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may be found in my last year's statement,) being sufficienly dry, I ploughed it eight inches deep, and then harrowed it. May 30th, I cross-ploughed it, harrowed and dragged it, which left the land in good condition for the seed. June 1st, I sowed with orange globe mangolds in drills, twenty inches apart, ten drills in each lot, using no manure upon any of the five lots. I propose to continue the experiment upon lot No. 6, by the spreading upon the furrows, after the cross-ploughing, fine compost manure, composed of meadow mud, sea-kelp and stablǝ manure, of equal parts, the whole drenched with night soil, forked over several times until well mixed and pulverized, at the rate of nine cords per acre, which was harrowed in. In all other respects, this lot was cultivated precisely as the other five. Hoping by this experiment to prove the profit or loss of the annual use of a liberal quantity of manure, in comparison with none at all or once in three years, the experiment on this lot I respectfully offer for the Society's premium, independent of the premium offered for three year's experiment on the other five lots.

The crop was hoed three times, and weeded by hand twice during the season. At the second weeding, the plants were thinned to six inches, and all vacancies were filled by transplanting.

Oct. 29th, the crop was pulled, topped and thrown in heaps, where it remained one day to dry before weighing.

Lot No. 1 produced 3170 lbs, at the rate of 25 tons, 720 lbs. per acre

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Thus showing a balance in favor of lot No. 6, as compared with lot No. 5, (where no manure was applied last year,) of 19 tons 140 lbs. per acre, which, at $8 per ton, the market

value this year, (much less than last, or many previous years,)

would amount to

Deduct value of nine cords manure, at $5,

Net profit in favor of the manure for this year,
The effects of manure upon the second year's crop,
may be seen by deducting the weight of the crop of
No. 5 from the crop of No. 1, which is 8 tons
860 lbs., at $8,

$152 56

45.00

$107 56

6744

Which, added to this year's profit, makes a total of $175 00 in favor of the liberal use of manure upon one acre against using none.

A SYNOPSIS OF THE WEATHER DURING THE LAST SEASON.

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STATEMENT OF RICHARD S. ROGERS.

In consequence of a generally expressed wish to learn my second year's results in top-dressing of grass lands, I am induced to give the results of a series of experiments made by me for two successive years-the first in 1860, which was published in the "New England Farmer" of February of the present year, and of those made this season; and for the better information of those who may not have had an opportunity of seeing them at the time they were published, I have thought best to embody them in the present statement. They were as follows:

Messrs. Editors:-There is no subject in Agriculture deserving of more inquiry, and of greater importance to the farming interests, than the knowledge of the best kind of Fertilizers to be used for top-dressing grass lands. As yet, but little is actually known by which to arrive at any practical results for obtaining the largest crop of grass.

I have read very carefully the remarks and discussions had at the several meetings in the State House on the subject, and as yet am far from the information desired. Theories and crude speculations will not enlighten me in the case, and it is only actual experiments and comparison of the several kinds of fertilizers in general use, that can afford the valuable information so much wanted by every farmer. When these experiments are made, and clearly explained, they will open to us a knowledge of vast importance. For what crop is there of greater value than the hay crop? With the present implements now used in husbandry, none can be more easily produced, for the means are within the reach of every one, either by owning or hiring the best mowers, tedders, and other machines necessary for the purpose.

The desire of knowing something more definite and practical on this interesting subject, induced me, the last season, to institute, in a small way, a series of experiments, in the hope that I might derive some benefit myself and be useful to others. Accordingly, in April last, I selected a field best adapted to the purpose-very uniform in the sward, free from shade and other objections—and staked out five several lots, each measuring 250 feet long by 45 feet wide, and top-dressed them with the various fertilizers, as follows:

No. 1.-2 cords of manure, well rotted and mixed with 1 1-2 horse-carts of soil.

No. 2.-120 bushels leached wood ashes.

No. 3.—2 cords green cow manure, the droppings of only a few days before.

No. 4.-80 bushels unleached or dry wood ashes,

No. 5.-255 lbs. pure Peruvian guano, mixed with 1 1-2 horse-carts of brook mud.

The cost or value of the top-dressing, for each lot, was as near ten dollars as possible. The grass was very carefully cut and made—the first crop in July, the second in Septemberand accurately weighed, yielding as follows:

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You are aware the early spring was very dry, and quite a drought prevailed during the months of April and May. This no doubt retarded vegetation, and checked, particularly, the fertilizing qualities of the ashes, as they laid in the sward for a length of time as dry as when first spread. The copious rains afterwards produced a wonderful change in thickening up of the grass. The guano dressing, you will observe, produced much the largest quantity on the first crop, although very little more than the green cow manure with the aggregate of both crops.

The second mowing of the guano lot disappointed me, and its short comings on the second crop almost conclusively proved that it had lost much of its fertilizing properties in the production of the first crop of grass. It would not surprise me, on the return of the next season, to find the green cow manure lot superior, and more reliable, than either of the other fertilizers as a general dressing. Should the return of the next year's mowing result as I anticipate, I may possibly trespass upon your valuable paper at a future day."

Having given the statement of 1860, I now proceed to show

the results of the present season, wishing it to be distinctly understood that no additional top-dressing of any kind has been applied since the spring of 1860:—

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In order to show this year's results, the stakes were very carefully preserved, and great care observed in mowing the several lots, and especially as to the true weight of each. It will be observed that the difference in yield of the aggregates of 1860 and 1861, is very small-the former being 7010 lbs., the latter 7000 lbs., and yet it will be perceived, that there is a greater difference in the results of the several fertilizers used in these experiments; but when looked at separately, this difference is satisfactorily accounted for.

Having already given a statement of last year's results, as well as those of this year, I shall now confine my remarks principally to show where this difference happens. On looking over the results, it will be found mainly in the falling off of the guano dressed lot, and in the great increase in the ashes lots; for the guano lot gave this only 730 lbs. (against 1300 lbs. only 140 lbs. (against 370 lbs). creased—the first giving 1350 lbs. (against 900 lbs. last year); on the second, 540 lbs. (against 550 lbs). The green cow manure did well both seasons. The leached ashes likewise did well.

season, on its first cutting, last year); on the second, The dry ashes very much in

I am satisfied, from a close observation and from practical results, that Green Cow Manure is one of the best fertilizers, and the safest to be used for top-dressing of grass sward.

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