176 FSenate 



1. 



ditches, sods, ashes Loth of wood and coal ; indeed, almost every 

 locality has its own peculiar advantages to increase this kind of col- 

 lection, and it is very easy generally to double the quantity that 

 under the ordinary course of farm management would be collected. 

 Assiduity in this particular is sure to pay well, for by increasing the 

 fertility of the soil, you not only enlarge the crop, but it enhances 

 the means, from its very abundance, for its own subsequent aug- 

 mentation. The committee, from the several communications on farm 

 management, came to the conclusion that in no one of these did the 

 quantity made come up to the standard they had wished, al- 

 though in most cases it was fair, yet they do not hesitate to say 

 that in many it ought to have been greatly increased. Until this is 

 done, our crops will not bear a comparison with the average yield in 

 the best cultivated countries abroad. The subject of using fermented or 

 unfermented manures, they will not now touch upon — nor whether 

 it is best to plow it under shallow or deep, or use it as a top-dress- 

 ing — as all this may vary according to the season of the year and the 

 crop upon which it is intended to be used. To enter into all these 

 details would make this communicatian too extended. 



The remaining queries propounded by the Executive Committee are 

 on '-field crops, grass lands, irrigation, domestic animals, fruits, fen- 

 ces, buildings," &c. On these topics we will not now enlarge. How 

 far the answers to the several queries propounded meet the expecta- 

 tions of the committee, the public on reading them can judge as well as 

 they; but they feel called upon to say that it was evident from the seve- 

 ral communications that sufficient attention has not been paid to mak- 

 ing regular daily entries in their farmer's journal. Many of these state- 

 ments no doubt were made with as great a regard to accuracy as cir- 

 cumstances warranted, but in harily an instance with a definiteness 

 satisfactory to the committee. Indeed it cannot be done to the sat- 

 isfaction of the farmer without he keeps regular farm accounts of all 

 expenses and all his products. This would give confidence to his 

 statements and precision to his observation and I have no doubt 

 would end in more individual prosperity than any other plan for his 

 benefit that could be devised. If a farmer, like a merchant, would 

 enter all his transactions, keep a regular debtor and creditor account 

 and make the requisite notes upon such things as require to be remem- 

 bered, he would make few annual mistakes on his farm, and still fewer 



