FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 3< 



C R. * Dols. Ct*. 



By ten tons of pumpkins, at sixteen cents per hundred 32 

 Clear profits of the crop 21 25 



Suppose it would be found necessary to expend three 

 dollars more, in manuring for the crop, in the hills, before 

 planting, in order to raise the quantity above stated; there 

 would then remain eighteen dollars and twenty five cents of 

 clear profit to the acre ; an amount of profit which Farmers 

 in this Country do but seldom realize. 



If the above calculations should be found correct ; and 

 this can be easily ascertained by experiment; let the Farm- 

 er pursue this system of culture, by having his pumpkin- 

 crop to precede his crop of wheat, instead of the present 

 method of SummeMallowing; let him apply his pumpkins 

 to feeding and fating of cattle ; and in this way he will find 

 that his ten-acre field will give him one hundred and eighty 

 dollars, of clear profit, more than he derives from it by his 

 present mode of culture, in raising his crop of wheat. And, 

 this calculation being founded on what it is supposed may 

 be derived from the common pumpkin, it is only necessary 

 to add, that, if the kind first mentioned should answer the 

 expectations formed of it, the clear profits it will afford will 

 probably be three or fourfold greater. 



It is believed that pumpkins are considerably improved, 

 as an article of food, for fating of Swine particularly, by 

 being steamboiled ; and perhaps the same may be observed 

 of them, when used for fating Neat-cattle. 



As they contain a large portion of saccharine matter, they 

 would, no doubt, afford considerable of molasses, or of ardent 

 spirits, when distiled. It is, most probably, their highly- 

 saccharine quality which gives them a superiority tor the 

 purpose of fating. 



Pumpkins will grow well on every kind of soil that is fit 

 for hoed crops, and the richer the better. In raising them, 

 it is usual to mix them with the crop of Indian com : But 

 it is doubtful whether any thing is ever gained by raising 

 two growing crops together. Let the crop be planted by 

 itself; and in planting give the hills plenty of seeds, in or- 

 der that if some of the young plants should be destroyed by 

 insects there might still be enough left. 



See INSECTS, for an easy method of keeping them from 

 plants of this description. 



Pumpkins are excelent for fating Horses. They, how- 

 ever, do not relish them at first; and therefore must be 

 kept from feeding, till they are hungry, before the pump- 

 kins are offered to them ; and let a little salt be first 

 sprinkled on this food; when they will soon grow fond of 

 k, and eat it readily, without salt. 



