OF AGRICULTURE. 185 



gradually, but surely rising. We have far fewer 

 now, than twenty years ago. 



Let us now place this same farm in the hands of 

 an educated and thinking cultivator; and at the end 

 of five years, look at it again. 



He has sold one-half of it, and cultivates but fifty 

 acres. The money for which the other fifty were 

 sold has been used in the improvement of the farm. 

 The land has been undcrdrained, and shows the 

 many improvements consequent on such treatment. 

 The stones and stumps have been removed, leaving 

 the surface of the soil smooth, and allowing the use- 

 of the subsoil plow, which, with the under drains, 

 has more than doubled the productive power of the 

 farm. Sufficient labor is employed to cultivate, 

 with improved tools, extensive root crops, and they 

 invariably give a largo yield. The grass land 

 produces a yearly average of two and a- half tons of 

 hay. From eighty to one hundred bushels of corn, 

 thirt}' bushels of wheat, and forty-five bushels of 

 oats, arc the average crops gathered. The soil has 

 been put in the best possible condition, while it is. 

 regularly supplied with manures containing everything 

 taken away in the abundant crops. The principle 

 that all mineral matter sold away must be brought 

 back again, is never lost sight of in the application 

 of manures. The worthless much-bed was retained, 

 and is made worth a dollar a load to the compost- 

 heap, especially as the land requires an increase of 

 vegetable matter. The manure from stalks and 

 barn ^ards is carefully composted, either under a 

 shed constructed for the purpose, or is thrown into a 

 cellar below, where the hogs mix it with a largo 



