42 



THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



attributable to the decline in the prices of the pro- 

 ducts. His sales consisted of butter, cheese, and 

 pork. The cows and swine gave liiin abuntliint re- 

 sources for manure, wluch In- applied liberally; on 

 his cultivated grounds putting from thirty-tive to 

 forty buck-loads per acre. 



The island wus in two parts, connected by an 

 isthmus, and of narrow extent. This saved him 

 much expense in the fence required, for one por- 

 tion beincr devoted to pasturage and one to cultiva- 

 tion, it was easily divided by a fence extending 

 across the isthmus. 



He had this year ten acres under the plough ; 

 two acres in potatoes, one in wheat, one in oats, and 

 six in Indian corn. His six acres in corn produced 

 him 400 bushels : one acre of this corn gave him 

 131 bushels. He applied to the agricultural socie- 

 ty of that county for a premium, but he was defea- 

 ted by acompetitor who claimed it fur 132 bushels 

 to the acre. The corn was faithfully measured. It 

 was rated at 131 bushels when taken from the field 

 in the cob. Of course it was liable to fall consid- 

 erably sliort of this when perfectly dried. It has 

 since been shelled and measured recently, and gave 

 108 bushels. He considers 12 bushels of corn with 

 the rough fodder included, as equal to one ton of 

 hay. This would make his crop upon the acre e- 

 qual to eleven or twelve tons of hay for his stock. 

 By what other process could he realize such avails 

 from an acre of land .•* 



The results of his farming operations the two 

 past years, had fully satisfied him. One ground of 

 his success was, that bis farm manager was liimself 

 directly interested in the results. He conducted 

 matters with great discretion, and his personal in- 

 terest in the results secured his fidelity. 



His farmer in the first place, had what he needed 

 from the farm for the support of his family. In ad- 

 dition lo this he gave him in cash 300 dollars per 

 year, and on his sales he allowed, when his butter' 

 was sold at 30 cents per pound, (and it had often 

 brought 32 cents,) four cents per pound ; on cheese 

 sold, 1 1-2 cent ; on pork, 1 1-2 cent. This gave the 

 farmer nearly 500 dollars per year. 



His sales the last year were, new milk cheese, 

 5900 lbs.; butter, 2350 lbs. ; pork, 2600 lbs. ; be- 

 sides reserving enough for the consumption of the 

 family. 



The male labor on the farm consisted of the far- 

 mer and two hired men, who are of course paid by 

 tiie manager. The female department is filled by 

 one woman, the wife of the manager, (wc mention 

 tiiis fact, lest we should disturb the sleep of some 

 forlorn bachelor*) — who performs all the household 

 work and makes all the butter and cheese. (We 

 should like to know at what boarduigscliool or fac- 

 tory she was educated !) Under ihis management 

 Mr. Derby says that lie has received from Iiis farm 

 an income of 15 percent, on the original invest- 

 ment, and the farm is in a course ef improvement. 



The kind of corn which he plants is known as 

 the Golden Sioux, and was brought by a traveller 

 some years since, from the country inhabited by 

 that tribe of Indians. It is an early as well as pro- 

 ductive variety, and in the cold season of 1838 he 

 gathered a good crop. He has several times receiv- 

 ed a premium for his corn. 



By the mode of culture adopted, he breaks up his 

 mowing land when it ceases to yield more than one 

 ton to the acre. He takes a crop of potatoes first, 

 lightly manured; the second year corn — sometimes 

 the third year corn ; and this is followed by wheat- 

 His wheat gives him 31 bushels per acre. He has 

 raised 40 busiicls per acre. His corn is planted 2 

 ft. in one direction and 2 ft. 8 in. in another. His 

 seed is selected always with particular care. Three 

 plants are suffered to remain in a liill. The corn 

 is cultivated usually with a plough. After wheat, 

 the land is laid down to grass and left in good con- 

 dition. 



A principal ground of his success is in his opin- 

 ion that he cultivates no more land ilxan he can 

 manure and cultivate well ; and a second ground 

 not less important, is in the limitation of his objects 

 of husbandry. The dairy is the principal matter. 

 No sheep are kept excepting for consumption on the 

 farm. The attention is therefore not distracted among 

 many objects. In the vicinity the soil is of as good 

 quality as that of his own farm. Many of the islands 

 however are not productive.Tlie farmers divide their 

 attention among too many objects. Thoy do a little 

 of many things and much of notliing ; and this he re- 

 gards as the cause of their comparative ill success. 



His corn crop is directly connected with 'his dai- 

 ry and available for his cows and bis swine. So 

 are his potatoe crops, which are raised generally 

 without manure. 



*Tbe clause in the parenthesis is not a part of Mr 

 Derby 'a speech, but a mere garniture of the cook . 



Barrington^ March 1840. 

 To the Editor of llic Parmwr's M"iitlily Visitor. 

 5/> ; Since readincr the remarks <if Dr. Jackson 

 in the List Visitor, I determined to address you on 

 the subject of Swamp Mud. I have within ten 

 rods of my barn a swamp containing about one a- 

 cre, filled with a substance resembling old barn ma- 

 nure from the centre of an heap: when sliovelled, 

 as it easily may be, it is of the consistency of soft 

 cheese, and perfectly tasteless; no particles of grit 

 or earth can be felt by rubbing it between tlie fin- 

 gers. It is from two to eight feet deep, and con- 

 tains many thousand loads. I have tried it on eve- 

 ry variety of soil and find it perfectly inert. It is 

 surrounded on all sides by high rocky gravelly land 

 and lies on a bottom of sand. I Iiad left it as use- 

 less; but I now think it maj' contain some acid or 

 other substance, unknown to me, which renders it 

 of no value as manure. Will you have the goodness 

 to inform me through the next Visitor, whether, 

 should I send a box of the substance to Concord it 

 can there be chemically tested and its value as a 

 manure ascertained. Should it be fouod possible 

 to convert it into manure, to me it would be inval- 

 uable. With much respect, 



JEREMIaH KINGMAN. 



From the known industry of Doct. Jackson and 

 his desire to be useful, we cannot doubt that he will 

 at once furnish all the information that can be de- 

 veloped by a chemical analysis of the mUterial pos- 

 sessed by Mr. Kingman. Should he send directly 

 to Doct. Jackson in Boston with the particular re- 

 quest, he might sooner gain the information than 

 by sending to this town where the State Geologist 

 may not be expected until Ma^'^ or June. 



Tlie material described by Mr. Kingman, as indi- 

 cated by its appearance, must possess the elements 

 of fertility : it is a soil highly charged with vege- 

 table matter ; and all vegetable matter when de- 

 composed fertilizes the ground. Much of the swamp 

 mud in its crude state is of little value to the soil 

 when first applied. We suppose many have been 

 discouraged from applying it because, if it shall 

 have a favorable effect, its benefits are not seen for 

 the first or second season. But we believe in all 

 cases where swamp mud shall be applied to light, 

 dry sandy land, sooner or later it must operate ben- 

 eficially — ifnot the first or even the second season, 

 at more distant times. 



Swamp mud, placed in cow or hog yards, will at 

 all times be found valuable as a receiver and retain- 

 er of the volatile particle^ which so much contrib- 

 ute to the fertility of the ground. An English ag- 

 ricultural writer more tlian twenty years ago de- 

 scribed a method of making compost as follows : 

 Lay down in the summer parallel rows of swamp 

 mud in longitudinal piles so that the frost may pen- 

 etrate them, leaving room for a centre pile ofequal 

 size. As early in the spring as convenient, take 

 tlie manure of the stable, and lay that down as the 

 centre pile. Let the three rows be sho/elled by 

 three persons at the same time, mixing completely 

 tJie two parts of mud w^th the one part of stable 

 manure. By this operation, the acidity of the mud 

 will be neutralized by the warm manure, and in 

 many cases the entire mass will be of equal value 

 in proportion to the bulk as the stable manure it- 

 self. Iflime should be mixed witli the mud wlien 

 first laid down, say equal to one cask of Thoinaston 

 for every six ox-cart loads, especially if this mud 

 shall consist in part of fibrous vegetable matters, 

 we cannot doubt the value of the mass of compost 

 would be much increased. 



Every Day Kules. 



When our school-master, shontly after the close 

 of the ravolution, left us, to settle in Pennsylvania, 

 I remember he made us all stand up befoiL' his 

 green desk, while he made a speech lUled with o-oud 

 advice, for our practice through life, and amnng a 

 great many good things, he gave us tlie following 

 rules— I think I liave found the practice ofsnnieof 

 them of great advantage, and a thought struck me 

 the other &A.y when 1 chanced to come across them, 

 written in an old copy book, that they might he ac- 

 ceptable at least to some of the young people who 

 read the Emporium. They are as follows: 



1. When, in compau}', if tlie conversation turns 

 on an absent person, and you are called to express 

 an opinion — always fancy that very person is stand- 

 ing silent lichind you, looking over your shoulder 

 and listening attentively to what yousay. You v.'ili 

 tlien speak prudently, and with due regard lo Uis 

 character. 



9. As far as'ifis possible, when you come to be 

 your own master, avoid contracting debts — try to 

 do without every thing you cannot pay for, and 

 V, hen prudence requires the contracting of a debt, 

 be punctual to the day of paying it. Your affairs 



will never get into confusion— ryou will always 

 know exactly how you stand with the world. 



3. Seta high value on your word in all things — 

 be sure you never make a promise that you are not 

 morally certain of being able to perforin. The 

 highesL compliment your neighbors can bestow on 

 you will be to say, "His word is as good as his bond 



-you may place implicit faith in what lie says.' 



4. Always bo ready* to do an act of kindness 

 when you can do it consistently with all your obli- 

 gations. And always do it cheerfully, without a 

 wry face or an apology. But let those you oblige 

 see and feel that you take dcligiit in serving them. 

 This will make you many friends — many who will 

 be ever ready to oblige you in nturn. 



5. If you receive an injury, sleep at least twelve 

 hours before you make up your mind in what man- 

 ner to treat it. Then palliate it as much as you can 

 and reflect wfllon what course will be at once most 

 honorable, liumane, and advantageous, in regard to 

 it. Thus you will stand a good qhance of acting 

 wisely. 



6. Choose your company anwng men of virtue, 

 regular habits, and good sense — so that your own 

 character, habits and manneis may be fo.med in a 

 good model. This will save you much trouble, and 

 redound in the end greatly to your advantage. 



The old man had a choice collection of good 

 rules and maxims, and never did a man practice 

 what he taught by precept, more closely. He prof 

 ited by it too, for he was afterwards a member of 

 the Legislature, a Judge, and 1 believe a Colonel 

 of the Militia. — Oliver Oahwood. 



The Farmer's choice, 



"A little house well filled, 

 A|^ttle wife well willed, 

 ATittle land well till'd." 



Our ancestors were fed on bread and broth, 

 And woo'd their healtliy wives in homespun cloth, 

 Our mothers, nurtured at the nodding reel. 

 Gave all their daughters lessons on the wheel. 

 Though spinning didn't much reduce the waist, 

 It made food much sweeter to the taste ; 

 Tiiey plied with honest zeal the mop and broom, 

 And drove the shuttle through the noisy loom, 

 They never once complained as we do now, 

 "We have no girl to cook and milk the cow." 

 Each mother taught her red cheeked son and daugh 



ter, 

 To bake, to brew, and draw a pall of water ; 

 No damsel shunn'd the wash-tub, broom or pail, 

 To kei p unsoil'd a long grown finger nail, 

 They sought no gaudy dress, no wasp-like form, 

 But ate to live, and work'd to keep them warm. 

 No idle youth, no tight-laced, mincing fair, 

 Became a livid corpse, for want of air- 

 No fidgets, faintiugs, fits of frightful blues ; 

 No painful earns from wearing Cliinese shoes. 



Fioni tlie Lundoii Unidiitr's Gazette, Ftb.'^,}, U'-IO. 



A plau of green cropping, 



Succcssfulhf jmr sued fur a iivmbcr of ycins bij Rob 

 crt trails^ Oversea at Rozcllc, Jitji-shirc,J\\ B. 

 Early in spring wc plough and iiarrow and weed 

 odr land for green crop till we have all llie weeds 

 off; then roll it to keep in tlie moisture, for in dry 

 springs it is very difficult to do so. We let the land 

 be in tliat state till we are ready to sow our Swed- 

 ish turnip, which is generally about the 10th of 

 May. We study to have them all sown by the lat- 

 ter end of May, if possible. Immediately before 

 we begin to sow we give it what we call the last 

 furrow, from seven to ten inches deep, as we find 

 the soil answers ; but in doing this, w^e always har- 

 row and roll every night in dry weather before w^e 

 leave it, merely to keej) the moisture in the ground; 

 then in the morning we have our land ready for 

 drilling. We make our drills from six to eight in- 

 ches deep, and from twenty-six to twenty-seven 

 inches apart Then we put in our bones or dung,, 

 or whatever manure we intend to give; if bones, 

 we cover it as liglit as possible, not above three in- 

 ches deep ; if dung, we generally cover It deeper, 

 so that we may have about three inches of eaflli 

 above the dung after the seed is sown. We always 

 sow as soon as possible after the land is drilled up. 

 If we are drilling and manuring for a whole day, 

 we always sow in mid-day and at night, so as to 

 preserve tlie moisture in the ground for our seeds. 

 In sowing the Swedish turnips we always give 

 nearly 5 Ih.s. per acre, and put the seeds as deep in 

 the ground as the manure will admit of, not to 

 bring i-t above ground by the coulters of the ma- 

 chine. We always study to liave the seed from two 

 Ito three inches below grouml, andamongst tlie ma- 

 nure if possible. Tin.'? being done, and by the time 

 the seeds get above ground, they liave a strong hold 

 of the manure ; and by the time the fly gets hold 



