SOLON ROBINSON, 1849 323 



state. He ovC^ns, where he now lives, about 1,200 acres 

 of land, the greater part of which, when he commenced 

 there, seventeen years ago, was no better than thousands 

 of acres of Jersey sands now are. But now, his immense 

 barns and stacks of hay and grain are standing witnesses 

 of the fertility of his improved soil. 



To hnprove an Old Pine Field. — After cutting off the 

 timber, he burns it over and plows and then sows 40 

 bushels of lime and harrows it in, and sows rye, and per- 

 haps clover. After the rye comes off, puts on a dressing 

 of swamp muck in some instances 60 to 80 loads to the 

 acre, of which he has a great quantity, and which pro- 

 duces a most marked effect upon all crops. He has also 

 used the Squonkum, (green-sand,) marl, with the great- 

 est benefit. It is applied at the rate of 100 to 500 bushels 

 to the acre as a top-dressing upon grass or grain. It costs 

 five cents a bushel at Freehold, and has to be hauled 10 

 or 12 miles, and yet is found to be a profitable applica- 

 tion, even at the largest quantity. 



Mr. Buckelew, is a very large owner of mules, keeping 

 from 250 to 300 in use, mostly in towing upon the Dela- 

 ware and Raritan Canal, though most of his farm teams 

 are mules, and of excellent quality. A wagon for hauling 

 off corn is coupled 20 feet apart, with two stout poles 

 upon the axles, upon which the stalks are piled cross- 

 wise and ride thus in pretty large loads from the field 

 to the barn. 



A new threshing barn, with machine to go by water, 

 has just been built by Mr. B., 40 by 60 feet, with 34-foot 

 posts, and an underground room of same size, for storing 

 roots and receiving the grain from the threshing ma- 

 chine. Mr. B. also owns several other farms which he 

 carries on by hired labor; and is improving in a high 

 degree, by lime, marl, muck, manures, deep plowing, and 

 draining. The effects that this man has produced not 

 only upon his own land, but by his example upon all the 

 country around, is well worthy of notice. 



All the land in this part of the state is comparatively 

 level; that is, there are no hills, and the soil is mostly 



