131 



9. As a coasiJerable amount of muck, leaves from the woods, saw- 

 dust, and coal dust is used in the stable and yards, to absorb the liquid 

 manure, there is but little of what is generally called long manure, and 

 might more properly be called compost. It is generally used on land 

 intended for wheat or corn, and if ijuite fresh, I prefer plowing it 

 in ; if not, experunents have shown that it is as well to cultivate it in after 

 plowing. 



10. Plaster has been used freely as a top-dressing for wheat, com and 

 grass ; and sometimes in composting manures. The effect on corn and 

 grass, when put on early in the season, has always been highly benefi- 

 cial, and generally on wheat when sown in the fall, at the time of sow- 

 ing the wheat, or when sown very early in the spring; but when applied 

 late in the spring it sometimes has had no apparent effect, and at others 

 has caused too luxuriant a growth when the wheat was maturing, caus- 

 ing rust and shrinkage of the grain. 



TILLAGE CROPS. 



1 1. Generally about one-half of Ihe farm has been under tillage, but 

 in consequence of the scarcity of help, I have been gradually changing 

 for a year or two past, and am now tilling less. In 1851 there was 38 

 acres in the following crops: 14 acres in wheat, 7^ in barley, 5 in oats, 



5 in corn, 1^ in turnips, carrots and beans. In 1852, 9 acres in wheat, 



6 in barley, 3 in oats, 5 in com, 1 in turnips and carrot-. The present 

 year, ll-j^ acres in wheat, 6 in barley, 3 in oats, 5 in corn, 2 in turnips, 

 beans, and corn for fodder. There is now on the gromid 8 acres of 

 wheat, and :|- acre of winter barley. 



12. Two bushels of wheat are sown to the acre when sown broad, 

 cast, and one and a half when put in with a drill ; two and a half bush- 

 els of barley, and from 3 to 4 bushels of oats. Corn is planted from 

 3 to 3^ feet apait, leaving thiee stalks in a hill. Yellow northern corn 

 is used. The time for sowing wheat is the latter part of September, or 

 as soon as the weather becomes cool. The time to sow barley is as soon 

 as the ground will admit, sometimes in March, but not generally until 

 April. Com does best, and is easiest tended, when not planted until 

 the latter part of May. The mode of cultivating is to plow but once 

 for a crop, (always the same way of the field to facilitate drainage,) and 

 to thoroughly mix and pulverize the soil, by repeatedly stirring it with 

 the implements commonly used for that purpose. The method of har- 



