160 MASSUCHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



article for feeding milch cows, during the winter. And the 

 great secret of successful farming, is, the making and saving of 

 the greatest quantity of valuable manure, a secret which I 

 think most of our farmers, mj^self among the number, have 

 heretofore been ignorant of, or have grossly neglected. 



My farm presents an even, or rather a very flat surface, and 

 consequently I am somewhat troubled with the surface water in 

 spring and fall ; but all this, by proper draining, can be con- 

 ducted into a small stream which runs entirely across the farm, 

 near the centre, at right angles with each portion. My build- 

 ings consist of a two story house, twenty-two by forty-seven feet, 

 with an L ; barn forty by fifty feet, with cow-shed attached ; 

 also a hog-house, corn-crib, and cart-shed twenty-four by thirty- 

 six feet. By stabling my cows at night, during the summer, 

 and throwing pond muck, or any other absorbent under them, 

 each night, I find I am able to make as much manure, and of 

 far more value, than I can make in winter. And now for the 

 figures. The farm is found upon the assessors' books, valued 

 at about ^4,000. 



The interest of which, is ,|240 00 



Invoice of stock : — 

 At present I have two oxen, worth . $150 00 



2 horses, 100 00 



2 cows, three years old, . . . 70 00 

 4 steers, one and two years old, . . 100 00 

 4 old hogs and 4 pigs, . . . . 70 00 

 Interest on same, . . . . . . 29 40 



Amount paid for labor, 126 00 



My own labor, 1.50 00 



My wife's labor with a girl's help a portion of the time, 105 00 



Blacksmith's bill and other items, . . . 25 00 



Hay seed and plaster, 16 00 



Guano, 9 62 



Taxes, . 37 57 



Expense of keeping stock, 348 '49 



Rearing and fattening swine, sour milk and kitchen 



waste excepted, 65 00 



Estimated expense of supporting family of six 



persons, 350 00 



Total expense, with interest on farm and stock, $1,502 18 



