No. 63.] 159 



among our more intelligent farmers, of applying them in an unfer- 

 mented state to the land and plowing them under. Those who adhere 

 to the " old meadow" system, usually suffer their manures to decom- 

 pose, and apply it as a top dressing to such old meadows. The 

 wastefulness of such a course need not be urged. The same manure 

 plowed under in its unfermented state, would have nourished a hoed 

 crop — then the succeeding small grain crop — and then benefited a 

 grass crop, nearly as much as if first applied to it as a top dressing, 

 with its gases escaped, and its juices leached out by long exposure. 



On the whole, notwithstanding their many palpable defects, I am 

 of opinion that the existing methods of cultivation in the better por- 

 tions of Cortland are such that the fertility of its soils is gradually 

 and steadily improving. 



Markets. — The grains raised in the county are principally con- 

 sumed within it. Some oats and barley are carried to villages on the 

 Erie canal. The principal exports of the county are wool, butter, 

 cheese, neat stock, pork and flax. These are sold to purchasers 

 from eastern markets. Pork, potatoes, stoneware, &c., are annually 

 sent in considerable quantities into Pennsylvania by the Tioughnioga 

 in " arks," or flat boats. 



Jlgricultural Implements. — The plows mostly in use are Weird's 

 No. 5, Eiden's, " Livingston County," Livingston County Improved, 

 (or Delano's Premium Plow,) with some of Ruggles, Nourse & 

 Mason's Eagle Plows, also Avery's, Clute's, and Wood's. 



The Livingston County Plow was rapidly obtaining precedence as 

 a green-sward plow, until the appearance of Delano's " Improved 

 Livingston County," or Premium Plow, which received the first pre- 

 mium of the State Agricultural Society. This is now rapidly and 

 most manifestly becoming the favorite. The principal defect of the 

 Livingston County Plow, (too great narrowness at the heel,) has been 

 corrected in it without sensibly increasing the draft; and it also com- 

 bines other minor improvements. I consider it a very perfect 

 implement, and on green-sward decidedly superior to any I have used, 

 when the quality of the work performed by it, and the lightness of 

 its draft., are connectedly taken into consideration. I never have used 

 the celebrated plows of Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, but jus- 

 tice compels me to say, that in one or two instances, where these 

 plows have been tried in our county, the ultimate preference has been 

 awarded to Delano's. I give the results of these experiments for 

 all they are worth, not claiming by any means that they shall be re- 

 garded as decisive. The interests of manufacturers, as well as the 

 progressive improvement of the most important process in husband- 

 ry, should not be jeoparded by rash declarations, or the publication of 

 the doubtful results of imperfectly conducted experiments. 



The harrow principally in use among our best farmers, is the dou- 

 ble or hinged 32 toothed harrow. Square and old fashioned triangu- 

 lar harrows, are sometimes found. The Winged Harrow, (Wilber's 

 patent,) has been introduced, and is highly spoken of by those who 

 have used it. 



The roller is coming into use; and the double roller, with an iron 



