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written. There were about 25,000 acres sown with wheat 

 the past season ; the average product was about 15 bushels 

 per acre, making 375,000 bushels grown in the county in 

 1851. Stables, barn-yard and hog-pen manures are the sour- 

 ces for enriching the soil. The stable manure is the best on 

 account of its retaining its qualities ; one load of this is worth 

 three of that made in the yard, where it becomes so drenched 

 with rains that it is of little value in comparison with that 

 kept under shelter. The time of applying manure is in the 

 latter part of summer, spread on soon after the ground is 

 plowed for wheat ; or perhaps as good a time is April, for 

 corn. In working the corn the manure becomes incorporated 

 with the mould better than on wheat ground, and its virtues 

 are thus retained from waste by the sun's influence. 



Draining. — The plan adopted by most of our farmers is to 

 open a drain of the depth from 18 to 24 inches, and of the 

 same dimensions in width, then provide oak timber, from 20 

 to 30 inches in length, according to the width of the drain; 

 rive them out about two inches thick, place them in an in- 

 clined position in the drain, letting one end rest at one side 

 of the bottom, and the other against the opposite side, so as 

 to reach within 8 or 10 inches of the surface of the ground, 

 and below the ordinary depth of plowing, forming a triangu- 

 lar space for the collection and passage off of the water. 

 Then fill in the earth so as to be level with the surface on 

 both sides. This mode of draining costs, on an average, ex- 

 clusive of the timber, from 50 to 75 cents per rod, and answers 

 a most excellent purpose. 



All of which is respectfully submitted, 



DANIEL CLARK. 



