398 



A second great improvement on Mr. Phinney's farm, may be 

 said to consist in the manufacture of manure. On this point, 

 likewise, I have spoken at large, and it is one which ought 

 strongly to attract the attention of the farmers. Many a farmer 

 now expends large sums in the purchase and transportation of 

 manure, when he has on his own farm, or in his immediate vi- 

 cinity, the means of making a compost of equal value at half 

 the expense. 



The third great iip.provement now going on, on this model 

 farm, is the improvement of the pasture lands. This is a 

 matter which I have often urged, but to which few farmers 

 have given any consideration ; and therefore in general nothing is 

 more disreputable to the large majority of farmers throughout 

 the State, than the condition of their pastures. Mr. Phinney, 

 as far as his manure heap will allow him to do it. ploughs and 

 manures his pasture ground, removing as many of the stones 

 as can conveniently be taken away ; but where his manure is 

 deficient, he simply ploughs the land, completely inverting the 

 sward, sowing rye and grass-seed and rolling it down. This 

 effects at once a beneficial change, greatly increases the amount 

 of feed, and is preparatory to a more liberal cultivation. 



The fourth improvement is in the extensive cultivation of 

 fruit. Mr. Phinney has stocked his place very fully with the 

 best of engrafted fruits, of apples, pears, peaches, and grapes ; 

 and does not deem the common method sufficient though gene- 

 rally practised, of planting the trees, and then telling them to 

 grow of themselves ; but gives to every one of his trees his par- 

 ticular personal attention, and considers their cultivation, by 

 ploughing and manuring his grounds and carefully trimming 

 and supporting his trees, of equal necessity and use as that of 

 any garden plant whatever. 



Mr Phinney's crop of corn the current year by measurement, 

 averaged 70 bushels to the acre ; his potatoes 300 bushels, and 

 his hay from two to upwards of four tons. He has been in the 

 habit of raising wheat for years. His crops of wheat average 

 from 25 to 30 bushels, and he considers it ordinarily as certain 



