194 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



atelj ; when, if the weather is dry, they will burn well in four or 

 five weeks. 



If they are intended for lying over, (which is better than twenty 

 five per cent interest on the outlay,) the limbs may be cut down 

 early the next spring. A very important point in clearing new 

 land, is to secure a good burn, which can be done when w^ell dried, 

 with a good wind. Then different modes are pursued. The one I 

 think best, is to cut all the timber two men can conveniently handle, 

 in pieces fifteen or twenty feet long, and pile them against the large 

 trees, much of which will be consumed in the burning piles. "When 

 the piles are burnt down so the brands can be handled, with an old 

 axe or picaroon draw them across the burning logs, wherever it is 

 necessary to cut them off. This is the most cheap and expeditious 

 way the cutting up can be done. If it is intended for piling with 

 oxen or horses, it may be cut long ; if by hand, short ; and the dif- 

 ference in the two ways, so far as expense is concerned, is small. If 

 there is much hemlock, a team is much more necessary. Land 

 intended for planting may, or may not be cleared clean ; the less 

 timber, however, there is left on the land, the better the crops will 

 be. With a good burn on hard wood land, two experienced men 

 will clear an acre per day, so it will do to plant; or clear an acre 

 clean in two days. 



Land inclining to moisture, where grew rock maple and birch, 

 should be planted with corn, beans and turnips; and that more dry, 

 where grew hemlock and spruce, should be planted with potatoes. 

 All the ashes of large burnt piles should be spread on the surround- 

 ing knolls. On land fully cleared, an average crop would be about 

 thirty bushels of corn, fifteen of beans, three hundred of potatoes or 

 turnips, and on land well hand piled, about two thirds the quantity. 



On new land, all kinds of grain flourish abundantly; one, two or 

 three crops may be taken off before sowing grass seed ; if three, for 

 the last one the land should be plowed, to smooth the surface and 

 insure a good crop of grass. When properly managed, the yield 

 will be from forty to sixty bushels of oats, buckwheat or barley, or 

 from twenty to thirty five of wheat and rye. 



