FARMS. 21 



tilled, which I coiivsider the best way of subduing bushes, where 

 the laud will admit of tlie plough. Where the sod is very 

 tough, I have generally planted potatoes the first year, corn the 

 second year, then follow with oats and stock down to grass. I 

 have sometimes improved pasture land by ploughing . in sum- 

 mer, applying a few loads of compost, sowing rye, and grass 

 seed in September, and let the cattle have the whole. The rye 

 produces abundance of feed the next season, and on light land 

 I think is very profitaljlc. I usually plough from two to five 

 acres of my mowing ground immediately after haying, sow rye 

 upon the furrow in September, and usually have a fair crop. 

 Last year I obtained twenty-nine bushels per acre of the white 

 rye, (without manure.) on land that had been mown eight 

 years. In the spring 1 plough in the stubble with the ]Michigan 

 plough, seven inches' deep for corn. If the land is light and 

 warm, I prefer to spread the manure (in compost) and harrow 

 it in. If the land is wet and cold, I prefer to manure it in the 

 hill. My crops of corn arc not as large as I sometimes see 

 reported, but I think I can improve my farm more Ijy raising 

 one huridred bushels of corn on two acres, rather than by trying 

 to raise that amount upon one acre. For potatoes I plough 

 greensward early in the spring, spread green manure upon the 

 furrow, harrow it in, apply a mixture of plaster and guano in 

 the hill, and if I plant dry land, plant early and dig earl-y, I 

 usually escape the rot. My stock is now light. As I was about 

 to repair my barn, I sold a large portion of my cows in the 

 spring. I keep one yoke of oxen and one horse. For cows 

 and heifers I prefer the Durhams, as they arrive at maturity 

 early, and when you cease milking them, they make more beef 

 than any other breed. My swine for the last few years I have 

 bought. I have tried the Suffolk, but think the full bloods too 

 small to make pork for market ; for although the pork may be 

 very nice, the purchaser generally pays by the pound and not 

 by the breed. In the fall of the year I feed my swine in the 

 following manner : 1 have a kettle that holds about a barrel, I 

 fill it with small potatoes, windfall apples, and pumpkins, if I 

 have them ; when they are boiled, I put in twelve quarts of 

 meal, mash fine, adding sufficient water to fill the kettle. I 

 usually raise a small patch of sweet corn to feed to them green. 

 I keep their beds well supplied with straw, and their yards with 



