate of twenty and any grea-
ter number of bushels to the acre. Then, by raking or har-
rowing, mix the lime with the surface soil, and plant each
strip equally and uniformly with Indian corn. One equal
strip, tilled and planted exactly as the others, but left un-
limed, will enable the experimenter to see what advantage
may arise from liming. In the next year the effects of lime,
in its respective proportions, may be further tested, by sow-
ing the same strips with equal quantities of one sort of grain
and of grass seeds.

In like manner, small experiments may be made to try the
effects of clay on light sandy or gravelly loams, and of sand
on stiff clays. The clay should be carried on and spread,
and lie on the surface during the winter, to break and
moulder by the alternate frosts and thaws, that it may be
more effectually mixed with the soil.

As to the manner of applying lime, I am satisfied the best
is that recommended and practised where lime has been
most extensively used : that is. to slake it with water, and
as soon as it falls to a fine powder and is cool, to spread it
evenly over the land, and with the harrow mix it with the
soil ; its greatest utility depending on its intimate incorpora-

* Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society of Agriculture, Vol. II. p. 187.

mr. Pickering's address* 219

iron. In liming extensively, the lime is often, perhaps most
commonly, carried on and dropped in small heaps, to be
slaked by the moisture in the air: but it should be carefully
attended to, that it may be spread as soon as it is slaked ; or
there will otherwise be danger of its setting in lumps, which
may never again be duly pulverized.

If the application of lime be, as is represented, so impor-
tant to the great and permanent fertility of the soil (and of
this I entertain no doubt,) while the knowledge of the fact
is all that is essential for the practical farmer to know;
something more is desirable to satisfy inquisitive minds ;
and if the reason for using lime, or its mode of operating,
could be shown, it would give confidence to the husband-
man, while it gratified the philosophical inquirer.

A gentleman who is reputed one of the greatest chemists
of the age (Sir Humphrey Davy) informsus that "■ when lime,
whether freshly burnt or slacked, is mixed with any moist
fibrous matter, there is a strong action between the lime
and the vegetable matter, and they form a kind of compost
together, of which a part is soluble in water :" — that " by
this kind of operation, lime renders matter which was be-
fore comparativejy inert, nutritive; and as charcoal and oxy-
gene (vital air) abound in all vegetable matters, it (the quick
lime) becomes at the same time converted into carbonate
of lime ;" that is, it is restored, by again combining with
carbonic acid or fixed air, to the state in which it existed
before it was burnt, except its being reduced to powder.
Again he says — " Mild lime, powdered limestone, marles o«
chalks (for chalk is a limestone) have no action of this kind
upon vegetable matter; by their action they prevent the
too rapid decomposition of substances already dissolved; but
they have no tendency to form soluble matters." He then
remarks, that " chalk, marie, or carbonate of lime, will
onl\ improve the texture of the soil; or its relation to ab-
sorption ; acting ra srely as one of its earthy ingredients,,
Quick lime when it becomes mildy operates in the samo

220 mr. Pickering's address.

manner as chalk ; but in the act of becoming mild, it pre-
pares soluble out of insoluble matter." Again he nays —
"All soils are improved by mild lime, and sands more than
clays."

While quick lime, according to this celebrated chemist, is
so usefully applied to laud abounding in fibrous matter, to
effect its speedy dissolution, he says its application should
be avoided, where a soil contains much soluble vegetable
manure ; as it either tends to decompose the soluble matters
by uniting to their carbon and oxygene, so as to become
mild lime, or it combines with the soluble matters, and. forms
compounds having less attraction for water than the pure
vegetable substance.

But an ingenious writer, under the signature of Agricola,
in Nova-Scotia, says, that notwithstanding all these precau-
tionary fears, the offspring of chemical creation, the Bri-
tish farmer is mostly in the habit of applying quick lime to
all sorts of soils. And he assigns an adequate reason, that
caustic lime cannot remain any length of time in the ground,
without passing into a carbonate and becoming mild. This
writer offers different reasons for the beneficial operation of
lime : that it is capable of absorbing not only that quantity
of carbonic acid which it possessed in its natural state (be-
ing 45 parts in 100) but an additional quantity; and can
form what chemists call an hypercarbonate. This, he says,
is highly soluble in water: which accounts for the admission
-of lime into the structure of plants ; and that this excess of
carbonic acid adheres very loosely to its base (the mild lime)
and is liberated without any extraordinary degree of heat.
The carbonic acid, a most important article of vegetable
food, is copiously evolved in the putrefactive process of ma-
nures; the calcareous earth fixes and prevents its escape
— forms with it a hypercarbonate, and readily imparts it, in
union with water, towards the nourishment of the crops. It
is supposed to do more ; it unites with the carbonic acid
loating in the air; and when there is a scarcity of aliment

mr. Pickering's address. 221

in the soil, it seizes and secures this food in the atmosphere,
and afterwards disperses it, according to the calls and neces-
sities of vegetation. Hence the necessity of keeping lime
on the surface. It is then ready to intercept, and combine,
with the carbonic acid which is generated by the fermenta-
tion of the putrescent matter lying at lower depths, and to
attract the same gas (the carbonic acid) from the surround-
ing air.

I confess myself much better satisfied with the observa-
tions of Agricola, in accounting for the operation of lime,
than with the solution offered by Sir Humphrey Davy. If
the statement of the former be correct, we can see a reason
for the long continuance of the beneficial effects of lime on
land : for although it is not itself food for plants, it is con-
stantly employed in collecting and imparting to them that
food, from the sources which have been mentioned. Does
not the reasoning of Agricola also indicate the cause why
lime benefits sands more than clays ? The latter are opened
and rendered lighter by its application : and to destroy their
too great tenacity, seems to be a main advantage gained by
liming clay soils ; whereas sandy soils are already sufficiently
porous.

An old English practice of burning clay for a manure, has
lately been revived in England, and with some appearance
of novelty. The facts stated in regard to its operation, pre-
clude all doubt of its efficacy. On stiff cla>s, it has, in the
practice of some farmers, superseded the use of lime: be-
cause, although much greater quantities of it are required,
yet being on the spot, in the very field where it is wanted, it
is much cheaper than lime, for which the farmers are often
obliged to send upwards of twenty miles. — It is said that
clay thus burnt,— in which the process is so managed as to
reduce the clay to the condition of ashes, — will not again,
when wetted with rains, recover its original texture of a
close compact substance too tenacious of water, and when
dry, too hard for the roots of plants freely to penetrate. 1

Vol. VII. 29

222 mr. Pickering's address.

have called the burning of clay for manure an old English
practice : for I find an account of it in the second of Dr.
Eliot's Essays on Field Husbandry, written and printed in
Connecticut upwards of seventy years ago. The Doctor
gives a recipe, copied from an English book, for the process
of burning it; which is with a smothered Jire, a point of in-
dispensible necessity, according to the present practice in
England.

Many ways of improving lands, both in the manner of cul-
tivating them, and in the kinds of useful plants to be intro-
duced, have been often recommended; and certainly a spi-
rit of improvement has been extensively excited : yet much
remains to be done, to raise our crops to an equality with
those in some European countries, whose lands and climates
are no better than our own. But have we the means of ac-
complishing it ? I answer, generally, that we haye. Our
animals for labour are equally efficient. Our instruments
of husbandry are as good, or capable of being easily made
so. Our husbandmen are as intelligent, and unquestionably
less prejudiced, and less averse to adopt improved modes in
farming. In England, a bigotted perseverance in ancient
practices, however absurd, has in limes past been astonish-
ing. Her own writers inform us, for instance, that in one
country all their common ploughing have long beenper-
formed with one pair of horses driven by the plough man ;
while in an adjoining district four or five horses, in a single
line have he^n put to the plough, with the addition of a driver,
and yet ploughing no more land, nor with a deeper furrow,
than was elsewhere effected with one pair of horses.

But although I suppose no prejudices equally strong exist
among us, still we are, 1 think, too prone to adhere to old
usages, where no good reasons can be given for them.
New practices in husbandry are often — perhaps chiefly —
attempted by persons not bred to that occupation ; and
these, for want of practical skill, may often fail in the exe-
cution ; and when successful, the success is ascribed to a

MR. PICKERING S ADDRESS. 228

liberal expenditure of money, beyond the ability of the mere
farmer. But what risk will attend experiments made by
farmers themselves, to test the value of these novelties ?
Each one for himself can try them on as small pieces of
ground as shall suit his convenience, and at a very small ex-
pense of time and money. The introduction of improve-
ments would be facilitated, if the money expended, and es-
pecially the quantity of labour bestowed upon them, were al-
ways accurately stated, and their authenticity vouched by the
names of the improvers. And if the experimenters, in these
cases, who hire all the labour, and this often performed in
their absence, are merely not losers, — practical farmers, al-
ways present, and working too with their own hands, would
assuredly render such new practices profitable.

But I apprehend the knowledge of modern improvements
in husbandry is far less extended than may commonly be
supposed. That celebrated Travelling Agriculturist, the late
Arthur Young, a man of science and literature as well as a
practical farmer, — after visiting different districts in England,
for the purpose of observing, and for the information of his
countrymen describing their various modes of husbandry,
commenced, about the close of the American War, his an-
nals of Agriculture. He afterwards travelled over France
and parts of Spain and Italy with the same views. Thus
fraught with agricultural knowledge, he continued his la-
bours in that work; comprehending, in addition to his own
observations, useful communications from practical farmers,
bearing their signatures : for it was a general rule with him
not to admit any unless thus vouched: Yet, if my recollec-
tion be correct, that practical work was so little attended to
by English farmers, that he once stated its sales as not ex-
ceeding 500 copies. Since then, indeed, improvements have
more readily been adopted ; and agriculture has advanced
with an accelerated pace ; a/id in Scotland with great rapi-
dity. Reading, to obtain agricultural information, has been
extended, and become fashionable; and book-farming know-

224 mr. Pickering's address.

ledge is no longer despised. This knowledge is now of
greatly increased value, because experiments, with a view
to improvements, are not, as formerly, made at random, but
on principles founded in the nature of things, and which rest
on modern discoveries.

As we have no farmers who cannot read,— in order to give
to all opportunities of reading, 1 take leave to suggest for
consideration, the expediency of forming, in each township
in the State, a fanning society, of which the members should
meet monthly, to converse on farming affairs — to make mu-
tual communications of their practices in husbandry — to
commit to writing every practice not in common use, which
may be beneficially extended — and to read and examine
modern publications on their vocation ; particularly those of
the State Society, which the Trustees would gratuitously
furnish. To these, such township-societies would find it
agreeable and useful to add the best periodical publications
which issue from the presses of our own country, either
through the agency of Agricultural Societies, or of well in-
formed individuals. With these and a few other books on
the subject, each township society would become possessed,
at a very small expense, of a pleasing and instructive agri-
cultural library.

After considering the constitution of the soil he has to cul-
tivate, the next object of the farmer will embrace the
means of enriching it, and of preserving its fertility. To
enrich it, manure will present itself as of the first import-
ance ; and of manures, the dung of his live stock will ob-
viously occur as the most essential ingredient. If the ma-
nure from the droppings of his stock could easily be doub-
led, how great would be the farmer's acquisition ? That this
is practicable I cannot permit myself to doubt. I am rather
inclined to think it capable of a manifold increase. At an-
other public meeting of farmers, I had occasion to suggest
some means of preserving and greatly increasing this im-
portant article ; particularly during that portion of the year

sir. Pickering's address. 226

when cattle are at pasture, but penned at night in the bam
yard. Nothing is more common than to see these yards,
after being cleared of manure for the Spring crops, left
naked until autumn, without litter or mud, or earth of any
kind, to absorb the urine of the cattle and to mingle with
their dung; but all is left open to our burning summer suns,
by which the greater part, three fourths, perhaps seven
eight?, of the essence of both ate exhaled and given to the
winds. To prevent this serious loss. I suggested the expe-
diency of giving to the barn yard, as soon as it was cleared
out. a covering of any kind of litter, and a coat of earth, mud
from low grounds, loam where attainable, or any kind of
earth to which a farmer can have easy access; and that as
often as once in two weeks, a new coat of earth should be
introduced. Weeds from road sides and waste places would
make valuable additions to the summer manure. By such
means manure may be increased in a four, perhaps an eight-
fold degree.

But if in addition to this accumulated summer manure,
the farmer, without any of the dung or litter of his cattle,
could double the quantity usually made during the winter,
would he not consider himself enriched ? That this is prac-
ticable will appear from a statement 1 shall now recite ; it
being the result of careful experiments made in Scotland
during a period often years. The fact is stated in one of a
series of papers written with great ability by Mr. John
Young, under the signature of Agricola (already referred to)
and published at Halifax. The urine of cattle produced
this mighty effect. I cannot so well occupy your time as by
giving the statement in his own words, as abridged by him
from the Farmers Magazine, published in Scotland.

" 1 should be afraid (says Mr. Young) to hazard my cha-
racter with the public, by stating in round and unqualified
language, the value of this rich juice which is literally wasted
and thrown away : and therefore 1 shall proceed with cau-
tion, and give a detail of facts, conclusive in their bearings

226 mr. Pickering's address.

and substantiated by the best authority. They are contained
in a letter* from Charles Alexander, near Peebles, in Scot-
land ; and are addressed to Sir John Sinclair in 1812, for
publication. This intelligent farmer had long been impress-
ed with the great importance of the urine of cattle as a ma-
nure ; and he sets about to discover, by a long and well con-
ducted series of experiments, the best method of collecting
and applying it. He began by digging a pit contiguous to
the feeding stall, but distinct altogether from that which was
appropriated for the reception of the dung. The dimensions
of this pit, according to his own account, were 36 feet
square, and four feet deep, surrounded on all sides by a wall ;
and the solid contents were 192 yards. Having selected the
nearest spot where he could find loamy earth, and this he al-
ways took from the surface of some field under cultivation,
he proceeded to fill it ; and found that with three men and
two horses, he could easily accomplish 28 cubic yards per
day : and the whole expense of transporting the earth did
not exceed £4. 16. Ot When the work was complete, he
levelled the surface of the heap, in a line with the mouth of
the sewer which conducted the urine from the interiour of
the building, on purpose that it might be distributed with regu-
larity, and might saturate the whole from top to bottom.
The quantity conveyed to it, he estimates at about 800 gal-
lons ; but as this calculation was founded partly on conjec-
ture, for he measured not the liquor, it will be better and
more instructive to furnish and proceed on data that are cer-
tain and incontrovertible. The urine was supplied by 14
cattle weighing about 34 stone each,J and kept there for
five months on fodder and turnips. The contents of the pit
produced 288 loads, allowing two cubic yards to be taken

* " Farmers Magazine, vol. 13. page 78."

i" $ 21 31 Seven days work for 3 men and 2 horses; each horse, I sup-
pose, in a single cart, a common usage in Scotland.

| This would be the weight of a cow.

mr. Pickering's address. 227

©ut in three carts ;* and he spread 4Q of these on eacli
acre : so that this urine in five months, and from fourteen
cattle, produced compost sufficient to fertilize seven acres of
land.t He states further, that he tried this experiment for
ten years, and had indiscriminately used, in the same field,
either the rotted cow dung, or the saturated earth ; and in
all the stages of the crop he had never been able to disco-
ver any perceptible difference. But what is still more won-
derful, he found that his compost lasted as many years as his
best putrescent manure ; and he therefore boldly avers, that

a load of each is of equivalent value." ••' The dung pit,

which contained all the excrementitious matter of the 14
cattle, as well as the litter employed in bedding them, and
which was kept separate for the purpose of the experiments,
furnished* during the same period, only 240 loads ; and
these, at the same rate, could manure only six acres."

On this statement one remark forces itself into notice.
That for the want of such a reservoir for saving the urine of
our cattle, more than half of our winter made manure, and
this is the farmer's chief dependance, is lost.

It is not stated whether the pit filled with loam was or was
not covered : but unless covered, rains would saturate the
earth, and thus in a manner exclude the urine conveyed to
it from the cattle stall. It should also be noted, supposing
the pit to have been covered, that the frosts in Scotland
would seldom so freeze the earth in the pit as to prevent the
absorption of the urine. The frosts in Massachusetts would
doubtless require that the pit should be sunk to some depth,
and certainly be under cover. In a word, a barn-cellar
would seem to be the proper receptacle for this important
manure. How it should be arranged, must depend on the
situation of the barn. In Pennsylvania, barns, which are
commonly of stone, are often erected by the side of a hill, by

* This gives 18 cubic feet to each load.

+ Seven Scotch acres are nearly equal to nine English and American
acres.

228 MR. PICKERING'S ADDRESS.

which means a story is gained for their cattle stalls. By dig-
ging where there is a gentle slope, a sufficient excavation for
a barn-cellar would be easily made, to drive in a cart on a
level, for carrying in the earth in autumn, and for removing
the manure in the spring. With the increased fertility of his
soil, the farmer will be able to increase his live stock; and
the live stock, in return, will be constantly adding to the pro-
ductions of the soil.

In respect to Live Stock, it is gratifying to see the spirit
excited within the last five or six )ears, to attend to their me-
lioration, by preserving some of the most promising for breed-
ers, instead of sending them to the shambles ; and by intro-
ducing from other countries some individuals already highly
improved. New-England was originally granted to merchants
of Plymouth, in the county of Devon, in England. It is na-
tural to suppose that some of the early settlers sailed from
Plymouth, and brought with them the Devon breed of cattle.
The uniform red colour of various shades, some deep red, and
approaching to brown, now so commonly seen among us, are
probably descendants fiom the Devon race originally import-
ed. Their uniform red colour corresponds with a distinguish-
ing mark of the Devon breed, now so highly improved and
celebrated in England. Among our own, individuals of this
stock might be selected, admitting, with equal care, of equal
improvements, on the principles now so well understood by
the eminent English breeders, who, Mr. Arthur Young has
said, are indebted for th^m to the celebrated Robert Bake-
well. On the same principles all our other domestic animals
may be improved. And this course appears to me indispen-
sable for the speedy attainment of extensive improvements of
our stock, of neat cattle especially. More than one genera-
tion must pass away before highly improved races, from the
few imported animals, can be generally obtained. In this im-
portant work every substantial farmer in the country ought to
engage ; and by their rival efforts in every county, the great
object might be accomplished. Beauty of form is desirable,

mr. Pickering's address. 229

and will merit attention : but strength for labour and amj>ie
supplies for the dairy, are more important. A disposition to
fatten at an early age — a point of excellence zealously sought
for in England, where husbandry labours are chiefly perform-
ed by horses, is not of material consequence to New- England
farmers, where oxen for the draught and cows for the dairy
constitute their most interesting stock. But what shall farm-
ers, who live remote from a veal-market, do with their surplus
calves, above the numbers of the best selected to keep up
their stocks, and to supply those whose situation may induce
them to purchase, and not to breed for themselves ? — I will
mention what was some years since stated to me as the prac-
tice of a respectable farmer in Connecticut. He had cows
for a large dairy, and cheese-making was his object. — He al-
lowed his supernumerary calves to suck their dams three days,
(or until the milk was fit for the dairy) and then killed them ;
taking off their skins, and giving their flesh to his store-hogs.
This was to me a singular instance of practice ; but from the
good sense of that farmer, I conclude he must have experien-
ced it to be not merely a necessary but a saving practice. It
may be in use among other great dairy farmers, although 1
do not know that it is.

The Trustees have already offered a premium to encou-
rage the making of Fine Butter. But 1 am inclined to
think it will be difficult, if not impracticable, to make any of
the greatest excellence, during summer, without the aid of
ice-houses or spring-house-. The city of Philadelphia is ad-
mitted, I believe, to be supplied with some butter, during the
warm months, superior to what is found in other cities of the
United States. Yet their pastures are not better than those
in the vicinity of some other cities and towns. 1 ascribe this
superiority exclusively to the spring-houses on many of the
farms in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania
is a well watered country. There it seems to have been an
early practice, in taking up land for a farm, to search for a
spring; and as near to it as the ground would permit, regard -

Vol. VII. 30

230 mr. Pickering's address.

less of its situation in respect to the public road — to erect the
dwelling house. Here the cattle, as well as the family, would
at once find good water, without the labour of digging a well.
Over these springs small houses are erected, usually of stone.
The room of the spring-house may be from ten to twenty feet
square, according to the quantity of milk to be provided for.
Trenches are made on the four sides of the floor, and bottom-
ed and lined with flat stones. The residue of the floor is
likewise paved with stones. The water from the spring en-
ters at the side of one trench, runs all round, and at the op-
posite side passes away at a hole left in the wall. The un-
der side of this hole is at such a height above the bottom of
the trenches, as to raise the water just enough to keep the milk
cool in the pans which are placed in it. This water runs per-
petually from its source, and as constantly passes off at the
outlet. In one of the trenches are also set the cream pots,
and the pots with the butter the night before it is carried to
market. Perhaps in the vicinity of Boston and other towns
in the State, there may be some springs which may furnish
the same accommodations.

Much has been said and written concerning an evil which
pervades our whole country, from one extreme of the Union
to another — the general use of spirituous liquors— prevailing,
in the opinion of wise and good men, to a mischievous excess.
Sometimes it has been hoped that Agricultural Societies might
find means to check the pernicious practice. But the class
of farmers who abstain from it must be too numerous to be-
come candidates for premiums on temperance. Besides, such
prudent men need no remuneration for their abstinence.
Here virtue is indeed its own reward.

It is said that in France and Spain the labourers in husban-
dry are remarkable for their temperance : but they drink
small wines instead of ardent spirits. A French gentleman
who for some years was endeavouring to establish vineyards
in the Middle. States, particularly in Pennsylvania, once men-
tioned to me how cheaply the French peasantry could be re-

mr. Pickering's address. 231

galed with wine, purchasing a bottle for a few pence. At
the same time, in answer to my question, he admitted that
such wine was not equal to good American bottled cider. It
has occurred to me that nothing might be so likely to check,
and in a good degree to supersede the general and excessive
use of ardent spirits, as the universal introduction of
Good Cider.

Were this beverage as well made as easily it might be, it
would be alike palatable and wholesome ; and in the end
might banish spirituous liquors from the houses of the great
body of our citizens. Good cider might be furnished at half
the expense of strong malt-liquors; provided apple orchards
were more extensively cultivated, and the fruits intended for
cider properly selected. We have a great deal of bad cider,
because sound and unsound apples are ground together, and
no regard is paid to the fermentation, except to give it vent.
No one can suppose the juice of rotten apples capable of be-
coming cider. But in whatever degree they are introduced,
in the same degree the liquor must be debased. To make
the finest cider, sound apples only should be used. But I must
not enter into the minute particulars of the process of making
and managing cider — it would not comport with the occasion,
nor be practicable within the limits to which this discourse
must be confined. I will barely suggest a few things which
involve some principles.

In every orchard are found a great variety of apples gen*
erally used for cider. In New-England 1 presume these are
chiefly wild, that is, ungrafted fruit. And 1 have heard the
opinion expressed, that such wild fruit would make the best
cider. This surely is an error. For although in a large or-
chard some good natural fruits may he found,yet many of the
trees produce apples so small as to cost too much labour to
collect them, and others have juices so meagre as when col-
lected to be of little worth. A few sorts which in England
have been celebrated for yielding the finest ciders, were al-
ways grafted with as much attention as apples designed for

232 mr. Pickering's address.

the table are with us. But in England, the apples which a
century ago furnished ciders of distinguished excellence, — to
use the expressive words, in like case, of some of our own
farmers — have run out. They can no longer be continued by-
grafting. This well known fact in that country, has led an
eminent naturalist there to advance the novel doctrine —
doubtless as true as novel — that trees, like animals, have their
infancy, youth, maturiiy and old age. Grafts from the last,
though inserted in young stocks, soon perish. Hence the
farmers there have been seeking for fine cider fruits from new
trees growing from the seeds ; and when any of these are
found to possess the desired qualities, they are propagated and
extended by grafting.

In some parts of New Jersey, in which ciders of superior
excellence are made, the farmers produce them wholly by
grafting: nor can we expect fully to rival them, until we
adopt the same practice.

Perhaps there are few extensive natural orchards in Massa-
chusetts in which valuable cider fruits may not be found, with
rich yellow flesh, capable of yielding liquors strong and of ex-
cellent flavour. From such trees, if still young, or in vigor-
ous life, wholtTorchards might soon be formed. And proba-
bly different kinds might be selected which ripen their fruits
at the times most proper for making them into cider. Apples
until mellow do not attain their highest flavour ; and till then
cannot give the highest flavour to cider. Many reach that
mellow-ripe state in October and November, which may be
called the cider-making months in .Massachusetts, It would
require but little attention to select and propagate the best ap-
ples thus ripening in succession. Such ciders, made of ripe
and unmixed fruits, would also be more easily managed in the
most difficult and important part of the process of cider-mak-
ing— its first fermentation ; on the right or wrong conducting
of which the character of the cider depends. In one case it
will be soft and pleasant — in the other hard and austere.

MR. PICKER1NG?S ADDRESS. 233

The Trustees of this Society have, I believe for several
years, been offering a liberal premium to encourage the

Turning in of Green Crops,
as a mode of manuring land : but I do not recollect that the
premium has been claimed. It has been an ancient practice
in other countries ; and is not unknown in our own country.
Dr. Eliot (whom 1 have already had occasion to mention) no-
ticed it seventy years ago, in his Essays on Field Husbandry ;
and recommended millet as a plant well adapted to that pur-
pose. The seed being but little bigger than cabbage seed, a
small quantity will be sufficient for an acre. I have often
heard of the turning in of Green Crops being occasionally
practised in Pennsylvania. Many years since, an intelligent
man of that State mentioned to me a farmer, who had pur-
chased a farm in a township remarkable for the general pov-
erty of the soil ; and that he improved his own by ploughing
in green crops — buckwheat, oals, rye; — turning them in re-
peatedly, until the land produced crops worth harvesting. Sir
John Sinclair, in his Code of Agriculture, -peaks of the prac-
tice of ploughing in buckwheat and other crops, when manure
was deficient. But he says that in Lincolnshire buckwheat
had for several years been ploughed in as a manure, and ulti-
mately given up as doing no good. He then adds — " Unless
so far as nourished by the atmosphere, the vegetables thus
treated are supposed merely to restore the nourishment ob-
tained from the soil." And this is the very principle on
which the ploughing in of green crops materially depends.
The plants while growing derive a portion of their food from
the air; and being turned in, so far at least add manure to the
soil. But this is not all the benefit : weeds spring up with
the sown green crops, and are ploughed in with them ; thus
increasing the manure, and at the same time cleaning the
ground for a harvest crop. But besides the growing plants,
the soil itself, under "their shade, made light by the ploughing
and harrowing, is also receiving a portion of the same fertiliz-
ing airs. Lord Karnes, however, in his Gentleman Farmer,
says—" I approve not of ploughing down buckwheat, redclo-

234 mr.. Pickering's address.

ver, or any other crop, for manure. The best way of con-
verting a crop into manure is, to pass it through the body of
an animal. The dung and urine, not to mention the profit of
feeding, will enrich the ground more than to plough down the
crop." Notwithstanding these authorities— and the opinion
of Lord Karnes is entitled to very great respect — I am inclin-
ed to think that the circumstances and condition of many farms
may be such as to render the practise eligible ; particularly
where manure is deficient ; — and where is it not deficient ?
Is it not a received fact, when lands have been impoverished
by cropping without manuring, that by letting them lie a few
years at rest, they acquire such a degree of fertility as to bear
a crop of some sort that rewards the farmer's toil 1 If this
happen to unseeded land, thrown out as waste, how much
sooner may it be recovered wEen sown with buckwheat, oats,
rye or millet, and the crops when in full blossom ploughed in ?
If this product be small, let the land be again sown, and a second
crop be ploughed in. And if a third sowing and ploughing in
were given, jvhat would be the whole expense ? A trifle com-
pared with a dressing with stable or barn yard manure — if it
could be procured. This is to be carted to the field and
spread, in order to be ploughed in : but the green crop is on
the ground, and evenly spread, r^ady for the operation of the
plough. But leaving all theoretical reasoning, I will recur
to well authenticated facts.

The late distinguished agricultural writer, Arthur Young,
Secretary to the English Board of- Agriculture, so lately as
the year 1811, delivered before that body an interesting lec-
ture, to describe the husbandry and speak the praises of three
celebrated British Farmers. One of these was Mr. Ducket,
who occupied in succession, two " sand-farms ;" that is, farms
in whose soil sand was predominant. It was one of the prac-
tices of this very ingenious farmer, to plough in green crops
to enrich his land. And to do it effectually, he contrived a
plough with which, when drawn by four horses, he could open
his furrows to the depth of eight or often inches, and in them
perfectly bury his green crops. The opening of so deep a

mr. Pickering's address. 235

turrow was called Trench-ploughing ; and by the simple ad-
dition of an arm partly curved, and fixed on the right side of
the coulter, at the desired height of eight or ten inches above
the sole or bottom of the share, the growing crop was press-
ed to the ground; and the furrow- slice raised by the plough,
following close behind and turned completely over, perfectly
buried the crop and weeds. This coulter of Ducket's trench
plough, with the curved arm attached to it, is called a skim-
coulter. The arm must necessarily extend so far to the right
as the breadth of the furrow ; and just at that extreme, I con-
ceive, the curve downward begins, so as, when the growing
crop is pressed flat, the stems or straws may not spread out
any farther ; and being thus confined, are completely over-
whelmed. Hence there would be no vegetation in the seams
of the furrows. " By means of this tool (says Mr. Young) I
have repeatedly seen on his farm, stubbles completely turn-
ed down, and crops of turnips, tares and other plants instant-
ly put in ; which crops I have afterwards viewed with equal
pleasure and surprize ; the execution was as complete as the
design was sagacious: but it went further — converting the
nuisance of any weeds into manure. So effective was the
work of the plough, that I once saw him turn down a crop of
rye six feet high, and immediately roll in turnip seed. The
effect did not depend so much on an extraordinary depth of
ploughing, as on the subversion of the soil; for of the rye I
have just alluded to, not an atom was left visible; and yet
the depth did not exceed eight inches. But if there be Couch
|~twit< h gra-s] in the soil, this ploughing is ten inches deep ;
and the succeeding crop in any case well hand-hoed. This
trench ploughing system is nol practised above once in two
or three years, and the successive tillage shallow, upon the
surface. By such deep ploughing, seldom given, Mr. Duck-
et conceived that a due degree of moisture was preserved in
his light land ; by means of which his crops were flourishing
in seasons of drought which destroyed those of his neigh-
bours."

Here perhaps the question will occur — Were Mr. Duck

236 teiu Pickering's address.

et's improvements* adopted by other farmers ? Mr. Young
says they were, by some of his enlightened brethren. Why
they were not generally imitated, Mr. Young ascribes (I re-
peat his words) to "the perversity which characterizes the
ignorance of English farmers." Again he says, " If our farm-
ers would have adopted the practices really excellent, as soon
as they were known, British agriculture would forty years
ago have arrived at its present state; and at this time the
kingdom would have been a garden."

In connexion with this account of Mr. Ducket's practice, I
take leave to suggest the necessity, or at least the great utili-
ty, of an occasional fallowing; primarily, in order to destroy
the weeds which infest so many fields, and essentially injure
all crops of small grain, especially spring wheat, which ripen-
ing more slowly than rye and barley, is much more oppressed
by the weeds. In effecting the object here suggested, and to
enrich the soil while making a fallow, I would recommend
the following mode of practice. As soon as it can be done
in the spring, plough, sow and harrow in the seed of the crop
intended to be turned in. Weeds will spring and grow with
the crop. When the latter is in full blossom, turn it in. Im-
mediately sow for a second crop. With this also will arise an-
other crop of weeds ; and both, as before, are to be turned in.
Should the season permit, and the foulness of the ground re-
quire it, sow for a third crop, to be ploughed in, like the for-
mer, before winter. A field thus managed will be in good
order for a crop of barley, summer wheat, rye or oats, in the
ensuing spring; and of either a comparatively clean crop may
be expected.

This dressing with green crops, valuable as I conceive it to
be, need not be confined to sand-farms: it will be not less
beneficial in all light gravelly loams, which I suppose rather
to abound in Massachusetts ; certainly, stiff, clayey loams are
not common.

•A few concise remarks on the general principle, and on
some of the objects of these annual exhibitions, will conclude
this address.

Mr. Pickering's address. 23?

It is supposed, and justly, that these public shows, by ex-
citing an emulation among farmers, will lead to important im-
provements in our husbandry. The general question which
the case presents, is, What will be the easiest, cheapest, and
most effectual means to accomplish this great object? A prin-
cipal one has been to grant premiums for the greatest crops
of specified plants on given quantities of land. One pleasing
result has appeared — that by ample manuring and good cul-
ture, the usual crops of the same plants may be doubled and
trebled. But is it necessary to continue premiums of this
kind ? May not now the entire management of farms rather
claim attention ? Instead of numerous small premiums dis-
persed on a variety of objects, might they not be advantage-
ously concentrated for the purpose here intimated — the clean-
est, most economical, the most productive management of
farms ? For it must be such a general improvement of the en-
tire/arm that will constitute the farmer's permanent prosperity.
The decision of claims on this ground cannot be expected to
be made by a committee of this Society to travel through the
whole State : but will it not be practicable by county com-
mittees ? Perhaps it may not be difficult for the Trustees of
the State Society to prescribe some general principles and
rules of proceeding, that may produce uniformity in the re-
ports of county committees acting under their direction.

In ploughing, the just aim must be to make straight fur-
rows, and of a uniform breadth and deplh ; and so to turn over
the furrow-slice as completely to cover whatever plants or
manure are upon 1t. All this cannot be effected with a hur-
ried step. And what benefit can possibly result from such a
step ? A farmer's oxen at the plough must labour a great part
of the day properly to turn over an acre. To do this with-
out a driver, will require a skilful ploughman and well train-
ed oxen. To encourage the forming of such ploughmen and
oxen, should, I conceive, be the sole object of ploughing
matches. Working-oxen at the plough, may be considered
as well trained when they obey the voice of the ploughman.

Vol. VII, 31

23ftjj CATT£E SHOW, &C. AT BRrGHTON.

keep the track in which they ought to move, and step as'
quick as will be compatible with the necessary continu-
ance of their labour. Ar.d as the annual exhibitions at
this place have demonstrated the practicability of perform-
ing the general operations of the plough with one yoke of
oxen, wthout a driver, it may merit consideration whether
premium? should not be thus limited in all future trials with
the plough. Under such limitations, every farmer who is
ambitious to exhibH proofs of superiority in these points,
would be sensible that his oxen must attain a certain size,
and be, though not fat, yet well fleshed ; which would give
strength to their sinews and momentum to their exertions.
With such oxen ali our agricultural labours would be so well
performed, that there would be no room to envy the condi-
tion of farmers in any of our sister States ; in some of which,
their horses consume perhaps as much grain as would furnish
bread to all the inhabitants of New-Englando

OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE CATTLE SHOW AT BRIGHTON,
Oct. 9th and 10th, 1822.

No. I. — On all the larger horned cattle, {except Heifers,)

I he Committee report, that the animals in this branch of
live stock, were unusually numerous and good, proving, that
a gradual and regular improvement is steadily, and as rapidly
as could be expected, taking place. The number of entries
for premiums, in this department alone, amounted to 42,
and of individuals (many entries comprising more than one)
to fi>2j while the whole number of premiums offered, and
granted, are only (0, so that four-fifths of the competitors
were necessarily thrown out. This is inevitable, nnless our
funds snouid be exceedingly increased, or unless we should
make our premiums smaller and more numeroiiSr This

CATTLE SHOW, &C AT BRIGHTON. 239

Kkight be liable to great objection, by extending rewards to
animals of inferior merit, and thus diminishing the motives
to make the breeds as perfect as possible. While the bene-
ficial effects of the liberal premiums offered by the Society,
for the importation of the most improved breeds of foreign
countries, are every year evinced by the crowds which, from
the beginning to the end of our shows, gather round the im-
ported animals, and their improved progeny, we ought never
to forget the sound advice of the venerable farmer who ad-
dressed the Society this year, " that the progress of improve-
ment by foreign crosses must be very slow ;" and possessing
as We unquestionably do, the materials among our own stock
of improving our breeds by careful selection, we should follow
the example of Bakewell and the other British farmers, who
in fifty years have raised the stock of Great Britain to a state
of perfection little short of what it is supposed they can ever
reach. And, who at the late show had the pleasure of view-
ing those fine animals, Denton and Ccelebs, could doubt whe-
ther they were superior to any animals of the same descrip-
tion now to be found in New-England ? And why is this the
case ? Assuredly our pastures are as fine, and the race has not
degenerated with us. Wherever a pride is felt in raising fine
stock, our success is perfect, and the single town of Sutton
might send its team of 120 oxen and challenge Devonshire
or any other county of Great Britain, to trials of strength
or activity.

Let us then, on this occasion, earnestly solicit our farmers
to select and propagate only the best individuals of their
horned cattle. If they reply, we feel no encouragement to
do this, because we find the improved crosses always prefer-
red at your shows, we reply ; that though this is partially true,
it is not entirely so, and what would the farmer have us do
on such an occasion? If, in fact, the full-blooded or half-
blooded descendant of imported stock is superior, shall we
refuse to admit it so to be ? This would be indeed sacrificing
*he best interests of our country in relation to this object, as

MO CATTLE SHOW, &C AT BRIGHTON.

well as violating our solemn pledges, to gratify an improper
national prejudice. Our true course is to strive to equal or
surpass the foreign races by selections and careful manage-
ment of our native stock. It was upon this principle that
our manufactures have been built up on the only solid foun-
dation. Instead of complaining that foreign goods were pre?
ferred, our citizens have exerted themselves to make our
own better as well as cheaper ; and let Manchester and York-
shire beware, lest they find themselves not only shut out from
our markets, (not by prohibitions but by skill and industry)
but eventually rivalled in those of foreign countries.
These preliminary remarks are not only intended to allay
any feeling of discontent at our preference of the best
stock, from whatever country it may have been origi-
nally derived, but to encourage our own farmers to take
more efficient measures for the amelioration and improve-
ment of our own native breeds. They cannot attend one of
our shows, without perceiving the public preference for the
new races, and this is a strong confirmation of the justice of
the decisions ; though we are aware that it is not the least
difficult task of the Committee, to endeavour to decide with-
out any bias from this clearly pronounced opinion.

We have said, that the imported stock and their progeny
have usually been preferred by the visitors at our shows ; —
we would make one exception, and that is, with respect to
milch cows. Although the rnilch cows of Great Britain and
the Netherlands are in general far superior to our own, —
yet during the six years in which I have had this duty
to perform, I have never seen an imported cow of
equal merit (taking the positive evidence of qualities, the
quantity and quality of milk into view) with some of our
own which have been offered. So fully am I convinced of
this truth, as well as that our country possesses a very con-
siderable number of these fine cows, that I am persuaded,
that, if Great Britain or the Netherlands were to send us ten

CATTLE SHOW, &C AT BRIGHTON. 241

cows each, of the best quality, New-England alone could
furnish twenty, which would equal them in the quantities
of milk, butter and cheese, which they would respectively
produce. If this should be true, and I have no doubt of
it, we at least possess means by which an improved race
might be procured. This opinion is not expressed light-
ly. We infer its truth from an examination of the pro-
ducts of foreign cows, thought to be so extraordinary as
to merit notice in their periodical journals ; and during our
short period of exhibitions, we have had several, which
have equalled the best, of which any accounts have been
published. But we would wish, that it should be distinctly
understood, that we refer only to a small part of our milch
cows, and that we fear much the greater number are lamen-
tably poor. We are well convinced, that some dairies in our
country, with two good cows, produce as much as the ave-
rage of those which have five. If we are correct, or nearly
so, in the opinion above expressed, how does it happen that
our breed of cattle on the whole is so inferior ? Because the
owner of a good cow, instead of putting a proper value upon
her, will generally send her to the nearest scrub bull,
to save a little labour, and some triflmg difference of ex-
pense. This we all feel and know to be true. But this negli-
gence is giving place to more judicious measures, owing prin-
cipally to the effect of the public shows. If every owner of
a good, and very superior cow, would consider her in a pro-
per light, not merely as a valuable animal during her life,
but as capable of improving his whole stock — if he will spare
no moderate expense in procuring calves from her, from bulls
of an improved breed, we shall soon see our whole stock gra-
dually improve. Bakewell and Princeps, among the most
distinguished raisers of stock in Great Britain, lived to see
their improvements eminently successful. We arc fully
aware, that all this exhortation and argument is of very litlle
importance, compared with the more substantial proofs de-
rived from prices. When, therefore, our farmers learn, that

242 CATTLE SHOW, &€. AT BRIGHTON.

a calf of six months, has been sold at the price of four ordi-
nary cows, of five years old, who have consumed twelve
tons of hay, including pasturage, and have required great la-
bour »n attending on them ; when they hear that an excel-
lent judge offered fifty dollars for a two months calf, of the
cow herein after mentioned, owned by the Hon. Mr. Gray,
they produce more solid conviction than any thing we could
mrge.

Before we announce the premiums, we would express the
thanks of the Trustees to those gentlemen, who without
claiming any reward, and purely with the view of giving aid
to the show, exhibited fine animals at no small expense and
trouble. It is probable as the Committee took no minutes
of these animals, some of them may be overlooked. One we
could not forget — the fine imported bull Denton, belonging
to Stephen Williams, Esq. of Northborough. He has improv-
ed with age, and shows that he has an owner who is sensi-
ble of his great value. Nor could any one overlook Coelebs.,
owned by Major Jaques, of Charlestown. If there had been
no other animals on the ground, those who are fond of view-
ing fine natural productions, would feel that a visit to Brigh-
ton would have been well repaid by the sight and compari-
son of these animals, differing considerably to be sure, but
each very remarkable for beauty. There was also a fiae im-
ported cow, with her calf, lately bought by the Hon. Mr.
Gray for $200. Such liberal prices will ensure a constant
and gradual improvement of our stock. It is said that this
cow is very remarkable for the quantity and quality of her
milk — we have heard that she had given in England 36
Quarts per day, but there was no person to give us any ac-
curate account of her. Capt. Tracy, of the London Packet?
abided a new proof, to the many he has already given, of his
zeal for the promotion of the Agriculture of his country, by
exhibiting three young homed animals, just imported by him.
Major Jaques also exhibited three fine cows, without asking
a premium.

CATTLE SHOW, &X. AT BRIGHTON. 243

After so long a trial of the patience of the competitors, by
these introductory remarks, many of which competitors willy
however, be disappointed quite as early as they would wish.

The Committee awarded the premiu :

For the best fat ox, 6 years old, to Oliver Starr, of
Deerfield, weighing 2333 pounds, $40

For the next best do. & years old, to Lewis Barnard,
of Worcester, weight 2256, 30

For the next best do. 51 years old, to Amos Davis, of
Groton, weight 1992, 20

For the best bull, to Major S. Jaques, of Charles-
town — weight 1243 — 15 months old, 30

For the next best do. to Joshua Coolidge, of Water-
tertown, by Ccelebs — weight 735 — 7 months and four
days old, 20

For the best bull calf, to Uriah Manning, of Woburn,
being the progeny of Calebs, ' 15

For the next best bull calf, the progeny of Denton, to
the Hon. Levi Lincoln, of Worcester, 8

For the best milch cow, to John Barr, of Salem, 30

For the next best do. to Samuel Murden, of Milton, 20

For the next best do. to the Hon. John Welles, of
Dorchester, 15

As to milch cows, one of the most important, as well
as most difficult articles to decide upon, the Committee
proceeded, as they will probably hereafter always proceed,
solely on evidence as to the actual product. The clearer
this evidence, the more certain the success. The good-
ness of a milch cow depends on so many circumstances,
and all of them so important, that the Committee are
obliged to extend their inquiries very far. Form and
beauty is of some moment, but it is also sometimes falla-
cious ; and no one would reject a fine cow, which should
give an uncommon quantity of fine milk — butter superior
in quantity and quality — continue to give milk every year,
till within one week of calving, merely because she had a

244 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

great head, or a large frame, or small teats, or, in short,
because sh« had not any one of the fine points described
in the '• Complete Grazier." In this, as in every thing
else, we must not always trust wholly to the exterior.

It has been usual to notice those animals of considerable
merit, which deserved attention, but did not obtain pre-
miums. I have never been satisfied with this course. Its
tendency is in some degree to lessen the value of the rewards
we bestow, if we praise too much those which were not
successful ; and after all we only shift the mortification,
and make it fall with more severity on the greater num-
ber whose animals are not noticed— but as it is the usage
we comply with it. There was a very fat ox presented
by Mr. Savary. He was fatter than some of those which
obtained the premium, but the difference of the age de-
cided the question against him. There were fine bulls
offered by Mr. Warren, Mr. Ward, Mr. Rice, Mr. Patch, of
the fine native breed, so often noticed by us — and by Mrs.
Amory, of the Coelebs breed, one of which took a premium
last ) ear. There was also a superior Holland Bull, im-
ported by Mr. Forrester, offered for exhibition only.

The best bull calf, not noticed in the premiums, was
Mr. Lee's, of Brooklyn, Maj. Jaques' and Dr. Chaplin's.
Many others were also very fine.

Of the cows, Capt. Inglee's, of Dorchester, was very
remarkable — and also Mr. Brigham's, Job Ranger's and H.
Warren's, both of New Braintree — but we have already
explained the principles of our decision as to milch cows.
which we hope will be satisfactory.

The Committee have endeavoured to give general satis-
faction, and if they have failed of that, they will at least
have the pleasure of having satisfied themselves.

JOHN LOWELL, Chairman.

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 245

No. II. — On the smaller animals.

The Committee of the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agricul-
ture, appointed to decide on all the smaller class of Animals including
heifers,

REPORT :

That twenty-five animals of the class of " heifers, of from
one to three years old," were in the pens for premium or
exhibition — all of 3n excellent quality, and most of them of
approved breeds; and generally indicating the increasing
attention of the agricultural interest to this important class
of stock. The general improvement in this class of ani-
mals, compared with our former Cattle Shows, was very
marked and decided.

The first premium* was awarded for a heifer owned
by Henry Rice, Esq. of Marlborough. She was of
the breed of " Denton," the celebrated imported bull
owned by Stephen Williams, Esq. of Northborough.
This heifer was two years old on the first of February,
from a cow of the Princeton breed; her form and
figure strongly indicative of her sire. The heifer suck-
ed only twelve weeks, has had no other keeping than
common pasturage and meadozv hay in the winter. She
calved in May ; at six weeks her calf weighed 88 lbs.
the quarter and never took all her milk until it was
five weeks old. This heifer has given from twelve to
fourteen quarts of milk during the season, $15

The second premium was awarded for the heifer
owned by Mr. Samuel Brooks, of Brighton, who had
also received no extra keep, and was a beautiful sam-
ple of the approved Holderness breed, introduced into
the state by Gorham Parsons, Esq. 10

There were other distinguished animals of this class, which
deserve particular notice, and were highly approved. Such
were that belonging to Mr. Wheeler, of Framingham, also

Vol. VII. 32

246 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

of the Holderness breed ; and those presented by the Hon.
Mr. Lincoln, also of the Denton breed, and were animals
of beauty and promise.

Five heifers belonging to the Hon. Mr. Welles, of his
own improved stock, which has on former occasions had
distinguished notice by committees of this society.

To these ought to be added the heifer of Mr. Coolidge,
and that of Francis Amory, Esq. from Major Jaques' im-
ported bull Coelebs ; and also those of Mr. John Breed, of
Belle-isle, from Mr. Thorndike's bull " Fill Pail," all partak-
ing of the excellent and peculiar qualities of their respec-
tive breeds.

The Committee also award for the best Boar,

The first premium to Joseph Rice, of , the

sum of $10

The second premium for the best «Boar, they award
to Mr. Spark Vose, of Watertown, the sum of 5

The first premium for the best Store Pigs, they award
to Mr. Luke Fiske, of Wallham, the sum of 10

The second premium for the best Store Pigs, they
award to Mr. Aaron Dow, of Brookline, the sum of 5

The first premium for the best Merino Ram, they
award to Gorham Parsons, Esq. IS

The Committee regret to observe that the general
specimens of Merino Sheep exhibited for premium were
in their opinion inferior to those of former years.
They feel themselves justified only in awarding a se-
cond premium for the best Merino Ewes, to Gen. Austin, 10

The second premium for Merino Wethers they award
to Francis Amory, Esq. 10

For Native Wethers there was no competition. Those
presented by Mr. Silas Hall, of Phillipston, were very
fine animals, and deemed worthy of the first premium,
which the Committee accordingly award, of 10

[Upon condition that he give evidence according to the rules,
that they were wholly bred in this State, and raised by the
persons exhibiting them.]

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 247

A pair of Stags were presented by Mr. Meriam of Con-
cord, as a specimen of a new mode of altering cattle ; and
which he represented as easier, equally effectual, and less
dangerous than the ordinary method. Your committee were
not authorized to grant any premium on this account. Nor
can they recommend any to be given, without a more satis-
factory evidence of the success of the operation and of all
the advantages specified. Should this be the case, at any
future time, it will always be in the power, as they doubt not
it will be the inclination of the trustees, to grant a just re-
ward for this, as well as for any other successful improve-
ment in the important operations of agriculture.

Mr. Meriam also presented several spayed sows, for the
society's premium for animals of that description ; but they
were not accompanied by any statement of the mode of
operation and treatment, as required by the rules established
by the Trustees, and besides, the operations were very re-
cent, and apparently, some of them at least, done expressly
for the exhibition, and for the purpose of offering for the
premium. Now in a case of this nature, when a premium is
proposed expressly for the purpose of testing the efficacy of
an important, and in this country, in some respects, a new
operation, your committee apprehend that no premium ought
to be granted, unless by well attested experiments, supported
by a lapse of time sufficient to leave no question of the re-
sult.

Mr. John Baker had entered also four spayed sows, be-
longing to Gorham Parsons, Esq. for the premium proposed
for the same operation. They were in fine health and com-
pletely healed — neither disfigured or weakened by the ope-
ration. A certificate also accompanied, made by Gorham
Parsons, Esq. which will be laid before the Trustees for
their consideration, conformable to their proposal, and in
case the same shall be considered, or shall be made satisfac-
tory to them, they in such case award to Mr. Baker the pre-
mium of $20

248 CAT/TLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

Samuel Jaques, Esq. also presented for the Society's pre-
mium, of the improved Leicester breed of long-woolled
Sheep, having a cross of the South down, one Ram and six
Ewes. They were bought by him in Pennsylvania, and
from thence brought into this State. Although your Com-
mittee know that the intention of the Society, in the proposal
offered in the terms of that premium, was, to encourage the
importation of the animals from some foreign kingdom or
state — and that therefore, strictly speaking, Colonel Jaques
would be entitled to no premium on the terms of those pro-
posals; yet your Committee consider the animals are in this
State a new and very important race of Sheep, although
precisely not of the description proposed, and that Col. Ja-
ques has at considerable expense and trouble, introduced
them into it. They, therefore, recommend that a premium
be granted to him of $50

The Hon. Thomas H. Perkins, Esq. also presented for
exhibition, a Ram and two Ewes of the long woolled Sheep
of the Netherlands, the length of whose wool was great-
ly superior, and its fineness but little inferior, if at all, to
those of our present breeds. And although it was not the
intention of that distinguished merchant to stand candi-
date for any premium, his sole purpose being to aid in the
improvement of our breed of Sheep, and thereby to en-
courage the agriculture and manufactures of his native
State, yet your Committee, apprehending that all exer-
tions of this kind, so honourable to the individual, and so
advantageous to the community, should receive some mark
from our Society of its sense of the benefit conferred on the
Commonwealth, they therefore recommend that the Gold
Medal of the Society, of the value of fifty dollars, be pre-
sented to Mr. Perkins, for this distinguished and successful
effort to improve the breed of Sheep in Massachusetts.
JOSIAH QUINCY,
NATHANIEL INGERSOLL,
THOMAS WILLIAMS.

Noddle's Island.

CATTLfi SHOW, &C AT BRIGHTON. -249

No. III. — On Manufactures.

The Committee on Manufactures award :

The first premium ,or Broadcloths, to James Shepherd
& Co. of Northampton, $30

The second premium for Broadcloths, to the Wol-
cott Woollen Manufacturing Co. 20

The first premium for Household Cloth, to Jona-
than Mann, of Worcester, 12

The second premium for do. to Stephen Buttrick, of
Framingham, 8

The first premium for superfine Cassimere, to the
Wolcott Woollen Manufacturing Co. 15

The second premium for do. to James Shepherd &
Co. of Northampton, 10

The first premium for Superfine Satinet, to Daniel
Ellis and Son, of Walpole, 10

The first premium for fine Flannel, to James How-
orth, of Andover, 10

The first premium for Carpeting, to Sarah Patrick,
of Worcester, 15

The second premium for do. to Adolphus Bartho-
lomew, 7

The first premium for Linen Cloth, to Anna R. Put-
nam, of Grafton, 8

The first premium for Diaper, to Mrs. Putnam, 10

The second premium for do. to Susan Young, of
Newbury, 5

The first premium for Sewing Silk, to Lemuel Hea-
ley, of Dudley, 5

The second premium for do. to Caroline Bronsdon,
of Milton, 3

The following gratuities are also awarded :

To Clarissa Fay, of New Braintree, for a very good
specimen of fine Flannel, 5

250 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

A premium being withheld on account of a deficiency in
the number of yards, the Committee recommend the gra-
tuity in consideration of the excellence of the fabric and
the importance of the manufacture. — And for the same
reasons a gratuity of $5

To Susan Warren of Chelmsford, for a piece of Lin-
en of household manufacture. 5

To George Johnson, of Salem, for a specimen of
Duck by machinery of recent invention, , 10

[This Duck is thought superior to any brought to this mar-
ket from Europe, and can be afforded at a price advanta-
geous So the purchaser. The character of the machinery
empteyed, and the quality of the article, afford a hope that
duck may become one of our staple articles.

To Gerry Fairbanks, of Boston, for fine Beaver hat's, $20
[Hats of the same quality are still imported. The com-
mittee have therefore recommended a liberal gratuity in
this case, as there is both stock and skill enough in the coun-
try to put a stop to the importation.]

At former exhibitions the imitation Leghorn Hats have
been of a medium quality ; this year there was one speci-
men from Vermont perhaps finer than any ever imported.
As it was manufactured in another State, the committee are
not authorized to do more than to commend the excellence
of the fabric.

For other specimens of Straw and Grass manufacture,
they recommend gratuities as follows :

To Ann Dalrymple, of Marlborough, for Straw Bon-
nets, $5

To Miriam Haven, of Hopkinton, for do. 5

To Sally & Eliza P'erry, of Brookfield, for a Grass
Hat, 5

To Betsy Bennet, of Framingham, for an imitation
Leghorn Straw, 5

To Susan Sherman, of Marlborough, for do, 3

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 251

. To Mary and Hannah Dobben, of Beverly, for Straw
Bonnets, 3

Gratuities to the following persons are likewise recom-
mended for their specimens of ingenuity and industry :
To Fanny Pierce, of New Braintree, for a counter-
pane and coverlet, 5
To Sally Penniman, of do. for a hearth rug, 3
To Caroline Fiske, of Waltham, for a counterpane 3
To Susan Sterns, of Waltham, for a knit mantle of
cotton yarn, 2

To Mehitable R. Dean, of Mansfield, for a hearth
rug, 3

To Priscilla Cotton, of Plymouth, for a hearth rug, S
To Samuel B. Pope, of Boston, for a specimen of
men's boots, 5

To Ann Heath, of Roxbury, for specimen of fine cot-
ton hose, 5
To Rebecca Johnson, of Boston, for a hearth rug, 3
To Sarah Glover, of Dorchester, for a cotton coun-
terpane, 3

To Rhoda Holman, of Bolton, for a fabric of silk
weed, 2

To Levi Sawyer, of Bolton, for woollen hose, 2

To a female of Boston, for a very fine hose of me-
rino wool, 2
To Sarah Moore, o Brighton, for fine down tippets 2
To Sarah, Polly and Hannah Lewis, for various arti-
ticles manufactured from Down, and for Artificial flow-
ers, • G

To Nancy Wheeler, of Worcester, for Fans manufac-
tured from feathers, 2
Messrs. Barrett, Tileston & Co. of Staten Island, pre-
sented for inspection some very handsome Woollen Table
Cloths and Silk Handkerchiefs as specimens of their werk
in the art of Printing and Dying. These deserve mention
as highly creditable to the taste and skill of the manufac-

252 CATTLE SHOW, <kc. AT BRIGHTON.

turers. The Handkerchiefs exhibited were originally striped
and crossbarred silks. They were shop goods damaged ; the
original colors were extracted; they were re-dyed and print-
ed as exhibited. *

With respect to the progress of our principal woollen
manufactures, the Committee think it may be useful on this
occasion to remark, that Flannels of every degree of fine-
ness required for home consumption, may be manufactured
at reasonable prices with the machinery and skill now in
the country. That our best cassimeres are substantial, well
made and well finished, and approach nearer to 'those of
first quality made in England, than our best broadcloths do
to the best of that country.

That our best Broadcloths are improving progressively
with the gain of experience, and faster as respects goodness
and the style of finishing, than fineness, and there is still
room for improvement in the dyeing and dressing.

There were no extra fine Broadcloths at the exhibition.
This may be accounted for without discrediting the manu-
facturers, by adverting to the fact that there is a full de-
mand for cloths of a medium quality, at prices which give
a large profit ; the manufacturers are under no inducement
therefore to attempt extra fine cloths. However much it
might gratify our pride to see cloths of this description
spread before the public at our annual exhibitions, it is
neither for the interest of the manufacturer nor of the coun-
try, that it should at present be gratified. The best cloths
shown at the hall this year, were some pieces from the
Litchfield Woollen Factory in Connecticut, offered not for
premium, but for exhibition ; and these were thought by
the Committee deserving of an honorable mention on this
occasion. No Cotton Cloth? were exhibited ; and this
among other circumstances may be considered as proof that
they require no encouragement beyond that afforded bv the
present good market.

RICHARD SULLIVAN,

WM. LAWRENCE.

Brighton, Oat. 10, 1821.

CATTLE SHOW, &Ci AT BRIGHTON. 253

No. IV. — INVENTIONS*

The Committee of the Massachusetts Society for the
promotion of Agriculture, to whom was referred the sub-
ject of Inventions, report : —

That they have had the gratification of inspecting a num-
ber of machines connected with the facilitating manufac-
tures and the labours of agriculture, which have been de-
posited in the society's room, but none coming within the
exact terms of their commission, except a Cast Iron Rol-
ler, which was duly entered for premium by Aaron Wil-
lard, jr. of Boston. This roller is apparently an improve-
ment on the ordinary roller. It consists of two rollers
moving upon one axis, and thereby turns easier and makes
less ridges. But the owner not being present nor any
person in his behalf, the Committee have not been able to
make those inquiries which are necessary to enable them
to award any premium.

The next machine presented for their examination and
entered for premium, was a Vertical Family Spinner, in-
vented by John Brown, of Providence, and presented for
premium by J. R. Newell. It is apparently capable of
spinning with from six to twelve spindles, and it was stated
to your Committee that a girl of fifteen years of age of
common capacity, is capable of tending it 5 that the thread
may be guaged at any number which may be wanted. The
size is very compact and takes up a less number of square
feet on the floor, than a common spinning wheel. But the
Committee had no certificate of its power, or evidence of
its being used in any family, and found to be by experiment
capable of facilitating domestic spinning. In their opinion
this is the only test of its real utility. They think it a suffi-
ciently simple and ingenious machine. But whether it will
perform all that it is promised, your Committee are for
the reason above stated, not able to decide ; and the ma-

Vol. VII. 33

254 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON'*

chine not being within any of the specified objects of pre-
mium, your Committee do not deem themselves justified in
recommending, under these circumstances, any specific pre-
mium.

The machine which most attracted the attention of ou*
Committee, was one presented by Joseph Pope, Esq. of
Boston, a gentlemen long known to the public by his inven-
tions and mechanical ingenuity. This machine is patented j
intended to work by hand, in its present model, but easily
capable of being enlarged and applied to a horse power.

The material to be threshed, passes through opposite sets
of surfaces placed transversely in a frame. They are re-
spectively moving rods; and constitute a threshing power oh
an open floor composed of -stationary rods.

It was stated to your Committee that it threshed 50
bushels of grain in 12 hours ; and 4 bushels and 12 quarts
of oats in 1 hour; and that a common sized sheaf passes
through it and is completely threshed in 1 minute. The
labour is done by two hands, one destined to turn it, the
other to feed it, or one man and two boys are sufficient for
the same purpose.

In the experiment made before the Committee, it thresh-
ed the grain out perfectly. And it is obvious that with a
very small expense, it may be converted into a machine
for cutting straw without any injury to its threshing power.

Owing to an accident, for which the owner of the ma-
chine is not responsible, it was .not duly entered, although
it was brought to Brighton and deposited in the society's
room iu proper season for that purpose.

As your Committee consider the machine as likely to be
very useful, and as Mr. Pope has been at great expence and
trouble for the purpose of bringing it to Brighton, your
Committee apprehend that some notice ought to be taken
of it, and they therefore recommend that he should have a,
premium of $20 ; he producing the requisite certificates of it&
being used and approved by a practical farmer.

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. %55

Mr. Newell also presented for premium, a Corn-Sheller,
on a horizontal movement, on a wooden barrel.

The Committee did not see its power, but apprehend it
may be made a useful machine, with some improvement,
but do not consider themselves authorized in its present state
to award a premium.

■ The same gentleman presented for exhibition a number of,
excellent and approved English machines, and also some-
cf the invention of this country, among these they notice

An English Turnip Cutter.

Three Double Mould Ploughs*

Batson's Scarifier.

Batson's Cultivator

Howard's Patent Plough.

Also, an English Hay Maker, sent from Baltimore. AM
of them are worthy of the attention of gentlemen, interest-
ed in improving the agriculture of the country, and their
being brought to Brighton for exhibition does great credit to
the attention and zeal of Mr. NewelL

A Patent Threshing Machine, invented by , and also

a Patent Hulling or Smut Machine, accompanied by strong
£nd numerous printed recommendations, were presented for
the inspection of your Committee, but they had no oppor-
tunity to judge of their respective operations.

JOSIAH QUTNCY,
CYRUS ALGER,
PAUL MOODY.

No. V. WORING OXENo

The Committee appointed by the Massachusetts Society
i'or Promoting Agriculture, to decide on the claims for pre-
mium for the best Working Oxen, at the Cattle Show at

256 CATTLE SHOW, &C AT BRIGHTON.

Brighton, Oct, 10, consisting of John Welles, Silas Gates and
Elijah Perry, report ;-r-

That they were well pleased to find amongst the other
distinguished evidences of improvement at their show, an
increased number of Working Cattle, superior to any pre-
vious exhibition.

Twelve yoke of Working Oxen were entered and appear-
ed to contest for the premiums offered by the Society.

The Cattle were in general in their training more perfect,
and the committee feel confident that the community may
look forward to the most gratifying results.

After taking into view the strength in reference to their
age and size, the equality of match, the docility and train-
ing, as well as other general circumstances, the Committee
unanimously agreed to award the following premiums :

To Luther Whitney, of Sutton, first premium, $30 00

To Peter Darling of Sutton, second premium, 25 00

To John Sherman, of Sutton, third premium, 20 00

To Daniel Marble of Sutton, half of the fourth
premium, 7 50

To Jonas L. Sibley, of Sutton, the other half of
the fourth premium, ' 7 50

To Capt. Joseph Curtis of Roxbury, the fifth
premium, 10 00

The Committee were all pleased to see so favourable an
illustration of the benefit of the Ox Team, as was general-
ly presented ; the use of which cannot but be considered as
promoting one of the most essential interests of the state.

To the honour of a small but respectable section of the
country, the town of Sutton, it receives a principal part of
the premiums of the Society. But it is believed that no
man will doubt the distinction is well merited. It is to be
hoped that other parts of the state will feel excited to such
an exertion, as will spread the evidences of our farmers
care and skill more equally over the state, and thus the

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 237

great object of the Society in the advancement of the ho-
nour and interest of the Commonweath be promoted.

(Signed) J. WELLES, Chairman,

No. VI. PLOUGHING MATCH.

The Committee on the Ploughing Match, consisting oi
John Prince, Benjamin Goddard, and S. G. Derby, having
attended the duty assigned them, beg leave to report :—

That the ground selected for the purpose by the Com-
mittee of Arrangements, was a very tough green-sward of
20 years lay, and had been chiefly used as a pasture for fat
cattle, was previously laid off in lots of sixteen rods long,
and one and a quarter rods wide, making one eighth of an
acre, (which was less than was wished, but being the only
spot convenient that could be procured, could not admit of
their being larger) — the soil excellent and free from stones
or trees, and each team had a perfectly equal chance.
The ploughs were duly entered for the contest, and the
ploughman drew for lots as follows :

No. 1. — Aaron Davis Williams, of Roxbury, one pair of
oxen, Lewis Bliss ploughman, David Howe driver — War-
ren's Dedham plough, with wheel and cutter — 18 furrows —
finished in 34 minutes.

No. 2. — Jonas L. Sibley, of Sutton, one pair of oxen,
Samuel Sibley ploughman, Peter Darling 2d, driver — Com-?
mon Sutton plough, with wheel — 17 furrows — 23 minutes.

No. 3. — Stedman Williams of Roxbury, two pair oxen,
Stedman Williams, ploughman, Samuel Prince driver — War-
ren's of Dedham plough, with wheel — 18 furrows— -26 mi-
nutes 30 seconds.

No. 4. — Joseph Curtis, of Roxbury, two pair of oxen,
Luke Rollins ploughman, Amos Wyman driver — Warren's
Dedham plough, with wheel and cutter — 20 furrows — 27
minutes 30 seconds.

258 CATTLE SHOW &C. AT BRIGHTON.

No. 5. — Luther Whiting, of Sutton, two pair oxen, Royal
T. Marble ploughman. Luther Whiting driver — button
plough, with wheel— 16 furrows — 30 minutes.

No. 6. — Aaron D. Williams, of Roxbury, one pair oxen,
Thomas Howe ploughman and driver — Warren of Dedham
plough, with wheel — 19 furrows — 46 minutes.

No. 7. — Silas Dudley, of Sutton, two pair oxen, Silas
Dudley ploughman, Joseph Dudley driver— Warren of Ded-
liam plough, with wheel and cutter — 17 furrows — 26 min-
utes,

No. 3. — Isaac Cook, of Brookline, one pair oxen, Caleb
Miller ploughman and driver — Warren of Dedham plough,
with wheel and cutter — 19 furrows — 33 minutes.

No. 9. — Moses Seaver, of Brighton, one pair oxen, Mo-
ses Seaver ploughman, Benjamin Porterdriver — Howard of
Hingham's plough with wheel — 20 furrows — 24 minutes.

No. 10. — John Sherman, of Sutton, one pair oxen, Asa
Cummings ploughman, John Sherman driver — Sutton plough
•with wheel — 18 furrows — 22 minutes.

Previous to the ploughing, it was distinctly stated by the
Committee, that the furrow must be no less than 5 1-2 inches
deep, ancLtheir greatest wish as little to exceed 10 inches in
the width of furrow as was possible, and not to hurry their
cattle, as they conceived the best work could not be per-
formed if over driven — and that goodness of work, together
with that of the savings of the labour of the cattle, would be
a great object in deciding premiums, as well as cheapness
of labour.

They have great pleasure in stating, that the work was
well done, and most of it in a superior style, and that the
reason for not extending their rewards was because the
Committee had it in their power to award only three
among ten claimants — indeed, they conceive praise is due to
all the ploughmen, who discovered great skill in the man-
agement of their implements, and the cattle were univer-
sally excellent — and in consequence of the request of the
Committee that they should not be hurried, they could gen»

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRICHTON. 259

erally have proceeded in another one eighth of an acre with
ease.

The Committee have been unanimous in their awards af-
ter a very critical examination, as follows :
1st premium to Isaac Cook,

Caleb Miller, ploughman
do. do. driver
2d premium to Joseph Curtis

Luke Rollins, ploughman
Amos Wyman, driver
3d premium to Stedman Williams,
do. do.
Samuel Prince, driver,

$70
All which is submitted,

JOHN PRINCE,
BENJAMIN GODDARD.
SAMUEL G. DERBY.

$20

10

5-

-35

12

6

3-

-21

8

4

o_

-14

No. VII. — Agricultural Experiments.

The Committee on Agricultural Experiments, to whom
was also committed the inspection of sundry articles of
Manufacture, for which premiums were offered, report: — •

That five several parcels of Cheese, of more than one
year old ; and seventeen parcels of new Cheese, were of-
fered for the Society's premiums ; which, in the opinion
of your committee, are superior to any hitherto exhibited ;
all made in the town of New Braintree, in the County of
Worcester, excepting one parcel of five cheeses, made by
Mr. John Ay res, of Oakham, in the same county ; of the
former, that from the dairy of Capt. John Hunter, was
considered to be the richest and best made cheese, and is

280 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

entitled to the premium of ten dollars ; that from the dairy
of Capt. Ebenezer Tidd, the next best, and is entitled to
the premium of five dollars. Of the new Cheese, that
from the dairy of Mr. William Earl, was considered to be
the best, and is entitled to the premium of ten dollars;
that from the dairy of Major Roswell Converse, the next
best, and is entitled to the premium of five dollars.

Several parcels of fine flavoured Butter were also exhib-
ited, uncommonly well made, the buttermilk being more
perfectly expressed than usual ; that from the dairy of
Miss Mary Clark, of Watertown, in the County of Middle-
sex, was considered to be the best ; that from the dairy of
of Col. Stephen Hastings, of Sterling, in the County of
Worcester, the next best — the former is entitled to the
premium of ten dollars, and the latter to the premium of
five dollars.

For the greatest quantity of Butter and Cheese, made
between the 15th day of May, and the first day of Octo-
ber, from not less than four cows, the quantity of the But-
ter and of the Cheese, and the number of cows, to be
taken into consideration, Mr. William Earl, of New Brain-
tree, has exhibited sufficient testimony, in the opinion of
your committee, to entitle him to the premium of twenty
dollars.

Messrs. Brewer & Jordon, of Roxbury, are entitled to
the premium of ten dollars, for the best specimen of soal
leather ; for the next best specimen, Messrs. Benjamin Mi-
rick & Co. also of Roxbury, area entitled to the* premium of
five dollars. ,

Five barrels of Flour, from the wheat raised the present
season, on the farm of Gorham Parsons, Esq. in Brighton,
and manufactured at the " City Mills," lately erected on the
" Western Avenue," very little inferior in quality to the
best made Philadelphia flour, were exhibited by Mr. Benjamin
T. Reed, Agent of the Proprietors of said Mills, and are
entitled to the premium of twenty-five dollars.

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BBIGHTON* 261

A sample of Starch, in imitation of the Poland Starch,
manufactured by Mr. Robert Hewes, of Boston ; and a sam-
ple of Mustard, manufactured by Mr. Abraham Bickford,
also of Boston, were exhibited — both appeared to be of a
very good quality, perhaps equal to any imported ; no pre-
miums the preseut year, for either of these articles, were
offered by the Trustees.

The vegetables brought to the Society's Hall very far
exceeded in quantity, variety, and size, those exhibited in
any former year. The roots of Mangel Wurtzel, sent by
Dr. Chaplin of Cambridgeport, were very large, and in
great perfection. The Doctor also presented to the
Society a very fine Watermellon, from his own gar-
den, which weighed about twenty-three pounds. From
the farm of Edward Sparhawk, Esq. of Brighton, some
" Silverskin" Onions, uncommonly large. From the gar-
den of Mr. William Ackers, of Brooklyne, some roots of
the common red Beet, of an early kind, and of a size sel-
dom equalled. Mr. Josiah Coolidge, of Cambridge, and
Mr. Samuel Murdock, of Milton, exhibited some very large
Winter Squashes. One from the farm of the former weigh-
ed forty-seven pounds. From the farm of Gen. Hull, in
Newton, some Carrots, Ruta Baga, and English Turnips, all
of them very large, " taken from a field of two acres, with-
out any cultivation, but what was common to the whole
field." From the farm of Capt. N. Ingersoll, of Brook-
lyne, some Arrak, being a new variety of the Carrot. From
the orchard of Mr. Henry Houghton, in Bolton, in the
County of Worcester, some Blue Pearmains, which were
supposed to weigh not less than one pound each. From
the garden of James White, Esq. in Dorchester, in the
County of Norfolk two specimens of the Cotton Plant,
which grew in the open air, without particular care ; one
of which was Sea Island, the other Uplaud. The pods on
both were well filled with Cotton.

Vol. VII. 34

262 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT- BRIGHTON.

From the farm of Capt. Joseph Warren, in Brighton,
some ears of Corn, said to be of a very productive kind,
"from three stalks ten ears were taken." From the or-
chard of Col. James Wilder, in Sterling, a very large fine
Apple, called " Eve's Apples." From the farm of Dr. Elia-
kim Morse, in Watertown, some fine ears of the eight and
twelve rowed Indian Corn.

By order of the Committee,

THOMAS Lr W1NTHROP, Chairman.

Brighton, Oct. 9th, 1822.

The Committee on Agricultural Experiments submit for the consideration of
the Board the following, in addition to their report dated the 10th day of
October last, to wit ;

That Col. Joseph Valentine, of Hopkinton, is entitled to
the society's premium of $30, for having raised the greatest
quantity of Indian Corn, being 119 bushels and 26-32 of a
bushel, on one acre of land. " The soil is a deep yellow
loam; in 1821, the land was cultivated with Indian com,
and manured with ten cart loads of green barn manure,
spread on the ground, and eight loads of compost manure
put in the hills. In the spring of 1822, the ground was
twice plouged, and 20 cart loads of green barn manure
spread on it ; it was then furrowed in rows about three
feet and a half apart ; and about 20 cart loads of barn,
hog and slaughter yard manure, were put in the rows ; the
last mentioned manure was mixed together with one hogs-
head of Smithfield lime ; the seed was the Brighton twelve
rowed yellow corn, the kernels placed about 3 inches apart
each way ; the corn was hoed three times, all the suckers
Were pulled out in July ; and in August all the suckers
were again taken away, together with the false stalks, and
those that were smutty ; on the first of September the stalks
were topped ; and on the 26th the corn was harvested,
and spread on a floor under the roof of a long shed, to

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 263

give a good opportunity for drying it, there were 213
bushels of corn in the ear; one basket of which was shell-
ed, and produced half a bushel and two quarts of shelled
corn ; so that had the whole been shelled on the day of
harvesting it, the produce would have been 119 bushels
and 26-32 of a bushel of shelled corn; on the 14th of
Nov. the whole was shelled, and measured, and found to
be 116 bushels and 28-32 of clear sound corn; the ave-
rage weight of which was 58 to 59 lbs. the bushel ; the
entire expense of cultivating this acre of corn, including
$35, charged for 40 cart loads of manure, was $44."

That Payson Williams, Esq. of Fitchburg, is entitled to
the society's premium of $30, for having raised the great-
est quantity of Spring Wheat, being 23 bushels and 28-32
of a bushel, on one acre. " In the spring of 1822, as early
as the frost would permit, the ground was ploughed, and
harrowed ; the seed, two and a half bushels of the Giiman
wheat, sown ; again harrowed, and ploughed in fine, with
a horse plough, and left in this situation with the belief
that the crop would endure our New England drought bet-
ter, as the surface would be enlarged, thereby retaining
more of the dews than a plane surface ; the result, com-
pared with neighbouring fields, declares this belief not un-
founded. As the field was seeded down with clover, herds-
grass, and red-top, this was also ploughed with the wheat ;
these plants not only stood the drought remarkably well,
but at this time have completely covered the ground with
the Farmer'' s best carpet. The quantity of grass-seed used
by me, is never less than 12 lbs. of clover, and one peck
of herds grass, to the acre. Here permit me to observe
that innumerable are the instances in this country, where
the farmer fails in his grass crops, by not allowing seed
enough ; and what is worse, the little he does give with
such a sparing hand, is suffered to take its chance under
that pest in agriculture called a bush harrow, which not
only drags stones and other loose matter, into heaps, but

264 CATTLE SHOW*, &C AT BRIGHTON.

leaves the soil dead and heavy ; and does not cover the
seed deep enough to Btrive with our July drought effec-
tually. It may be asked how the scythe is to follow the
plough ? to which I will answer, let the roller, an imple-
ment which every farmer would keep, did he consult his
own interest merely, with a sufficient top or body to con-
tain the larger stones, pass over the field lengthwise the
furrow, in the dry part of the fall ; this process will not
only crush in the small ones, but even the surface for the
scythe, without the least injury to the grass roots ; to this
digression I am impelled by no other motive, however
much I may be mistaken, than the wish of advancing in some
measure, the interests of my fellow citizens, whose good for-
tune it is to till the soil. I had the wheat cut very early,
when much of the straw was green, which, after laying about
two days, was in excellent order for the flail ; after which it
was equal to swail hay for fodder ; the amount of grain by
measurement was 26 bushels and 18-32, from one acre and
18 rods, the quality of the grain is excellent, not one kernel
of smut or burnt grain in the crop ; the seed prepared by a
thorough washing, after which it was immersed in thick
white wash, made from good lime, so as to coat over every
kernel, no fears need be entertained from the plentiful use
of this liquor, as by way of experiment I have planted wheat
after its lying in this liquor four days, which vegetated well."
The committee are of opinion that the roller should be used
immediately after the seed is ploughed in, in preference to
the fall, as recommended by Mr. Williams. Said Payson
Williams is also entitled to the premium of $20, for having
raised the greatest quantity of Potatoes, being 547 bushels,
on one acre. " The land was twice ploughed, and furrowed
three feet apart, and the manure, unfermented, made by
sheep, and neat cattle, its quantity about 14 cords placed in
bills two feet apart, hands immediately following the cart
with hoes to finish the planting process, to prevent loss by
evaporation ; planting finished May 21 — the kind of seed

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 265

used, was the South American reds, 28 bushels to the acre,
cut so as to allow two pieces to the hill ; the weeding finish-
ed the 15th of June, the second and last hoeing the first of
Jul}', the vines beginning to bud, and were about eight inches
in height; a few scattering weeds were occasionally. pulled
up, but no other disturbance was given to the vines till har-
vesting the crop, wjhich was finished November the 3d ;
and by a careful measurement was found to be 547 bushels,
the expense of cultivating the acre of wheat, iucluding $10
charged for the manure, was $24, 71 ; that of cultivating the
acre of potatoes, including $14 for manure, $54."

That Mr. David Little, of Newbury, is entitled to the so-
ciety's premium of $20, for having raised the greatest quan-
tity of Mangel Wurtzel, being 970 bushels, and one half of
a bushel, on one acre. "The situation of said acre is as
follows — a swell inclining south-westerly, of a rich yellow
loam, in 1821, it was planted with beets, manured with
about three cords of compost manure, and produced about
530 bushels. May 9th, 1822, ploughed, harrowed and fur-
rowed three feet apart ; four and a half cords of compost ma-
nure were put in the furrows and covered with a plough ;
then a harrow was drawn lengthwise the ridge to smooth the
land, the seed was then sowed one row on each ridge, with
four pounds of seed, half the quantity would I think be suffi-
cient; June 10th, commenced ploughing between the rows,
and weeding, and thinning at different times till July 16th —
the plants stood 10 or 12 inches apart in the rows, the work
was done principally by boys, estimating two boys to be equal
to one man. Oct. 31, Nov. 1st and 2d, they were harvest-
ed by men and boys, and produced 970 1-2 bushels of Man-
gel Wurtzel, besides 2 bushels of Carrots, and 109 Cabbages,
three loads of the Mangel Wurtzel containing 137 bushels,
were weighed at the town scales ; the weight, according to
the certificate annexed, was 8 tons, 2 c. 3 qs. 20 lbs. Six
swine mostly fed with the thinnings from the beginning of
weeding, until about the first of October; there are trees on

266 CATTLE SHOW, &C AT BRIGHTON.

the said lot sufficient to produce 21 barrels of fruit; the
entire expense of cultivating this acre of Mangel WurtzeJ, in-
cluding the cost of the manure and gathering the crop, was
$23 96 cents."

That Mr. Adams Knight, of Newbury, is entitled to the
Society's premium of Twenty dollars, for having raised the
greatest quantity of Onions, being six hundred and fifty-one
bushels, on one acre. " The soil is a rich gravelly loam,
with a gravel bottom; in 1321, it was cultivated with on-
ions, and cabbages ; and was manured with about five cords
of barn manure, and produced a good crop ; after the crop
was off the ground, there were five cords of barn manure,
and two and a half cords of leached ashes ploughed in — in
April 1822, it was once ploughed, and sowed in rows 14
inches apart, which took between 3 and 4 pounds of seed ;
in the course of the season it was hoed between the rows and
weeded four times ; in September the onions were harvest-
ed, and there were 651 bushels, the entire expense of culti-
vating this acre of onions, including 21 dollars and 37 cents.
the cost of manure, was 57 dollars and 38 cents."

That Messrs. Tristram and Henry Little, of Newbury, are
entitled to the Society's premium of Twenty dollars, for
having raised the greatest quantity of common Turnips, be-
ing 687 bushels and a half on one acre. " The soil is a clay
loam and had been down to grass 6 or 7 years — in 1821, cut
about one ton of hay ; it was then ploughed as deep as the
sward would turn over; 10 cords of compost manure, the
principal part of the compost was marsh mud, spread and
well harrowed ; it was ploughed in ridges three feet apart ;
about one pound of seed was sown with a machine on the
ridges ; and a hand roller made to pass over them, which
completed the sowing ; when out of the way of the fly, they
were thinned to the distance of one foot apart on the ridge—
they were twice ploughed and harrowed ; and harvested the
last of October ; the entire expense of cultivating this acre
of turnips including 20 dollars for manure, was 35 dollars and
82 cents."

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 267

That Silas Little, Esq. of Newbury, is entitled to the So-
ciety's premium of Twenty dollars, for raising the greatest
quantity of common Turnips, after another crop in the same
season; having raised 615 bushels on one acre. "In the
year 1821, something less than a quarter part of the acre
was cultivated with Turnips, and about five common cart
loads of compost manure, such as salt marsh pulverized,
strong earth and sand was laid thereon ; the produce was 80
bushels, the other three fourths had been laying to grass five
or six years ; and the present year we sowed Flax seed,
where the turnips grew the last year; having spread on
about the same quantity and quality of manure as before ;
we pulled the flax soon after the blossoms had fallen off, and
there was a middling crop ; the other part of the acre pro-
duced about 700 weight of hay, which was cut on the 26th of
June ; and the whole was ploughed and manured, the quan-
tity put on the acre was 19 cart loads of 40 bushels each —
the quality of this manure was similar to that above describ-
ed, but more sand in order to make the compost better,
when mixed with our dark clay loam, with a clay bottom ;
nearly two thirds of this manure was spread on one half the
ground, and after harrowing, was put into small ridges, with
a small double mould board plough, two feet and nine inches
apart; the other part of the manure was shovelled into fur-
rows made with the plough, the same distance ; the plough
then passed between the furrows, covered the manure, and
although so great a portion of the manure was spread on hall
the land, yet the other half produced about as much ; the
quantity of seed used was one pound and a half; the time
of sowing was from the first to the tenth of July; the flax
was pulled the 4th, and that part of the ground sowed the
last ; the whole was sown with a machine made for the pur-
pose, and but one row on a ridge ; when the turnips were
up, and out of the way of flies, they were thinned with a
hand hoe and fingers, at the distance of ten or twelve inches,
and afterwards twice hoed and twice ploughed, with the

268 Cattle show, &c. at Brighton.

small plough above mentioned ; the time of harvesting, from
the 28th of October to the 1st of November, and there was
found to be 615 bushels, well trimmed and fit for market,
and about five or six bushels of large defective rotten ones}
we have weighed several bushels, and find a bushel will
weigh 59 lbs. — the entire expense of cultivating this acre of
turnips, including thirteen dollars for manure, was twenty-
eight dollars and seventy-five cents."

That Mr. Asa Rice, Jr. of Shrewsbury, is entitled to the
Society's premium of Twenty dollars, for the account of the
bes( mode of rearing, feeding, and fattening Neat Cattle.
Said Rice is also entitled to the premium of Twenty dollars,
for proving by experiments, to the satisfaction of the Trus-
tees, the utility and comparative value of the Cobs of Indian
Corn, when used with or without the grain itself, ground, or
broken. A paper on the subject of raising Indian Corn, two
successive seasons, with the aid of Plaister Paris, on a high
hill on the farm of Mr. Rice, which from its difficulty of ap-
proach, had until two years since been neglected, was also
exhibited. These communications are too lengthy to be in-
serted in this report, but your Committee recommend that
said papers, together with three very interesting communi-
cations from William Hull, Esq. of Newton, on the best mode
of raising Indian Corn, his mode of cultivating seven eighths
of an acre, from which he procured 192 bushels of Corn in
the ear, 4 bushels of dry Beans and several bushels of Tur-
nips ; and on the culture of Carrots, and Ruta Baga, be
copied into the Society's Journal for January next.

Claims for premiums were also exhibited to your Commit-
tee by the following persons, for raising the greatest quantity
of Indian Corn on one acre of land ; to wit : Mr. Asa Rice;
Jr. of Shrewsbury, raised 53 bushels; Mr. Nathan Howe,
Jr. also of Shrewsbury, 75 bushels ; Mr. Daniel Mears, of
Lynn, 87J. bushels ; Messrs. Tristram and HeBry Little, of
Newbury, 116 bushels and 9 quarts; Payson Williams, Esq.
ofFitchburg, 116 bushels and 12 quarts; and Mr. Daniel

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 269

Burnham, of Newburyport, 117 bushels and 8 quarts. Mr.
Jacob Wilkins, of Marblchead, raised 57 bushels of Barley,
on one acre and J. of an acre. " April 12, 1822, the land
was ploughed about 8 inches deep, the soil loamy, inclining
to gravel, descending to the North East from a ledgy knoll,
which included a part of the premises; 13th, sowed three
bushels of six rowed Barley, on what I considered the larg-
est half of the piece — at the same time sowed one and a half
bushels of two rowed Barley, on the remainder; sowed grass
seed over the whole, and ploughed, and harrowed the same
in. When the six rowed Barley was about six inches high,
it was mowed down, and left on the ground ; this was for
experiment. July 18, mowed the six rowed Barley, and
put it into the barn. 24th, mowed, and put into the barn,
the two rowed Barley. The six rowed Barley appeared to
be about 12 days forward of the two rowed in ripening;
both were stacked separately in the barn ; and each quali-
ty thrashed and kept separate. August 30th, the Barley
being cleansed, was measured ; the six rowed measured 34
bushels ; and the two rowed measured 23 bushels — the
straw we consider in value to be equal to the labor." No
premium was offered for raising the greatest quantity of
Barley ; but your committee are induced to recommend
that the Treasurer be authorized to pay said Jacob Wilk-
ins, the sum of Twenty dollars.

For raising the greatest quantity of common Beets, Pars-
nips, Ruta Baga, Cabbages, and dry Peas ; "for introducing
any Grass not before cultivated in this Commonwealth,
and proving by actual experiment, and produce satis-
factory evidence of its superiority in any one quality,
to any now cultivated ; for the most satisfactory evi-
dence on " Soiling Cattle," not less than six in num-
ber, and through (he whole season, together with a par-
ticular account of the food given, and how cultivated ; for
making the experiment of turning in green crops as a ma-
nure, on a tract not less than an acre, and prove its utili-

Vol. VII. * 35

270 CATTLE SHOW, &C AT BRIGHTON.

ty and cheapness, giving a particular account of the pro-
cess and its results; for proving by actual experiment, the
best season and mode of laying down land to grass, whe-
ther Spring, Summer or Fall seeding be preferable, and
with or without grain or different soils; for raising the
greatest quantity of Vegetables, Grain, Peas and Beans
excepted, for winter consumption of the stock on his own
farm, and not for sale, in proportion to the size of the
farm and stock kept, having regard to the respective value
of said Vegetables as food, stating the expense of raising
the same, and the best mode of preserving the same
through the winter ; for taking up in one season, on his
farm, the greatest quantity of good Honey, and shall at the
same time, exhibit superior skill in the management of
Bees; for giving proof of having produced the largest quan-
tity of dressed Flax raised on one acre : no claims for pre-
miums have been exhibited.

The Board will perceive by the papers accompanying
this report, that of the seven claimants for the premium for
raising the greatest quantity of Indian Coin on one acre,
the quantity produced by four of the competitors was very
nearly the same. Your Committee in awarding the pre-
mium to Colonel Valentine, were induced to decide in his
favor as well from the quantity of sound corn, as from the
weight of the grain ; it will be seen that Mr. Burnham's
Council Bluff Corn, weighed only fifty pounds; that of CoL'
Valentine, fifty eight to fifty nine pounds the bushel.

For the Committee,

THOMAS L. WINTHROP, Chairman.

Boston, Dec. 28, 1822.

[The Trustees of the P.Xassachusetts Agricultural Society believe that they
cannot render a more acceptable service to the cause of agriculture gene*
rally, than by publishing the letters, affidavits, and other evidence, furnish-
ed by the Candidates for their premiums, whether the persons who claimed
them were or were not successful. The greatest benefit derived from offering

INDIAN CORN. 2?£

premiums is the exhibition of the various processes, which were pursued to
enable the parties to become Competitors for them. Cattle shows and re-
>vards for agricultural success would be of comparatively small value, if
the simple fad of the successful experiment only should be announced. The
public would ie little benefited by the knowledge, that seven or eight per-
sons had raised 100 bushels and upwards of Indian Corn to the acre,
it the}' were uninstructed as to the means, by which this crop in our cold,
and unfriendly climate, had been produced. The fact, that such an in-
crease had taken place, even in a few cases, would go far to.shew the advan-
tages of competition and the spirit which pervades the state, but still the
great mass would be left to conjecture by what art, perhaps magical, such
an effect had been produced. The following letters will shew, that the " ma-
gical" art is within the reach of every enterprizing farmer, and that it
consists simply in greater industry, and more skill which all may imi-
tate, and probably with equal success.]

Hopkinton-, November 15, 18220

[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

The following production of one acre of land cultivated
with Indian Corn by the subscriber on his farm in Hopkin-
ton in 1822, is offered for premium. The soil is a deep
yellow loam ; in 1821, the land was cultivated with Indian
corn, and manured with ten cart loads of green barn manure^
spread on the ground, and eight loads of compost manure,
put in the hills. In the Spring of 1822, the ground was
twice ploughed and twenty cart loads of green barn manure
spread on it. It was then furrowed in rows about three feet
and a half apart and about twenty cart loads of barn, hog,
and slaughter yard manure, were put in the rows, the last
mentioned manure was mixed together with one hogshead
of Smithfield lime, the seed was the Brighton twelve rowed
yellow com, the kernels placed about eight inches apart
each way. The corn was hoed three times, all the suckers
were pulled out in July, and in August all the suckers were
again taken away together with the false stalks and those that
were smutty. On the first of September the stalks were
topped and on the twenly-sixth the corn was harvested and
spread on a floor under the roof of a long shed, to give a

272 INDIAN CORN* '

good opportunity for drying it. There were two hundred
and thirteen baskets of corn in the ear, one basket of which
was shelled and produced half a bushel and two quarts of
shelled corn, so that had the whole been shelled on the day
of harvesting it, the produce would have been one hundred
nineteen bushels three pecks and two quarts of shelled corn.
On the fourteenth of November the whole was shelled, and
measured and found to be one hundred and sixteen bushels
and three and a half pecks of clean sound corn. Weight
of the corn from 58 to 59 pounds a bushel,

EXPENCES.

Ploughing -■----.

Manure - - - -

Seed ------

Furrowing and planting -
Hoeing .--___
Suckering and topping -
Harvesting r - ■?

The value of the suckers and stalks we consider equal
to two tons of English hay.

Yours respectfully, JOSEPH VALENTINE.

This may certify that I have measured and staked off the
above land cultivated with Indian Corn to the best of my
skill and judgment and there is one acre and no more.

SULLIVAN SHEFFIELD, Surveyor.

This may certify that I was overseer and assisted in culti-
vating and harvesting the above stated acre of corn and the
foregoing statement relative to the same is true according to
the best of my knowledge and belief. DAVID JORDAN.

We the subscribers do hereby certify that we assisted in
cultivating and harvesting the above stated acre of corn, and

2 50

25 00

50

4 00

4 00

4 00

4 00

$44, 00

INDIAN CORN. 273

we also measured the corn in the ear, and afterwards shelled
it and measured it in the kernel and the foregoing statement
relative to the measure thereof is true.

NATHANIEL NASON.

NEWELL POND.

I hereby certify that I have employed the persons above
named to cultivate, survey, measure and harvest the above
stated acre of corn as by their certificates above appears.

JOSEPH VALENTINE.

Middlesex, ss. November, 1822.

Then the above mentioned Joseph Valentine Esq. Sulli-
van Sheffield, David Jordan, Nathaniel Nason and Newell
Pond, personally appeared, and made oath to the truth of
the above certificates by them subscribed.

ELISHA FAIRBANKS, Justice Peace.

Newburyport, October, 1822.
This may certify that I have surveyed and marked off one
acre of ground planted with Indian corn, in the Town of
Newburyport nearly opposite the Court house — at the re-
quest of Mr. Daniel Burnham, the owner of the crop.

JOSEPH GERRISH, Surveyor.
Essex, ss. November 15, 1822.

Personally appears Joseph Gerrish signer of the foregoing
certificate and made oath before me that the same is true.
JACOB GERRISH, Justice Peace.

COMMMONWEALTII OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Essex, ss. November 18,' 1822.

Personally appeared Daniel Burnham and Daniel Eaton
and severally made oath that the annexed statement signed
by Daniel Burnham of a crop of corn raised on the acre of
land above specified is to the best of their knowledge and
belief, true in all its parts.
Before me,

JACOB GERRISH, Justice Pea,ce,

274 INDIAN CORN,

SIR,

On the 7th or 8th of October, I desired you by mail, to enter
an acre of Indian Corn, for a premium, from the Massachusetts
Agricultural Society — Mr. Tristram Little of Newbury, says
that at Brighton, he desired you (in my behalf) to do the
same, if you had not received my notice. I therefore con-
clude you have done it, and will proceed with my statement.
The seed was raised at Council-Bluff on the River Missouri.
It was received at that place, from the Maha Nation of In-
dians. The kernel is large, free from flint, and filled with
a sweet white flour. It is generally eight rowed, though
some of it is ten and twelve rows. It was brought to this
quarter late in May 1821. I received a few kernels of it,
and planted it, last of May or the first of June, Such was
its promise, through the season, and such its bounty at har-
vest, that I thought it might become a valuable acquisition to
this region. Accordingly the last Spring, I took a piece of
land, such as is called common tillage ground, rather a light
soil, inclining a little to gravel, and having a northern as-
pect. This is its character given by those, I have consulted,
and who are considered good judges. The land had lain to
Grass for the two years previous, without manure, but either
from the failure of the Grass-seed or some other cause, the
crops were quite scanty. The sward was so tender and
broken, and the plough clogged so much, that it could not
be turned so well as was wished. As soon as turned up, a
harrowing succeeded, then the holeing, at the distance of
four feet one way, and three the other. Five cords of com-
mon barn manure (about half new, and half old,) were put
in the holes in a very coarse state. The greater part of the
manure, I think snght to be called strong, some of it how-
ever was very feeble. — Three kernels were placed in a hill.
Nine quarts of seed, were put on an acre and a quarter. It
was my intention, that the planting should be done, as well
as it could be, but from circumstances beyond my controul,
1 consider the whole process of planting, to have been badly

INDIAN CORN. 275

executed. The ploughing and planting, were done from
the 4th to the 7th of May. Immediately after planting, the
ground became so parched, with drought, that much of the
seed failed. To supply the deficiency of standards, about
the 25th of May, I placed seed in drills, from which when
large enough, I transplanted into the field — say from 450 to
600 plants. As it is the opinion of many, that transplanted
corn does not succeed well, perhaps it may not be thought
amiss, if I observe, that from earing time to harvest, the
transplanted could not be distinguished from the other.
The corn was hoed four times, in the course of the season,
without ploughing between the rows. The fourth time was
merely loosening the surface of the ground, and destroying
the weeds. The appearance of the corn was rather unpro-
mising, until the rains had wet the manure. It then exhibit-
ed a very remarkable growth, and its luxuriance became so
great, that it was apprehended by many, that the crop was
much at hazard. 1 planted some of this seed, in the drill
method, each standard was from fifteen to twenty inches
asunder, and I believe (if I may regard this small expert
ment,) that if the field had been planted in this form, the
crop would have been more abundant. This method would
give sun and space to the shoots, from which much of the
crop may be expected ; but they were so crowded, by being
in hills, that they could not have proper expansion — for this-
reason, I think this corn requires this method, much more
than our common corn. The height of the stalks is not
greater than much of the common corn, but above and be-
low the ears, they are much larger. It was not uncommon,
to see from three to five large shoots from a kernel, and on a
shoot two good ears. The last season 1 suspected, that thfj
best and most abundant crops might be obtained from the
mixed-seed — this year, since harvest, I seem fully convinced
that this will prove the fact — this is likewise the opinion
of practical fanners, who have examined it, and bespoke
some of the mixed-seed. I expect to plant the next season an-

276 INDIAN CORN.

other field, in which case I shall surely make use of mixed-
seed and without apprehension, of its not coining to matu-
rity— and shall plant in the drill method, leaving the stan-
dards, at least fifteen inches from each other. What I mean
by mixed-seed is, when the kernel has become in a degree
flinty, from receiving the Pollen or Farina from our flinty
corn. My field became much mixed from the corn in the
surrounding gardens — this I do not at all regret, for I am
confident, that I had on the same space, a heavier crop than
where I had pure-seed, on ground, much better, and much
better prepared, than the field was — and this pure-seed was
fully ripe, and was taken in the 24th October.

The fodder on the field, was abundant, it seems the sober
estimate of the best judges, that on an acre and a quarter,
from the tops and the bottoms, it was fully equal to two tons
of English-hay. The time and labour in cutting and cure-
ing the fodder, was I believe three limes as much as on
common fields of the same size. The harvesting which was
done by cutting up the bottoms, was about in the same pro-
portion. The topping of the corn was done about the 20th
of September. The harvesting, from the 18th to the 24th
of October. In husking the corn, two qualities were made.
Of the prime Corn there was \\0{ bushels, of the inferior,
there was 7 bushels, making in whole 117^ bushels. I am
decidedly of opinion that had the field have been planted
with any of our common-seed, under similar circumstances,
that from fifty, to sixty bushels would have been the extent
of the crop. On this question, 1 have consulted with those,
who are considered, the most judicious'.farmers ; who are ac-
quainted with the land, and with the manner of its cultiva-
tion, this season, and but one of them, has given an idea of
more than fifty bushels. It may seem very extraordinary
to make so great a difference, between this, and that of our
common-seed, but should I do otherwise, I should trespass
on my judgment. Much of the labour in the cultivation, was
done in broken time, and in connection with the other part

INDIAN CORN. 27*7

of the field, (half an acre, which was corn and potatoes,) so
that I am prevented from that accuracy in the exact ex-
pence which I wish. — I dare not say that it was less than
sixty-five dollars, and this is the sum at which I place it, in-
cluding manure, land-rent and every other expence. The
field was in the middle of the town, and as it was much ex-
posed, was robbed of some of its best ears. It is thought,
that it suffered a loss in this way of at least three bushels ;
but this loss can neither be ascertained, nor brought into
the account. All I have hitherto said has been in fa-
vour of this corn. I will now revert to the other side.
Although it came to maturity the last season, and has
done the same this, and although I believe that most of
our seasons will give it its full growth; yet 1 think from
the pure seed in some seasons, the corn would be in danger
of injury, as corn is commonly placed after husking, the
reason for this opinion is, that I believe the cob to contain
more moisture than that of any of our common corn. If I
am here right, it reduces the value of the pure seed for
common cultivation. As an experiment, 1 planted this
year, on the 20th of June, pure seed in fifty or sixty hills,
some of it on cold, and some on warm ground, it was taken
in October 25th, it was well grown, and apparently ripe,
and keeps well in trace, yet the cob was so full of moisture,
that I am confident it would injure much, if placed as corn
usually is. I am far from considering the mixed seed as
liable to this objection. But if it could be made certain,
that the pure seed would in all seasons, come to maturity, as
fully as our common seed, yet I think the mixed, is to be
preferred, for the heaviest crops, and from the mixed-seed,
I believe much more may be expected from it, than from
any corn we have among us. In saying this, I am aware, to
whom I am addressing myself, and that I ought to be diffi-
dent; and to think that a more competent judge than I
know myself to be, might give a different opinion. Another
objection is its weight, I weighed some of it, as soon as
Vol. VII. 36

278' INDIAN CORN,

Saken from the cob, and it was 48 pounds to the bush-
el ; it was then thoroughly cured by kiln-drying and
its weight was then exactly fifty pounds. Here perhaps, it i&
just to recollect its freeness from flint. After drying, it
was ground into meal, and tried in various ways for bread?
and the result was much in its favour. It requires of boil-
ing water, to wet a pound, six and a half Jills. At the same
time, trial was made of some of our yellow meal, from the
last year'& corn, and it required four and a half Jills to the
pound. I have now to the extent of my observation, tra-
ced this experiment, from receiving the seed to its con-
version into bread. If I have been minute and prolix, to
tediousness, I must find my apology, in the responsibility I
have felt, from presuming that no other field Of corn, of
this description, is offered to your notice. I am, Sir, with
much respect, Your Humble Servant,

DANIEL BURNHAM*
Newburgport, IStk November, 1822.

Fitchburgh, Nov. 4th, 1822v

INDIAN CORN.

[To the Committee on Agricultural Experiments and Products.]-

GENTLEMEN,

In conformity to the rules and regulations of the Massachu*-
setts Agricultural Society, I send you a statement of the
amount, together with the manner of culture, &c. of one
acre of corn, the growth of 1822.'

The quality of the soil is a reddish loam somewhat stony,
such as is usually denominated by farmers, warm chesnut
land, good for grain. Its situation also may be considered
friendly to that culture, as it has a southeastern aspect, shield-
ed on the north by a wood.

In the summer of 1 S20, after taking off a small crop of
hay, the ground was broke, up for a. crop of winter rye^

ram an corn. 279

which on the following summer produced a middling crop ;
immediately after this was harvested the stubhle was plough-
ed in and permitted to ferment till late in Autumn, at which
time I had about 12 cords of manure made by hogs, neat
cattle, sheep, &c. spread as equal as possible immediately
ploughing in the same across the stubble furrows.

As early as practicable in the spring of 1822, the ground
was twice ploughed, harrowed and furrowed in the follow-
ing manner, viz. striking back furrows with the horse plough
so as to form ridges three and a half feet apart, between
which were similar ridges, except their being the fair surface
of the soil ; on these were planted the corn by making
holes in a zigzag form six inches apart with a board with
teeth affixed; boys following dropping in and covering the
corn with the hands.

The planting finished about the middle of May. The
seed was soaked in brine for twenty-four hours and then rol-
led in plaster of Paris. The weeding finished the middle of
June ; the second and last hoeing about the last of the same
month. As this was well performed and when finished it
was discovered, that some of the corn had began to spindle
or tassel together with its having been beat down by a storm,
compelled me relinquish the third hoeing as I consider it
erroneous to disturb the* roots after the tassel bursts forth.
At the last hoeing we carefully suckered the corn, saving
the same for fodder. The corn being of the large kind,
many of the stalks grew to the height of ten feet. The
stalks were cut very early, as soon as the tassel was dead,
and after being well cured, had two loads, equal in value to
one and a half tons English hay.

The corn was harvested the first of October, and after
husking the same we found sixty-six and one half baskets of
three bushels each of sound corn, and three bushels of soft
corn. On shelling a number of baskets of the same mea-
sure and taking an average between the greatest and small-
est yield (the variations from the two extremes- but one pint)

280 INDIAN CORN.

and found the product one bushel and three fourths of a
bushel on fifty-six quarts of perfectly clean sound corn which
gives one hundred sixteen bushels and -|f to the acre.

1 attribute the success of this crop in a great measure to
my having spread rather than put the manure in the hole as
many fields in my immediate neighbourhood were almost de-
stroyed by the drought and worms, some of them having half an
acre cut entirely off, which had to be planted with potatoes.
I need not mention that these fields were manured in the
hills a method 1 fear but too much in use throughout the
state. The soaking the seed in strong brine and rolling
it in plaster was probably beneficial, as the ravages of the
worms were only sufficient to make room for raising about
one bushel of white beans.

By the annexed expence it will be seen that the cost to
the cultivator (taking the whole of the manure to the charge
of this crop and allowing for the top stalks, fifteen dollars) is
a fraction less than thirty-six cents per bushel, nothing how-
ever is here allowed for interest on the worth of the soil,
taxes, &c. these draw backs would not bring it over thirty-
eight cents to the bushel. Your Humble Servant,

PAYSON WILLIAMS.

EXPENCES.

2 ploughings and borrowings, - $3,00
12 cords manure at 12s. - - 24,00
Expence of planting with post of seed, - 3,00
2 hoeings with suckering, the grounds being rather

stony 13 days work at 83 cents - - 12,00

Cutting and harvesting the stalks, - - 5,00

Harvesting, husking and cribbing, - 6,00

$53,06
1 had almost forgotten the shelling, which however
is usually performed evenings and stormy weather,
say 4 cents per bushel, which the cobs in part will pay 4,65

$57,71

CARRROTS AND RUTA BAGA. 281

Fitchburgh, September l<2th, 1822.

This is to certify that I Philip F. Cowdin, being a sworn
surveyor of the town of Fitchburgh, in the County of Wor-
cester, have this day measured a piece of land for Payson
Williams of said Fitchburgh, on which corn is now growing,
and find it to contain one acre and no more.

P. F. COWDIN.

We the subscribers declare that we did this autumn help to
harvest, husk, and measure a crop of Indian corn the pro-
duct of one acre (as per certificate of P. F. Cowdin,) and
found the same to be sixty-six and one half baskets of three
bushels each and that on shelling a number of baskets (of
the same measure) we took the average between their
greatest and smallest yield (the variation but trifling) and
found the product one bushel and three fourths of a bushel
or fifty-six quarts of perfectly clean, sound corn : which
gives a product from the acre, one hundred sixteen bushels
and ||. We would not be understood to testify that this is
the precise amount of the crop, to one quart (as it is not only
inconvenient but inexpedient to shell the whole crop) but
that we feel satisfied that there is as much, as the above state-
ment declares. PAYSON WILLIAMS, Owner.

SOLOMON WILBER, Assistant.
Worcester, ss. November 14/A, 1822.

Personally appeared Payson Williams and Solomon Wil-
ber and severally made oath, that the above declaration by
them respectively subscribed, contains the truth, and nothing
but the truth. Before me,

CALVIN WILLARD, Justice Peace.

CARROTS AND RUTA BAGA.

[To the Trustees of the Agricultural Society of Massachusetts.]

gentlemen, Newton, 2Bth Nov. 1222.

1 sowed the present year, one acre of Carrots, on ground,
one half of which was last year in carrots, and ruta baga.

232 CARROTS AND RUTA fcAGA.

the other half in potatoes, excepting a few rods, which was
in grass. The parts of the acre which were in carrots, m-
ta baga, and potatoes, were highly manured the last year,
and produced abundant crops. The few rods of mown grass
was the last year, and adjoined the seven eighths of an
acre, which I have described in my letter No. 1. It was
ploughed at the same time and harrowed, and managed in
every respect as the piece already described. After a
very deep ploughing in April, fifteen cart bucks full of ma-
nure was spread on tlie ground, and immediately covered
with the plough. About the middle of May it was harrow-
ed and then ploughed, very deep in ridges, two feet apart..
About the twentieth of May these ridges were throwed back
into the furrows, and high ridges formed over the deep fur-
rows, two feet apart. The seed was sowed in single rows,
on the top of these ridges, between the 21st and 25th of
May ; about a pound to the acre. The seed not being of the
best quality, and the season being unfavourable, in all the
rows, it came up thin, and in many places, none at all. I
expected but a very small crop. Early in June they were
ploughed with a very small narrow plough, after ploughing
they were weeded and hoed. They were so thin, that a great
part of the work was done with a hoe. The field was
ploughed, weeded and hoed, three times, and until the car-
rots had spread entirely over the ground, between the rows.
The latter part of June, ruta baga, were set in all the vacant
places on the rows, where the carrots had not come up.
By the middle of July, the ground was entirely covered
with the tops of the carrots and ruta baga. No weeds af-
terwards grew. The crop was gathered early in November,
and the acre produced four hundred and thirty bushels of
carrots, and two hundred and nineteen bushels of ruta baga,
making six hundred and forty-nine bushels and an half of
both.

I have made this communication, principally, to show
the great importance of very deep ploughing, and thin so"w-

CARROTS AND RtJTA BAOAp 28$

ing, All the carrots in this field were very long and very
large. They will find their way down as low as the ground
is loosened, and there is this great advantage, when the
root is so deep in the ground, the dryest weather will not
injure them. On another account, perhaps this communi-
cation may be useful.

Those on the grass ground, broken up in 1821, were the
longest, and the crop was the greatest. On this ground,
few or no weeds grew, and the labour of hoeing and weed-
ing was much less, than on the other parts.

If the ground is broken up early in the Autumn, or in
the summer, which is preferable, and well harrowed and
cross ploughed the next spring, I have no doubt but it is
the best mode of raising them. It is certainly all ended
with much less labour in weeding.

I sold a part of the carrots, in heaps on the ground, for
ten dollars a ton, and a part that I carted six miles, for
thirteen dollars and fifty cents a ton. My waggon carried
thirty-three hundred and a half, as appears by Mr. NewelPs
certificate.

EXPENCES OF CULTIVATION.

First ploughing in the Spring, one yoke of oxen, and

a man, -• ... $2 00

15 cart bucks of summer manure, from my barn

yard, ... - - - 30 00

Ploughing to cover the manure, one yoke of oxen

and one man, - 2 00

Harrowing once over the ground, ... 75

Ploughing it in ridges, with a small horse plough,

going four times in each ridge, - - - 3 00
Turning the furrows back into the ridges, and going

four times in each, - - - - - 3 00

1 pound carrot seed, ----- 75
Sowing the seed by hand, 4 days work for a man, 3 00

Amount carried forward $44 50

284 CARROTS AND RUTA BAGA*

Amount brought over $44 50

Ploughing 3 times, after the carrots came up, 2 50

Weeding and hoeing three times, - - - 15 00
Setting out the ruta baga plants, on the vacant
parts of the ridges, where the carrots did not

come up, being 4 days work, - - - 3 00

Gathering the crop, 8 days work, - - 6 00

$71 00

VALUE OF THE CROP.

10 tons of carrots, at $10 a ton, - - - $100

5 tons of ruta baga at $8 a ton, »■ 40

140
71

Profits of one acre in carrots, and ruta baga, 69 00

And no account is made of the tops. I am &c.

WM. HULL.
This may certify, that I assisted in sowing, cultivating,
and harvesting the carrots, and ruta baga, on the acre here
described. That I likewise assisted, in measuring the
whole, and weighing a large quantity of them •, and that
the statement here given by Wm. Hull, Esq. is correct and
true, MATTHEW FARNHAM.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

November 30lh, 1822.
Personally appeared William Hull, the owner, and Mat-
thew Farnham, and made oath that the facts contained in
the foregoing statement are true, before me,

TYLER BIGELOW, Justice Peace.

It is respectfully submitted to the judgment of the Trus-
tees, whether this communication is entitled to any con-
sideration. WM. HULL.

INDIAN CORN. 285

Watertown, November 8th, 1 822.
I have this day weighed one load of carrots, weight of the
same, - - - - 21 cwt. 3 qrs.

Weighed also one other load, - - 12 cwt.

83 cwt. 3 qrs.
The above belonging to Gen. Wm. Hull.

JOHN TUCKER.

Deacon John Tucker, the signer of this is the sworn sur-
veyor of hay at Watertown.

Newton, October 16th, 1822.
The subscriber hereby certifies that he has measured
and marked off a piece of land for William Hull, Esq. of
Newton on which a crop of carrots is now growing, which
piece amounts to one acre and no more.

ELIJAH F. WOODWARD, Surveyor.

N. B. On the above named acre there are 84 young
apple trees, of 5 or 6 feet height.

Also a considerable quantity of ruta baga interspersed
among the carrots.

Middlesex, ss. October md, 1822.

Then the above named Elijah F. Woodward made solemn
oath to the truth of the above certificate by him signed, be-
fore me, EBENEZER CHENEY, Justice of the Peace.

INDIAN CORN No. /.

[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]

Newton, 27th Nov. 1822.

GENTLEMEN,

I have planted, the present year, what T supposed to be a
full acre of Indian Corn, on my farm in Newton. It has
Vol. VII. 37

288 INDIAN CORN.

lately been surveyed by Deacon Woodward, a sworn sur-
veyor, and it appears there is only seven-eighths of an acrey
or one hundred and forty rods. In 1821, the ground was
mowed, and produced about one ton of English hay. No
manure was put on the ground that year. It had been laid
down to grass eight years. In October 1821, it was broke
up, and remained in that situation, until the spring of 1822.
The last of April, it was well harrowed with a sharp iron
tooth harrow. After this, a composition of three loads of
night manure, mixed with nine cart bucks of rich earth dug
from the side of an old stone wall, and ten bucks of summer
dung from the cow yard, was equally spread over this land,
and immediately covered by the plough, ploughing across
the furrows. Between the 6th and 12th of May, it was
harrowed three times with the same harrow. By this
ploughing and harrowing, the sods were sufficiently broken
in pieces and pulverized, and the ground was in a proper
state for planting. Furrows were then drawn north and
south, three and an half feet apart. No ridges were
formed. Hills were then made with the hoe, in these
furrows, two feet apart, not flat, but descending to the
south, with a small bank of earth on the north side of each
hill. This banking on the north side of the hill was only
done on a part of the field. From this mode of planting, I
calculated two advantages; one, the sun would have a more
direct operation on the hill ; the other, the tender plants,
when they first came out of the ground, would in some mea-
sure be guarded from the cold north winds. It was not my
intention to have put any manure on the land, excepting
what had been spread and covered and mixed with the earth,
with the plough and harrow. My farmer, having been ac-
customed to dunging in the hole, was so desirous of putting
in a small quantity, that I consented, and about a pint of fine
rotten summer dung was- put in each hill. The corn was
planted between the 15th and 20th of May, with four ker-
nels in each hill, equidistant, about five inches. During the

INDIAN CORN. 287

■season, it was ploughed with an horse plough three times,
and hoed as often.

The first time it was ploughed from the corn-; and in hoe-
ing it, the furrows were filled up, and the ground level :
the second time it was ploughed to the corn, and in hoeing
the ground laid levelas before*

The third time, two furrows were ploughed in the centre
of the rows ; and, in hoeing, the furrows were filled up and
the ground left nearly level. The first ploughing and hoeing
was the 5th of June ; the second, the 20th ; and the third
and last, the 5th July.

As the ground, by deep ploughing and hoeing, had been
rendered loose, I was of the opinion, the hills of corn would
receive more nourishment, and stand stronger, by the roots
running under the ground, in the whole space, between the
rows, than by drawing the rich earth around the hills with
the hoe, as is the usual custom. Besides, the dews, the light
rains, and the sun, have a much greater effect on the roots,
when the ground is left in the manner I have here described,
than when the earth is banked up around the hill. And fur-
ther, when high hills are made, the roots running horizon-
tally, will run out of the ground and perish.

Every thing which had been anticipated with respect to
the manner, in which this field of corn had been planted and
cultivated, was realized. While other .corn in the same in-
closure, and near it, was perishing during the dry season, not
a leaf in this field even curled, and no part of it, in the least
degree, suffered by the drought. The second week in Oc-
tober it was harvested, and from this seven-eighths of an
acre, was measured one hundred and ninety-two bushels, of
ears, after the husks were taken off, equal to ninety-six bush-
els of shelled corn. The whole was sound, and suitable to
grind into meal, excepting three bushels of ears. As an ex-
periment, on about one half of this piece, was planted be-
tween the hills in rows, an hill of field beans, at the time the
corn first appeared out of the ground. This cost little or no

288 INDIAN CORN,

labour, except the planting. As they would be entirely
shaded by the corn, I thought there was little expectation of
a crop. They however came up very soon, grew on with
the corn, while it was small, and before they were shaded,
had taken such strong hold of the ground, that I supposed
the prospect very promising. They were gathered about
the 20th of September, and my farmer judged there would
be about four bushels. I saw them myself, and was of the
same opinion. By an accident, only one bushel was pre-
served. I did not perceive that the beans injured the corn
in any degree. The accident to which 1 have referred, was,
they were put on the barn floor in the evening to thresh,
and by some means about twenty^nead of cattle got to them,
and we could only clean up about one bushel. As a further
experiment, at the last hoeing English turnips were sowed
over the whole field. They were so shaded by the corn, that
the crop almost entirely failed. There were a large quantity of
small turnips, but not more than three or four bushels of a
good size, and worth gathering. Some part of the corn had
sixteen rows, some part fourteen, and some part twelve. As
the corn ripened, the husks opened from the ears in the
field.

The Trustees have offered " To the person, who shall
raise the greatest quantity of Indian Corn on an acre of
ground, not less than 70 bushels, a premium of $30. If it
should appear, that on the same quantity of land I have
raised more corn than any other person, notwithstanding by
admeasurement it falls a few rods short of an acre, I submit
with cheerfulness to the judgment of the Trustees, whether
by the spirit of the offer, and the liberal principles which go-
vern the Society, I am not entitled to the premium. If I
am not misinformed, there is a precedent in point, deter-
mined two years ago. If so, this settles the question.

As I before observed, it was my full intention to have
planted an acre in the manner I have stated, and supposed
there was that quantity until it was measured by thcsur*
yeyor.

INDIAN CORN. 289

• If the evidence accompanying this communication is satis-
factory to the Trustees, that there was likewise raised on
this same seven eighths of an acre, four bushels of dry
beans, I presume they will be considered as equal at least to
eight bushels of Indian corn. I believe there can be no
question, but one hundred bushels of corn may be more
easily raised on an acre of ground, than fifty bushels of dry
beans by any mode of culture. If eight bushels then is ad-
ded to ninety six, it will amount to one hundred and four on
seven-eighths of an acre. If, therefore, a full acre had
been planted in the same manner, the produce would have
been equal to one hundred and eighteen bushels and an half,
one peck three quarts and a fraction over, calculating a
bushel of dry beans equal to two bushels of corn.

Value of the Crop on this Seven-Eighths of an Acre.
96 bushels of corn at 90 cents a bushel $86 40

4 bushels of dry beans at $ 1,80 a bushel 7 20

524 bundles of top stalks, weighing after cured, from

6 to 8 pounds, at 4 cents a bundle 20 96

Butts, or bottom stalks and husks, 8

$122 56
Expenses of Cultivation.
Breaking up the ground in October 1821, one yoke of

oxen, one horse, ploughman and no driver $2 75

Harrowing the ground in April 1822 75

Seed corn and seed beans, 75

3 loads of night manure, 12

9 cart bucks of rich earth to mix with night manure, 2
1 0 cart bucks of barn yard summer dung, 1 5

Cross ploughing the ground with a yoke of oxen and

one man, 2

Harrowing three times, 1 50

Furrowing for planting, 75

One load of manure put in the hills, 2

Amount carried forward, $39 50

290 INDIAN CORN.

Amount brought forward, $.39 50

Planting, &c. 2 23

Ploughing and hoeing three times, 6
Cutting, binding, stacking, and carrying the top-stalks

to the barn, 3

Gathering and husking the corn, 5

Gathering and putting the butts in the barn, 2

\51 75

Thus it appears that the value of the crop was $122 56

All the expenses, 57 75

Neat profits of seven-eighths of an acre of Indian corn, $65 51
I am with respect your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM HULL.

I, Matthew Farnham, have lived with William Hull the
whole of this season, and have done and assisted in doing
every part of the labour on the seven-eighths of an acre of
corn, which is here described, that 1 assisted in a very care-
ful manner in measuring the corn ; and the whole statement
here made with respect to the planting, cultivation and quan-
tity, both of corn and fodder, is perfectly correct. Had it
not been for the accident, which happened with respect to
the dry beans, which I was perfectly knowing to, I have not
the least doubt there would have been as many, or more
than four bushels. I gave that as my opinion before they
were destroyed. MATTHEW FARNHAM.

Middlesex, ss. Nov. 30th, 1822. Personally appeared
William Hull, Esq. and Matthew Farnham, and severally
made oath that the foregoing statement and certificate by them
respectively subscribed, and the facts therein contained are
true. Before me,

TYLER BIGELOW, Justice of the Peace.

INDIAN CORN. 291

- The subscriber hereby certifies, that he has measured a
piece of land containing 7-8ths of an acre belonging to Wil-
liam Hull, Esq. of Newton,, on which he has this season rais-
ed a crop of corn. On this land there are 58 young apple-
trees of five or six feet height ; also two large ones from fif-
teen to twenty feet in height, and one other at the border of
said field. ELIJAH F. WOODWARD, Surveyor.

Newton, 23d Nov. 1822.

Middlesex, ss. Nov. 25, 1822. Then the above named
Elijah F. Woodward made solemn oath to the truth of the
above certificate by him signed, before me,

EBEN. CHENEY, Justice of the Peace.

Newton, 27th Nov, 1822.

GENTLEMEN,

1 he Trustees of the Society have offered a premium of
$30 to the person, who shall make the most satisfactory
experiment, to ascertain the best mode of raising Indian
Corn, in hills, in rows or in ridges, &c. In my communica-
tion, marked No. 1, I have described the manner in which I
cultivated seven-eighths of an acre the present year, while I
refer the Trustees to that communication for general informa-
tion of the manner in which the corn was planted and cultivat-
ed, I shall here describe the manner in which another acre in
the same inclosure was planted, and state the reasons, why
I consider the mode adopted in planting the former piece
preferable to the latter, and preferable indeed to any which
has come to my knowledge. On the same field, that was
planted the 7-8ths of an acre, separated only by about one an
half acre of carrots, the nature of the soil being the same, I
planted and cultivated an acre of corn in a different manner.
There was this difference in the culture of the two pieces,

292 INDrAN CORN.

The last mentioned acre had been broken up two years*
Last year a part of it was in carrots, and a part in potatoes.
The year before, a part had been in Indian corn, and a part
in potatoes. Both years it had been highly manured, and
produced abundant crops. It was ploughed once in the
spring and harrowed. About the middle of May, it was fur-
rowed out for planting. The same quantity of manure was
carried on it, as was carried on the seven-eighths of an acre,
described in No. 1. A part of it was planted in hills, about
four feet apart one way and about three the other — a part
of it in rows, four feet apart.

The manure, instead of being spread on the ground, was
put in the hills and rows. It was ploughed and hoed
three times 5 and the last time of hoeing, it was hilled in the
usual manner, and that in rows ridged, drawing the earth
up to the corn.

This acre, the first part of the season, and indeed until it
tasselled out, appeared more promising than the 7-8ths on the
other side of the field. In the month of August, when the
dry weather came on, there was a material change. The
leaves of this acre curled, withered, and turned yellow, and
appeared in a perishing state. At the same time the piece
on the other side of the field, grew most luxuriantly. Its
colour continued a deep green, and not a leaf in the field
even curled ; and it remained in this situation until the com
was hard. When the crop on this acre was gathered, it did
not exceed forty bushels. There was very little difference
between the two parts. From this experiment, and the
comparative view here taken of the subject, it appears to
amount almost to demonstration, that the mode adopted in
planting and cultivating the seven-eights of an acre, is much
preferable to hills at a greater distance, and banked up in the
usual manner, or in rows on ridges.

Besides the result of this experiment, there are other rea-
sons founded in the nature of the thing in favour of the mode
described in No. I. In considering this subject, I should

INDIAN CORN. 293

-presume the Trustees would think proper to take every
thing into consideration, which could have a tendency to
produce the greatest crop.

I shall therefore now state the reasons, why the mode de-
scribed in No. 1, is preferable to any other which has been
practised. And in the first place the result of this experi-
ment is a very strong reason in its favour. By planting in
this way, there will be about three times the number of hills,
that there will be in planting in hiils in the usual manner.
In the next place, by spreading the manure equally on the
ground, dc?ep ploughing, and leaving the ground nearly level,
the roots of the corn spread in every part of the earth, and
not only have the strength of all the manure, but likewise of
the whole of the soil. It is likewise preferable to planting
in rows on ridges, because the ground can be lessened by
hoeing around the hills, and the roots have a vacancy in
every direction of spreading, without interfering. When
the corn grows, there is room in every direction for it to
spread, without one hill crowding on another. Besides,
planting in hills in this way, the corn stands much firmer in
the ground, and is not so liable to be broken down by heavy
rains and winds. What may be considered a trifling circum-
stance, of the hills inclining to the south, with a smaJi bank
of earth on the north side, 1 thought had a very considerable
effect.

Breaking up grass ground in the summer or autumn, and
pulverizing the sods the next spring, in the manner repre-
sented in my first number, makes a better preparation for
corn, than any other. The land has more strength, and will
produce in proportion to its strength.

I examined a number of fields of corn in my neighbour-
hood, and it appeared that my hills had as many ears, and
as large, as those planted at the usual distances. It conse-
quently yielded both corn and fodder, in proportion to the
number of hills.

I am with great respect your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM HULL,

Vol. VII. 38

29"4 ON CATTLE, &C.

This may certify, that I have carefully examined the fore-
going statement, and as 1 did the principal part of the labour,
it is within my own knowledge, that the facts it contains are
true. MATTHEW FARNHAM.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Mv. 30, 1822.
Personally appeared William Hull, the signer of this state-
ment, and Matthew Farnham, the signer of this certificate,
and made oath that the facts contained in this statement are
true. Before me,

TYLER BIGELOW, Justice of the Peace.

Shrewsbury, 20th November, 1822.

0j\t RAISING, FEEDING AND FATTENING CATTLE, ALSO ON
THE UTILITY AND COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE COBS OF
INDIAN CORN WHEN USED WITH, OR WITHOUT THE GRAIN
ITSELF GROUND OR BROKEN.

[To the Trustees of tbe Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

In the first place 1 select my earliest and best calves to
raise, I let them suck the cow twelve weeks, which is my
general rule, eight weeks twice a day and in sufficient quan-
tity to keep them in a growing state, but am careful not to
let them get fat. Four weeks longer, once a day, the two last
however are allowed to take but about half the quantity of the
two first ; I; keep a supply of good hay at their command all the
while, as they will begin to eat when only a few days old,
and then turn them out into good feed, without giving them
any grain or meal. If I am raising a Bull, Cow or Ox, I
would avoid giving them meal or grain ; especially the first

ON CATTLE, &C. 29d

<sr second years, as I would a pestilence. I begin with a
creature so as rise upon the keeping.* In one instance,
however, I have followed opposite plan, which tends to
confirm me more in my belief. In April 1820, I had
an uncommon heifer calf, which I set down for a pre-
mium calf, I knew very well, what I had got to do
to obtain it, viz. to let it take what milk it would
through the season and learn it- to eat meal, which I did
and presented it at the Worcester Fair, and obtained the first
premium. I then tried to sell the calf, but could not ; I con-
sidered it fit for nothing but the butcher's knife, and in
fact not fit for that, it was neither veal nor beef. I then
took it from the cow and put it to better than my usual
keeping, but it lost its flesh and has appeared rather or-
dinary ever since, it appears to be crowded out of its na-
tural shape. If I had reared the calf in my usual way I
should have expected something extra from her but I now
do not. To return to my mode of increasing their keeping,
I give them a little better hay the first winter than the second.
I make it my care and attention that my cattle do not
lose in the winter what they gained in the summer which
is too apt to be the case with some. I feed them as the
weather varies, that is, in moderate weather they will not
require so much, I endeavour to keep my barn tight and
warm, I have witnessed with regret, farmers too often let
their stocks of cattle remain out all day, through tempestu-
ous stormy days in the winter, until they are chilled
through, which must be very injurious, I take care that my
cattle are sheltered from stormy days as much as possible.
Fattening cattle is an employment which I like. I invariably
aim to fat a creature as quick as I can. Everyyear since I
commenced business for myself, which is fifteen, 1 have
made one yoke of oxen good so as to command generally the

* We presume this means, so as to increase the quantity and quality of the
food. Ed.

296 ON CATTLE, &C.

highest market price ; with almost all those which I have
fatted, I go through with all my spring work then turn them
to pasture, in the fall I lay a foundation for giving them meal
with green sta&s small ears of corn and vegetables of some
kind, I begin to give meal about the first of December and
drive them to market the latter part of January, they gen-
erally weigh from 25 to 28 hundred the yoke, and from 300
to 330 pound of tallow. I would refer to Mr. Abijah White of
Watertown, and Messrs. Davis, Miles and Pierce of Brigh'
ton who have generally purchased my beef. I give my cattle
what meal they will bear; after I begin, the} are allowed an
average of three pecks per day for each yoke ; by thus doing
they will eat but little hay, I turn them out into the yard to
lie during the night having a shed to go under at their
pleasure which I consider far better than to remain in the
barn. The kind of meal I have used for seven years
past, almost exclusively for provender, is corn and cobs
cracked and ground together, which is the best provender I
have ever made use of for fatting cattle.* The reason I consid-
er the cob useful, is, it swells in the creature and keepshim
ingoodorder; in no one instance since I have fed with this meal
have my cattle been out of order by being cloved or scouring,
they are at all times regular, but when I formerly fed with clear
Indian or oats and Indian, it was not unfrequent, that their
bowels would getout of order, and I have had considerable dif-
ficulty in regulating them again, they lose two or three days,
sometimes a week. When this kind of provender was first
introduced in this vicinity it had its opposition like almost
all new things, the second year, if 1 mistake not, which I
made use of it, 1 thought I would try an experiment, as fol-
lows, by feeding one ox with corn and oats ground, the
other with corn and cobs, having a yoke of oxen so even
matched that no one who viewed the cattle appeared sat-

* We are by no means satisfied with the reasons assigned by Mr. Riee.
The facts are what most concern us. Editor.

ON CATTLE, &C. 297

jsfied which was the best, accordingly I fed them as above.
The cob is computed to make a little more than a third,
therefore I mixed the other with one third oats which was my
former mode, I gave each ox an equal quantity at a time
except that the one that had the corn and oats, some days be-
came dainty, and would not eat his allowance, while the
other kept a regular course, the allowance for both was
little rising three pecks per day. When 1 took the cattle to
market Mr. A. White bought them, they weighed about 26
hundred and a half, the one fed on corn and oats had 162
pounds of tallow, and weighed about half a hundred more;
the one fed on corn and cobs had 163 pounds of tallow
and Mr. White pronounced his beef half a dollar on the
hundred better than that of the other mostly on account of
the colour of the beef.

In another instance I took a yoke of oxen, which had
done all my work through the season up to the first of
November 1818, on my farm which contains over one hun-
dred acres. They were a good sort of cattle about a middling
size, and no more than in good working order. T then put
them to fatting upon the cob and corn meal ; they were
fed with nothing but hay, and the corn meal, I turn-
ed them in the month of February 1819. Mr. White
purchased them, their weight was about twenty-four and
a half hundred and had almost three hundred pounds
of tallow. I have however fatted two creatures a lit-
tle differently from what I have above described, one
was a steer four years old the 10th day of February 1821,
the first of March following I began to give him this cob and
corn meal. He had not, previous to this, ever been fed with
any kind of meal, grain or roots, of any kind whatever. I
gave him from four to six quarts a day of thjs meal and
nothing else but good feed until the 27th of September,
which day I drove him to the Cattle Show at Worcester, and
they awarded me the first premium on beef, I then drove him

ON CATTLE, &C.

to the Brighton Fair the same year and they -a warded me one
of the premiums there on beef; I sold him, his weight was
1 509 pounds, had one hundred and fifty-four pounds of tallow.
I have another steer four years old the 12th day of April
last, which I have treated in the same way the past season,
1 drove him to Worcester, the 25th of September of this year,
and the trustees awarded me the second premium On beef.
It has been remarked by some well informed Agricultural-
ists in this vicinity, that it is not on record at any other
Cattle Show in this state, that the highest premium for
beef has been carried by four year old steers, since the
Worcester Agricultural Society was formed. There have been
four anniversaries, in which I have taken the premiums for
the best fatted ox, for the second best do. for the best milch
cow, for the best two years old steer, for the best heifer
from one to three years old, and for the best heifer calf,
all of my own raising, and wholly of the native breed ex-
cept the heifer calf, which is a cross with Denton. I have now
three creatures preparing for the Brighton market, which I con-
template driving the first of January, viz. the above men-
tioned steer* will weigh between fifteen and sixteen hun-
dred slaughtered, as he weighed two thousand alive in Sep-
tember last, and a cow that will probably weigh between
eleven and twelve hundred slaughtered, and a three years
old heifer nearly nine hundred, all of my own raising and fat-
ting. Many of my friends are endeavouring to persuade
me to keep the above steer another season for the Brighton
Fair, at present I am undetermined. Before I close 1
would make a few more remarks on com and cobs. My
aged father who still survives, upwards of eighty years of
age, who has formerly raised considerable excellent beef
from this farm for the Boston market, since he has wit-
nessed the saving of labour, and seen the effects in fatting
cattle, and hogs, has often been heard to say if he had

* We conjecture Mr. Rice means the one which obtained the premium at
Worcester*

ON RAISING CORN, 299

.known this thing when he first commenced business in the
world, it would have saved him two or three hundred dol-
lars. For my hogs, I mix oats with it, and it answers a good
purpose, it gets them along as fast as any provender I ever
made use of, I see no material difference. It makes excel-
lent fodder for a horse and is coming very much in fashion
for that use. My faith is so great in 'the thing I would
carry rny corn six miles to mill to be ground in this manner
even if I could get it ground in the common way within
half a mile. I submit these remarks for your disposal and
consideration.

ASA RICE, Jr,

Shrewsbury, Nov. 12, 1832.
ON RAISING CORN.

jTo the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]

GENTLEMEN,

I here is a high barren hill on my farm, which has beea
improved for a pasture ever since the first settlement of
the town, it had the appearance of making very good
ploughing land, but in consequence of the steepness of the
hill on every side, which rendered transportation so diffi-
cult, and supposing it bad husbandry to try to raise Indian
corn without plenty of manure, one generation after ano-
ther has passed off and suffered the hill to remain dormant.
The present occupant being of the fourth generation of the
same family in possession of the farm, hit upon an experiment
of raising Indian corn with the aid of Plaster of Paris alone.
I went on to the hill with my team in the month of Septem-
ber 1820, and ploughed as I supposed about two acres,, and

300 ON RAISING CORN.

found it an excellent soil, a deep and good coloured loam,
free from stone, left it in that situation until the fol-
lowing spring, at which time I first gave it a harrowing,
then cross ploughed and harrowed it again which left it
in a fine state for planting. My neighbours began enquir-
ing what 1 was about to do on the hill ; I told them my
plan ; they said if was impossible, such a thing could not
be done to any advantage, that I should lose all my la-
bour but I was resolved to persevere in the experiment.
1 accordingly furrowed it in my usual way about a com-
mon pace asunder, dropped the seed, threw a common table
spoonful of plaster into the hill, then covered it with earth
which was all the manuring it had, except a slight quantity
of ashes at the first time of hoeing. It pushed forward
with greater rapidity through the season than my other
corn where I manured very high, and at harvest time it ap-
peared superior to any corn I had. Several of my neigh-
bours kindly offered to assist me in harvesting and measuring
the corn to know the result, we found by exact measure-
ment there were ninety and a half bushels of shelled corn of
an excellent quality, and by actual survey, we found there
was one acre three quarters and twenty seven rods of land,
making almost forty-eight bushels to the acre ; it was sup-
posed to be the greatest quantity to the acre raised in the
town, the last season, (it will be recollected the season for
corn was not so good as the present.) The quantity of
plaster it took, was about four hundred weight. The whole
labour bestowed on the field exclusive of the harvesting
was performed by one man and two small boys in fourteen
days and one half. I presented this statement to the \\ or-
cester Agricultural Society, at their December meeting, and
they awarded me a handsome premium and highly com-
plemented me for my novel experiment. It was generally

Note. We have taken the needful liberty of curtailing Mr. Rice's letter.
We hope without offence, and we are sure we have not lessened its perspicui-
ty or usefulness. Editor.

JACOB WILKINS' CLAIM FOR BARLEY. 3Ql

supposed that the strength of the land was exhausted that
it would not produce any thing farther unless it be very
highly manured, which caused me to extend the experi-
ment. I accordingly planted the same piece the present
season, in the same manner, except adding a little more
plaster, say, a quarter more to the hill. The same gentle-
men who assisted me the last season in measuring the corn
assisted me again, and we found by a careful and exact
measurement there were one hundred and two bushels
lacking two quarts, making over fifty three bushels per acre.
There are perhaps eight or ten acres on the top of the
hill adjoining that I ploughed, which is so level, that it is
very convenient working on it, which induces me the next
season to sow this piece with oats and grass seed, with
a good coat of plaster, and plough up another piece and man-
age it in the same way.

1 now present the doings of both seasons to the Massa-
chusetts Agricultural Society for their consideration.

ASA RICE, Jr.

HENRY HOWE.

Marbhhead, July 19, 1832c
JACOB WILKINS' CLAIM FOR BARLEY.
[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

The year past the land was improved in raising vegetables
of various sorts, manured and tilled in the usual way
without any respect to an agricultural report.
Vol. VII. 39

302 JACOB WILKINS' CLAIM FOR BARLEY.

April 12th, 1822, the land was ploughed about eight
inches deep with a ploughman, driver, and four oxen ; harrow-
ed and carried off the rocks the same day.

The soil loamy, inclining to gravel, descending to the
north east from a ledgy knoll, which included part of the
premises.

April 13th, sowed three bushels of six rowed barley on
what I considered the largest half of the piece, at the same
time sowed one and a half bushels two rowed barley on the
remainder.

Sowed grass-seed over the whole and ploughed and har-
rowed the same in.

There was no manure applied this year. When the
six rowed barley was about six inches high, it was ail mow-
ed down, and left on the ground ; this was for experiment.

July 1 8th, mowed the six rowed barley and put in the
barn, 24th, mowed and put in the two rowed barley.

The six rowed barley appeared tp be about twelve days
forward of the two rowed in ripening, both were stacked
separately in the barn and each quality thrashed and kept
separate.

August 30th, the barley being cleansed was measured by
myself, Henry Butman, and Jeremiah Hathaway. The six
rowed measured thirty-four bushels, and the two rowed mea-
sured twenty-three bushels. The land was measured and
contained one acre nineteen rods and one hundred and fif-
ty-three feet*

The straw we consider in value to the labour.

JACOB WILKINS,
HENRY BUTMAN,

INDIAN CORN. 303

INDIAN CORN.

Newbury, Nov. 5, 1 822.

[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

1 he subscribers in support of a claim entered for the So-
ciety's premium for raising the greatest crop of Indian corn,
offer the following statement of the situation, cultivation,
and production of their lot. It is situated on the westerly
side of Merrimack ridge, so called in said town ; the soil
is a dark clay loam. In 1821 was planted with beets and
carrots, manured with six cord of manure, made by a
brewer in Newburyport, and produced about 400 bushels
to the acre. The first of May 1822, it was ploughed",
the 9th, it was cross-ploughed ; the 10th, it was planted in
the following manner: — It was holed three and a half feet
each way, and five cord of compost manure put in the holes.
Four grains of corn were put in the holes on the manure,
and covered with a hoe. The corn is the yellow eight rowed
kind, and weighed, when harvested, 53 pounds to the bushel.
The green or unripe corn was not measured. June 7th, it
was hoed the first time ; the 12th we thinned them to three
plants in each hill, and filled up the vacant hills by trans-
planting ; 14th, hoed it over the second time ; the 25th, hoed
it over the third time ; July 15th, destroyed the few weeds that
remained ; the stalks were topped about the middle of Sep-
tember, harvested the 7th and 8th of October, and there were
two hundred and thirty-two bushels of ears, and a fraction
over ; the fraction was shelled, which made nine quarts. By-
shelling four bushels of ears, the estimate was one hundred
and sixteen bushels and nine quarts of sound shelled corn.
Respectfully yours, TRISTRAM LITTLE,

HENRY LITTLE.

3G4 INDIAN CORN.

Essex, ss. Nov. ISth, 1822. Then Tristram Little and
Henry Little made solemn oath to the truth of the above
representation, before me,

EBEN. MARCH, Justice of the Peace.
The expense of cultivating the above crop of corn, includ-
ing the rent of the land and the manure, and the labour at four
shillings per day, is $38,75. The 6tover from the same we
value equal to one ton and a half of hay.

This may certify that I have measured the above field of
corn to the best of my skill and judgment, and there is one
acre and no more, including the land, without the corn which
the roots of the plants occupy, twenty-one inches without
the hills. SILAS MOODY.

This may certify that we have assisted in gathering and
measuring the above field of corn, and there was one hundred
and sixteen bushels and nine quarts of sound corn.

PAUL JAQUES,
JOSEPH KNIGHT.
Essex, ss. Nov. 18, 1822. Then the above named Silas
Moody, Paul Jaques, and Joseph Knight, made solemn oath
to the truth of the above certificates, by them severally sign-
ed before me, EBEN. MARCH, Justice of the Peace.

P. S. We take the liberty to omit making a particular
statement of the onion crop which was entered, as Mr.
Knight's mode of culture is similar to ours. His statement
you will have.

P S. We take the liberty to state to you an experiment
of planting about a quarter of an acre of the Mohaw, or
Council Bluff corn so called. We think it a valuable plant
for soiling or fatting cattle, as it is very luxuriant in its growth
and inclines very much to suckers, and the kernel quite soft ;
but to cultivate for the grain we think it will not be valuable
for in this season, which is two or three weeks earlier or
longer than usual, this corn did not ripen ; and another great
objection is its weight ; the ripest weighed only 45 pounds to
the bushel c

INDIAN CORN. 305

Shrewsbury, November 20th, i 822.
[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]

1 he following is a correct statement of a small piece of In
dian Corn raised by me, the subscriber, the last season, on
one. acre and twenty-five rods of land, it being where 1 raised
a crop of spring rye in 1821. I turned in the stubble the
first week in May last, in about ten days after I cross
ploughed it, furrowed it out and planted it as quick as I con-
veniently could. 1 then dressed it three times in the com-
mon way, I put twenty cart bucks of manure, ten made the
last winter, green from the barn, spread and ploughed in,
the other ten made the season before and put in the hill,
when the tassel was beginning to curl I cut the stalk from
the corn, I then let it stand in the field until about three
weeks since, I collected it together, and husked it out, and
measured it as accurately as I possibly could, in a two bush-
el basket, and found it to produce seventy-four baskets,
and nearly a half; we have since shelled one basket and found
it to produce one bushel and five quarts to the basket, the
odd measure producing seventeen quarts; making a total of
eighty-six bushels and three quarts ; ail which is submitted
for the consideration of the Massachusetts Agricultural So-
ciety, by their friend and well wisher,

NATHAN HOWE.

N. B. The above described land had no manure in 1821,
and had been used for mowing eight or nine years.

N. B. I took no more pains to raise the above stated
crop of corn than I commonly do one year with another,
nor is the crop much different from what I common-
ly raise when the season is good and the land in order, nor
had I ever once thought of reporting the same to any socie-
ty whatever, until I came to collect it together, which was
then concluded on by the advice of my neighbours.

306 INDIAN CORN.

Worcester, ss. Nov. 26th, 1822.

Then the above named Nathan Howe made solemn oath
to the truth of the above statement.

Amasa Howe also made solemn oath that he assisted in
measuring the above stated crop of corn and that the above
statement is correct. Before me,

JONAH HOWE, Justice of the Peace.

Nov. 25th, 1822.
This certifies that the field from which Nathan Howe, Esq*
raised eighty-six bushels and three quarts of corn, this sea-
son, contains one acre and twenty-five rods from actual sur-
vey. J. H. MILES, Surveyor.

Bellingham, Sept. 28/A, 1 822.
ON INDIAN qORN.
[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society,]
GENTLEMEN,

1 he following is a statement of the production of one acre
and one quarter and twenty-three rods of old plain land, the
soil of which is a sandy loam, cultivated with Indian corn,
by the subscriber in Bellingham ; said land had been laid
down and mowed six years.

In the month of August 1820, about one third of the land
was ploughed : in the Spring of 1821, the remainder was
ploughed and planted with Indian corn in hills, with one com-
mon shovel full of manure in a hill, which produced a hand-
some crop of corn. Li the Spring of 1822, ploughed the
ground twice with a small plough ; furrowed the ground
shallow a! ice distance of between six and seven feet one
way, filling (or nearly so) those furrows with manure 5 cov-

SPRING WHEAT. 307

ering up said manure by two furrows one on each side ;
planting the seed corn in those two latter furrows at the dis-
tance of from eight to ten inches per grain asunder :
ploughing and hoeing said corn, twice all one way, and hoe-
ing part of it the third time.

The 16th of September, the corn was harvested and
measured, and there were one hundred and fifty-five baskets
full of ears ; and one basket full of ears was shelled and
made thirty-one quarts, making in the whole one hundred
and fifty bushels and five quarts ; and there were four wag-
gon loads of pumpkins on said ground. The seed was the
eight rowed white corn. JOHN C. SCAMMELL.

SPRING WHEAT.
The following is an Appendix to the Report of Thomas L. Winthrop, Esq.

William Jackson, Esq. of Plymouth, raised thirty-four
bushels and twelve quarts of Spring Wheat, on one acre,
and forty-two rods, being at the rate of twenty-seven bush-
els and seven quarts to the acre ; and the premium would
have been awarded to him, had not the committee been un-
der some mistake as to the quantity of land cultivated ; the
evidence required being satisfactory to the committee, they
recommend that the premium of thirty dollars be paid to
said Jackson.
January 11th, 1823.

Plymouth, 7 th Oct. 1822.

[To the Committee on Agricultural Experiments and Products.]
GENTLEMEN,

1HE following is the statement of the cultivation and pro-
duce of one acre and forty-two rods of land, cultivated by
me, in the years 1820, 1821, and 1822. Previous to the
year 1820, this land had been improved for mowing and pa?-

308 ON HEIFERS, SWINE, &C.

ture for more than thirty years. In the summer of 1819,
(a season of great drought,) the sward was entirely destroy-
ed by worms, which made it necessary that it should be cul-
tivated, or it would be unproductive for some years. In
the Spring of 1820, I had it ploughed, and planted with
Indian Corn ; manured in the holes with twelve, waggon
loads of stable manure ; the crop was sixty three bushels.
About the middle of August, hoed in winter rye; the crop in
1821, was thirty bushels.

Immediately after reaping the rye, I had the weeds and
stubble ploughed in. The Spring of 1822, I put on twenty
waggon loads of stable manure, had it spread and ploHghed
in the 18th of March; the 21st harrowed with an iron
tooth harrow, sowed two bushels and one peck of the Gil-
man wheat ; 20 pounds of clover seed, and a half bushel of
red top seed ; harrowed again with the same harrow, and
then with a bush harrow ; the wheat being first soaked 48
hours in fair water, and well limed, by mixing with three
pecks of slacked lime. The 1 9th July finished reaping and it
was thrashed the next week. The 2d of August it was win-
nowed and measured up thirty-four bushels and twelve
quarts. WM. JACKSON.

ON HEIFERS, SWINE, &c.
[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

I have presented for premium five spayed Sows perfectly
healed and in good condition, and conformably to the rule
prescribed to entitle an applicant to the premium, I beg
leave to state the process in manner following, viz. : — The
animal is laid on its side and held fast by one person unless
over forty pounds weight ; exceeding that weight two persons
may be necessary. An incision is then made from three

ON GRASSES. 309

to six inches long, proportioned to the size of the subject,
through the integuments and abdominal muscles to the
peritoneum,* in a transverse direction from the spine to-
ward the linea alba,t at the distance of about one inch from
the last short rib of one side, (the opening nearly corres-
ponding with the direction of the rib,) the peritoneum is
then to be cautiously opened to prevent wounding the in-
testines. The intestines are next to be turned out with
the hand, which exposes the ovaria, (which are two oval
bodies on each side of the uterus, about the size of a wal-
nut in a pig of sixty or seventy pounds weight) consisting of a
number of small vesicles called ova; these are removed by
the knife, the intestines replaced, and the external wound
sewed up, the pig may then be returned to the stye and fed
sparingly for a few days. In addition to the pigs now exhibit-
ed, this operation has been performed on twenty sows of va-
rious sizes at B) field, in the county of Essex, and at Brighton
by direction of Mr. Parsons, who authorizes me to state to
you, gentlemen, that he is perfectly satisfied with my ability
to perform this operation successfully.

With great respect your obedient servant,

JOHN BAKER.

* Peritoneum, commonly called film of the belly.

t Linea alba, is a straight line drawn from the point of the breast bone, di-
vectly between the legs.

ON GRASSES.
[To the Recording Secretary.]

DEAR SIR,

At your suggestion, that there might be some utility in
publishing the result of some experiments made the past
season upon the evaporation of certain Grasses, &c, in the
process of drying or making for safe and useful preservation ;
Vol. VII. 40

310 ON GRASSES.

I herein inclose the same to you for such disposition as you
may think proper.

The great object of research seems to be, what is that
admirable process of nature, (as yet too little understood,}
Uy which vegetable life is sustained and promoted ? And
how can this be traced or pursued so as to allow to hu-
man skill and ingenuity the nearest approach to the won-
derful perfection of (he great design ? That this may be
usefully done — that it is indeed partly accomplished, and
that we are in full progression to this effect, cannot be
doubted. The discoveries and improvements in those sci-
ences, particularly in Europe, which have a reference to
the theory of agriculture, have of late shed such a light
upon the subject, and these have been so followed up by
practice and confirmed by experience, that the result is
indeed most auspicious, and marks the present age as an
era of improvement.

But the process of nature is indeed subtle and myste-
rious, and can only be unfolded to the most earnest and
diligent inquirer.

An accurate knowledge of the elements which compose
vegetable life, and the different degrees in which they prevail
in its formation, cannot be useless, in looking back for its
origin and first principles. The tendency of most mo-
dern discoveries in relation to vegetation has been to shew
the great prevalence of water in its composition. This
has not only been made to appear by the* analysis of
plants, but it has to the astonishment of those who pro-
secuted these researches, appeared, that an acre of ground
gave, according to its humidity, from 2 to 4000 gallons of
water to the atmosphere in a day by evaporation only.
The operation of this element has appeared so extensive,
that it has led to the most delicate experiments, and in-
duced some even to suppose it the sole source of vegeta-
tion.

A curious instance has been frequently published, of

ON GRASSES.

Hit

a. willow inserted in a leaden vessel with a given quan-
tity of earth, and supplied constantly with water; the
willow thrived and acquired great growth and weight in
a few years; — whilst on a subsequent examination of the
soil, it appeared no sensible diminution had taken place.

It is observed by an ingenious writer,* to whom agri-
cultural science is much indebted, " That although the
mode in which manures operate on soils is not so obvi-
ous to the senses as to be fully understood, there are-
three ways in which water promotes their improvement.
It preserves a favourable degree of temperature ; feeds
by conveying nourishing substances; and so as a pure
element, it is beneficial. To prove that water enters largely
into the composition of vegetables, and is thus advantageous,
the same writer observes : " That plants cut green, and
afterwards dried, lose by exsiccation 66 to 70 parts out of
100."

The loss of weight by drying will be found in this_
country to vary very essentially from what takes place in
Scotland, especially as it respects different plants. But
our hay is of necessity made lighter by the heat of our
summer, as well as for the purpose of its being slowed in
large bodies and tight barns.

It should be premised, that the time of cutting the
several grasses, &c. in the following statement was the
same as is usually practised by husbandmen in our State.

Of 100 lbs. of vegetables cured in 1822, the product was
as follows, viz.

100 lbs. of Green white clover, gave of hay 17£ lbs.

100 „ of Red do. gave 2Jh „

100 „ of Herds' Grass, gave 40 „

100 „ of Fresh Meadow, gave 38 „

100 „ of Salt Grass, gave 39 „

100 „ of Mixed, 2d crop on English Rowan, gave 1 8| ,.
100,, of Corn Stalks, gave 25 ,.

100 „ of do. cut in milk with the ear, 25
* .Sir John Sinclair,

312 NOTICE.

It is to be observed, that the weight will vary from ripe-
ness, and many other causes, such as wetness of season,
shade, thickness of growth, &c.

I am, Sir, with much respect, yours,

JOHN WELLES,

Dorchester, Oct. 1 822.

NOTICE.

We think it our duty to acknowledge the receipt of a very
interesting article from Dr. T. W. Harris of Dorchester upon
the natural history of an insect, which has for many years
made great havock in our salt marshes. We will not antici-
pate, the public opinion by expressing our own opinion in its
favour — we can only say, that we regret that the diffidence of
the writer induced him to withhold it, till the last sheet of
the present number had been put to press. In behalf of our
colleagues, we tender to him the thariks of the Trustees, and
we regret that we shall be obliged to delay the publication
of it, till our nest number. The description is very clear
and satisfactory ; and the drawings are so beautiful and so
exquisitely finished, that we should have supposed, if they
had not been announced as the work of another hand, that
they proceeded from the pencil of the lamented Peck.
J. LOWELL, Cor. Sec. of the M. S.

for Promoting Agriculture,
January 24, 1323.

N. B. We anticipate the pleasure of announcing to the
public in our next number, the publication of the Lectures
of Professor Peck. We trust that the respect due to his
memory, and a wish to promote the reputation of our coun-
try, and to encourage the efforts of our scholars and men of
science, will induce all who can afford it to patronize this
work.

Messrs. Wells <§f Lill

THE FOLLOWING ELEGANT AWP VALUABLE BOOKS, A;

NEXED PRICES. B^^^^^^

MEMOIRS OF JOHN, DUKE OF MARLBG&OUv,.n,

with his Original Correspondence. With' Portraits, Maps and Military Plans. By
W., Coxe, &c. &c. .6 vols:. 8vo. With a 4to volume of Maps, &c< &c. $42.

THE HISTORY OF TH£ REIGN OF GEORGE IIL

Second edition completed to the Death of the King. By Robert Bisset. Six.
volumes 8vo. elegantly bound. ,$27.

THE WORKS OF C, TACITUS.. By A, Murphy, Six

volumes 8vo. superbly bound. $30.

RURAL SPORTS, 3 vols, 4to, Cf? lettered, Superb

Proof Prints. , $6.0.

DON QUIXOTE. Westall's fine edition plates, elegantly

bound, cf. gilt. Four volumes. $19 50.

GIL BLAS. do. 4 vols, blue morocco gilt. $18.

TALES OF THE GENII, do. bds. 2 vols. $6.

CR ABBE'S POETICAL WORKS. New edition. 1 vols,

Cf, gilt. $21.

BYRON'S do. do. b vols. do. $17 50.
ARABIAN NIGHTS, by Scott. 6 vols. Cf. gilt. $13,
CAMPBELL'S BRITISH POETS. 7 vols. bds. $27.
BELSHAM'S, W., HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN,

from the Revolution to the Peace of Amiens, with portraits. Twelve vols. 8vo.
cf. lettered. $60.

CLARENDON'S HISTORY OF THE REBELLION.

New edition. Six vols. 8v.o. Cf. lettered. $36.

Messrs. Wells and Lilly have a large assortment of Fo-
reign and American Books, and will execute orders on the best terms. They send
orders to England regularly twice a year, and will import such Books as are espe-
cially ordered, on very low terms.

N. B. A large assortment continually on kancl of the newest and best Medioat
Publications.

GICERO DE OFFICIIS, C A TO, AND LAELIUS,

Messrs. Wells and Lilly have just published a very neat

edition of " M. T. CicF.no De Officiis ; also, Cato : on Old Age ; Laelius:
on Friendship; with Critical and Philological Notes," chiefly in English.
Price neatly bound $1 25.

(D* This is a very neat and cheap edition. The text is in a large type, and the
Notes numerous and easily understood. The publishers trust, that, it will prove a
useful addition to the very scanty list of good school books, in the Latin language,
which are accessible to our youth. They have now in the press an edition in si-
milar type, with English Notes, of Cicero's Treatise De Orator e. To these edi-
tions they request the attention cf Colleges and Schools throughout the United
States.

*ist*fi!«itijf &avmw

WELLS. $ LILLt,

UST PUBLISHED?

I D FARMER ; or, GEORGICAL DiCf fON-

lining a compendious account of the Ways and Methods in
vnicuthe i important Art of Husbandry, in all its various branches, is, or
, practised to the greatest advantage, in this country. By Samuel
d.d. Vice-President of Bowdcin College, and Fellow of the
'' American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Third Edition, corrected, im-
proved, greatly enlarged and adapted to the present state of the science
of Agriculture. Price $3.

This work is too well known and too highly appreciated, to render any expo-
sition of its merits necessary in order to secure to it the patronage of the American
Public. It is adapted to our own Soil and Climate* and on this, as well as many
other accounts, is preferable to imported systems of Husbandry, filled with di-
rections, many of which are applicable exclusively to Great Britain, or some other
foreign country. It therefore can only be requisite to assure the public that the
Additional Matter is selected with care, and particular caution not to mislead by
recommending agricultural processes, on a large scale, which have not been sub-
jected to the test of frequent and successful experiment. The author of the Ad-
ditions has availed himself of the published proceedings of the Massachusetts Ag-
ricultural Society, and other similar institutions ; and such of thteir practical ob-
servations, &c. as may be found too voluminous for insertion at length, and? can-
not be abridged without injury to the sense, will be adverted* to by way of refer-
ence. And it is intended to make the proposed work useful, not only for its own
contents, but on account of its proving an index and synopsis of the best modern
productions on Agriculture.

Extracts from the last number of the Massachusetts Agricultural Repository and
Journal. June, 1822.

In our last number, we mentioned, that Messrs. Wells & Lilly had caused
this valuable, and as we think, standard work to be revised* at their own expense,
and had put it to press. A wish to render it as perfect as they could, to incor-
porate in it most »f the improvements which have taken place in agriculture
since the publication of the second edition, and to expunge from it all superflu-
ous matter, or opinions which are now exploded, has delayed the work to this
time.

It will probably appear in the course of a few weeks. We have do other inter-
est in introducing this subject again to the notice of our readers and subscribers,
than the wish to diffuse correct agricultural knowledge. Dr. Deane's work was
cerfainlv as good a compendium for its size, as could be found ia Europe at the
time it was published. It had the special merit, for us, of adapting European
modes of culture to our soil and climate. Even in its improved state, it is not
pretended that the work supersedes the necessity, with intelligent cultivators, of an
extensive agricultural library, but it is calculated, and well calculated, to aid the
experienee,aand enlighten and direct the practice of all descriptions of farmers ,
It has been necessary so far to enlarge it, in consequence of the great moderaim-
provements in agriculture, that St ruay prove too expensive for small farmers, but
we think all farmers in easy circumstances will find it a very cheap book- Many
things will not be new to them, but even these they will find enforced by new tea-
sous and arguments. Though written principally with a view to tbe New-Eng-
land States> there is no part of the United States in which it will not be found
of great value, and perhaps it may not be and ought not to be its smallest recom-
mendation to the farmers of the United States, that excepting tbe Rev. Jared
Elliot's small tract, it was the earliest and by far the most respectable agricultu-
ral work ever published in the United States.

* A great part of the revision and corrections were made by Thomas G. Fegsenden, Esg.