368 ^ [Senate 



A. farms according to the rotation system, and recommends that sys- 

 tem to the cropping agriculturist as the most profitable and fertiliz- 

 ing mode of farming. He has improved his farm much in building- 

 good, substantial stone fences, and has about 500 rods of wall, and 

 material for building more easily to be obtained. His fixtures are 

 good and well arranged, and your committee are of opinion that in 

 him we have an example for good farming and domestic economy, 

 seldom equaled. 



The fourth and last farm your committee examined by request is 

 owned by Enoch Marks, in the town of Onondaga, near Navarino, 

 containing 140 acres of land; 110 acres in a high state of cultivation; 

 soil mostly a sandy loam and muck; the central part of the farm nat- 

 urally springy or wet. This Mr. M. has effectually reclaimed, and 

 converted into very easy, productive plow land, by very judicious 

 underdraining. He has about 1100 rods of stone underdrain, that 

 takes from the surface all the cold spring water, and conveys it to 

 some convenient place for discharge, where it forms good watering 

 places for cattle. His farm is divided into fields of eight acres each, 

 fenced with chestnut rails in Virginia or worm fence. He follows very 

 strictly and tenaciously the rotation system of farming. His method 

 of farming is to use each field in its turn for grain, meadow and pas- 

 ture. Wheat is usually raised on summer fallow, about fifteen acres, 

 by plowing two or three times and dragging or harrowing as many 

 times. Sown about the first of September, nearly two bushels per 

 acre. About ten acres annually sowed with one plowing after peas. 

 Peas are usually sown by once plowing sward land, harrowing and 

 rolling. Mr. M. uses all the barnyard manures on the lands planted 

 with corn and potatoes. Uses plaster plentifully yet profitably. Mr. 

 M.'s motto is plow often and seed often and plentifully with clover 

 and timothy. Uses two bushels of plaster per acre on grass. Crops 

 thirty-five acres of wheat; injured some by rust. Peas, eleven acres, 

 good; eight acres of oats, very large; four acres of corn and pota- 

 toes; fourteen acres of meadow, grass light; Mr. M. says in conse- 

 quence of a departure from his general rule, having mowed the ground 

 too long. Stock kept on farm, eight neat cattle, four horses for 

 work, eight hogs and 224 fine wool sheep. Grain barn forty by fifty, 

 with twenty feet posts, a good and convenient basement and root cel- 

 lar, all nicely finished. Other buildings comfortable. Mr. Marks 

 may be considered as having caused two blades of grass to grow 

 where one grew before. 



After closing our view at the last mentioned farm, we took our 

 friend Marks in our carriage and proceeded to Otisco, for the pur- 

 pose of making a short visit to one of the editors of the Cultivator, 

 (Mr. Gatlord.) We found him at his residence, which is of the 

 cottage kind, of an antique appearance; and is surrounded by a fine 

 grove of trees. Within was neatness, convenience, sociability, and a 

 large library of useful books. We were highly gratified to find him 

 practicing what he preaches, viz: that men should live plainly, pru- 

 dently, and within their means. This has always been the recom- 



