The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-12-19
Worcester County Agricultural
Society.
Report Of the Committee on Agricultural
ErperimentS and improvements.

1>LpcfCHtcUtS UHU improvements.
The Committee on &C Agricultural Expert
ments and improvements - in attending to the
duty assigned them, have examined the COM
munications duly made through the Cores
ponding Secretary. Instead of numerous and
ample testimony of the increasing skill and en-
terprize of the farmers of this great agriculture
al County, on subjects which are the Surest
tests of good husbandry, as the Committee had
the pleasure to anticipate, they have the NOR
LITIGATION to state their disappointment in find
ing but fire papers for their deliberaton. These
they will proceed to notice in the order in
which the premiums have been offered.
A communication from Mr.. Job Ranger, of
New-Braintree, OH the subject of Indian corn,
planted partly in hills and partly in rows, with
view to their relative advantage. This ex~
pertinent, in Mr.. Rangers opinion, was defec-
tive in several particulars. His motive in
making the communication the Committee
consider laudable, although his statement is
6 too imperfect to determine with certainty the
superiority of either mode of culture" With
out certainty, experiments are useless and may
be pernicious. 1t is, however, satisfactorily
ascertained, that on half an acre, from por-
ton Of field planted in rows, he obtained
nearly forty bushels of shelled corn when,
from about two acres of the same field, he
raised but eighty bushels. This would be de-
cisive in favour ofplanting in rows, had not the
expense of manure on this part been nearly
double to that on the other. Although the
Committee were decided in the opinion, that
Mr.. Ranger was not entitled to premium for
1" the most satisfactory experiment to ascertain
the best mode of raising Indian corn in hills or
rows;n yet his communication being the only
one, although imperfect, they jud ged it expe
dient to recommend to the Trustees reward
of S 100 for doing so well, and as an encour-
agement to him and others TO do better.
A communication from Mr.. Asa Rice, jun.
of Shrewsbury, was also made on the subject
of corn. From the evidence adduced, the
Committee were satisfied, that on less than
two acres of land ON the summit of a hill, on
his farm, where manure could not be trans
ported, (Which produced nothing, and had not
been disturbed since the memory of man, with
plaster in the hill, and light dressing of ashes
at the two first hoeings, with only IA day:' Ia
bour of man and two small boys, exclusive of
harvesting, he raised 905 bushels of excellent
corn. As the Society has offered no premium
for The greatest quantity of corn, with the least
expense, this case does not come under the i'm
lnediate cognizance of the Committee. Yet
they take the liberty to recommend to the
Trustees to grant him the sum of Sd 100 for
his novel enterprise. The land, it appears,
was naturally rich, and nearly in state of ma
ture, which accounts for the favourable result.
None, it is believed, but an intelligent and res
olute farmer, like Mr.. Rice, would have at
tempted the experiment.
The Hon. Levi Lincoln made communica-
ton, detailing infinitely and satisfactorily his
process in raising 452 bushels of Ruta Baga on
three quarters of an acre of ground which
product, he remarks, was the most valuable,
according to the expense, of any obtained on
the farm" In his opinion, "the use of the
turnip for cattle, and especially for sheep is of
decided advantage to the farmer, and it is a
subject Of regret that the root is not more ex-
tensively cultivated.' The Committee re-
GREETED that this valuable communication was
not accompanied by all the acquisitions made
necessary by the rules prescribed, to enable
them to recommend it for premium.
Mr.. Payson Williams, of Fitchburg, satisfied
the Committee that he had raised five hundred
and fitty-one bushels of Potatoes, the last sea-
son, on one acre of land for which they rec
ommend the premium of 100.
The same gentleman raised 90 bushels of
Wheat ON one acre OF ground, for which ne
claimed premium; but as there was no COM
petition, and the crop not large, the Commit
tee do not think il advisable to recommend it.
The Committee were highly gratified in the
perusal of a communication made by Ward N.
Boylston, Esq. Of Princeton, to the Cores
ponding Secretary, on the subject of improve
ment OF Grass Land" They attempt no de-
tail OF this interesting statement, from the ex-
pectation that the Trustees will cause it to be
made publick.
Respectfully submitted.
o. FlSKE, per order.
Worcester, Dec. II, 1921