ESSEX SOCIETY. 51 



from twenty head of cattle and horses, is dropped into the barn 

 cellars, and immediately about three times the quantity of 

 meadow muck is wheeled in and thrown upon it, which in a 

 very short space of time becomes thoroughly incorporated with 

 the manure, through the agency of hogs, a sufficient number 

 for the purpose being kept in each cellar. In this way we not 

 only find the manure heap to increase rapidly, but, judging 

 from the escape of ammonia while it is being shoveled over? 

 the quality of the same must be good. 

 Amesbury, Nov. 1, 1850. 



Henry Poor^s Statement. 



In presenting my farm for premium, I do so with some diffi- 

 dence, from the fact that I lack knowledge in the proper culti- 

 vation of the soil, and the proper uses and application of ma- 

 nures. There is one fact, however, well known to us all, and 

 that is, that the manure heap is the only reliable " Bank," on 

 which the farmer rests his hopes. My own small experience 

 teaches me the importance of cultivating just as much land as 

 I can supply liberally with manure ; beyond this is a fatal error, 

 which is quite too common among us, in my judgment. 



But I will begin an account of my operations, since the year 

 1844, on the farm which I now own and occupy. I have built 

 a barn and shed, repaired an old barn, added an L to my house, 

 with cellar under new barn, thirty-eight by sixty feet, and a solid 

 mortar wall, at a cost of over three thousand dollars. My house 

 cellar I have bricked over, and made it proof against rats ; have 

 built a brick cemented cistern, with pipe and pump to draw the 

 water into my sink, with well water into the kitchen. Of cov- 

 ered stone drains, I have made fifty-five rods ; of faced double 

 wall, on either side of the road, fifty-four rock ; of double substan- 

 tial field wall, forty-eight rods ; of single wall, sixty-three rods. 

 I have made seven to eight acres of old heavy pasturing into 

 good mowing fields, and walled the same. Have planted fifty- 

 six choice varieties of pears ; two hundred and four of apples; 

 seventy-one of plums ; fifteen of cherries ; two hundred and 

 eighty-one of peaches ; sixty of quinces ; and twenty orna- 

 mental trees. Total, seven hundred and seven. Have filled 



