194 [Senate 



The subsoil is firm, yet suflEiciently porous to let the surface water 

 pass freely through it, and is very similar to the soil on the surface 

 previous to its cultivation down to the rock, which is limestone un- 

 derlaying the whole, averaging in depth from 5 to 30 feet from the 

 surface, owing to the undulating of the ground ; and it was covered' 

 with loose stones, principally lime, sufficient to fence the farm. 



It was originally oak openings, covered with young oaks, hickories 

 and various shrubs mixed with coarse grass, that had been annually 

 burnt for years unknown, which consumed all the vegetable mould 

 on the surface, and left the soil cold and barren. The first crops of 

 wheat were light, but the straw was bright, and the quality of the 

 grain excellent, and cultivated grasses would scarcely grow at all. 

 But by a liberal use of plaster, clover and barn-yard manure, the soil 

 has completely changed its appearance and its productiveness. 



Of the 184 acres, I calculate to have one-third or one-fourth of it an- 

 nually in wheat, according to the condition of the soil to produce a 

 bountiful crop, two-fifths of which is sown after summer crops,, bar- 

 ley, oats or peas, but generally barley. The remaining three-fifths 

 of it sown on summer fallow, viz : 45 or 55 acres in wheat, 10 or 15 

 for hoe crop, the same in barley and oats, 40 in pasture, 40 for hay 

 and clover seed, and 30 for fallow. 



The summer fallow is broken up from 1st of April to the 15th of 

 August, as circumstances may require. A stiff clay, tough sward, 

 or weedy-ground, ought to be plowed early, and thoroughly and fre- 

 quently pulverized through the summer with the harrow or cultivator. 

 But when the soil is rich and clean, and light, it may be pastured un- 

 til the middle or the last of August, once well plowed, thoroughly har-- 

 rowed, and be in a good condition for wheat. 



All the ground in wheat is sown with grass seeds the last of March 

 or first of April, (on the snow if practicable,) six pounds of the large 

 clover seed, and two quarts of timothy seed per acre. Always raise 

 my own clover seed, and occasionally for market, but consider it an 

 exhausting crop on the soil. 



Ground intended for hoe crop in clover sod, manured in the fall, 

 with rotten manure 25 or 30 load per acre, spread evenly over the 

 surface, and plowed seven inches deep, furrow slices laid edging on 

 each other. In the spring it is harrowed and cross harrowed until 



