126 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



quality which was consumed by the stock then kept on the 

 farm. I now mow over about the same number of acres, and 

 have in my barn of this year's growth over eighteen tons of 

 good hay. I keep five cows three heifers and two horses, and 

 have of late sold about two tons of hay each year. 



With regard to my cultivated crops, as I appropriate consid- 

 erable of my time and manure to my fruit trees, it cannot be 

 expected that I should produce as much as if I paid less atten- 

 tion to them. The last two years I have raised over one hun- 

 dred bushels of corn, besides other grain, yearly ; my potato 

 crop has varied from seventy-five to three hundred bushels, and 

 my flat turnip crop, from fifty to one hundred bushels yearly. 

 I have now three and a half acres in corn and white beans, and 

 about one acre to potatoes. 



When I commenced, the fruit on the farm consisted of about 

 a dozen very old peach trees, and native apple trees enough to 

 make from twenty-five to thirty barrels of cider yearly, the 

 apples being appropriated to that purpose. Since that time, I 

 have removed all the worthless trees out of the way, and with 

 my own hands have new topped with good fruit all the trees 

 suitable for this purpose. From these trees I have realized the 

 last two years over four hundred dollars worth of fruit, besides 

 thirty dollars worth of other fruit, yearly. I have also set out 

 over four hundred fruit trees, which I have raised myself, besides 

 twenty-five which I have bought from the nurseries. As to 

 the insects on fruit trees, I generally exterminate them with the 

 thumb and finger ; as the surest method to prevent the borers, 

 I keep the trunks of my trees thoroughly scraped, thereby de- 

 stroying to a great extent, the burrows of the parent stock ; I 

 also keep the trunks and roots thoroughly freed from grass and 

 weeds by frequent hoeing, so that if one happens to enter, he 

 is easily discovered and routed. To prevent the peach tree 

 borer, I place ashes around the tree near the trunk. 



In respect to manure, I make all I use on the farm, in the 

 following manner. I make a reservoir of muck or soil, on 

 which I place my privy, and into which I conduct my sink- 

 drain, and deposite all the night water ; thus making yearly, 

 about twenty-five loads of valuable manure, which Iput around 

 my fruit trees, and a capital dressing it is for them. My horse 



