THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



281 



There being as fisw fences as possible (except | the qualify oC the manure, if (hat alone were con- 



the general outside enclosure) on both estates, 

 there are none designed specially to separate the 

 grazing land from the baliince, and the cattle are 

 restrained to their allotted space by being herded 

 or guarded. This plan is however about being 

 altered to some extent, and proper lences lor the 

 standing pastures were in the course of being 

 constructed. This herdirg plan, though a great 

 saving oflencing, and a great aid to the land, by 

 preventing very close grazing any where, cannot 

 be otherwise than bad lor the cattle. They are 

 harassed both by the attention and the neglect 

 of the herd-boys — and are debarred from seeking 

 and enjoying, at will, the (iall supplies of I'ood, 

 water, rest, and shade, that they need. Even if 

 enjoying all these to the (ullest extent for a week, 

 the neglect or ill treatment and privation ol' a 

 single day may undo all the benefit received du- 

 ring the week of proper indulgence. Under this 

 plan, a stock of cattle can scarcely do well. And 

 of these evils the reporter may presume to speak 

 thus, as he has long pursued this same plan of 

 herding, to save the expense of fencing — and he 

 knows well its particular disadvantages to slock, 

 as well as the benefit to the land and to its pro- 

 duct. He still deems the balance of advantages 

 greatly in favor of this plan, and it is still pursued 



sidered, be would prefer that ii should be suffered 

 to accun)ulale in the stables; but the main point, 

 wlieiher the stables be cleared out every day or 

 more seldom, is that plenty of litter shall be used. 

 The fire-langing of the manure (which is the 

 result of too high fermemaiion, and too Utile 

 moisture,) is especially guarded against. 



There are about 120 sheep (exclusive of lambs) 

 on the up()er estate, and 140 en the lower. The 

 sheep are herded as the cattle are, and always 

 penned at night, and they add considerably to the 

 amount of manure. They are led in winter on 

 turnips, top-fodder, &c. 



There are enough hogs raised and kept on 

 Lower Brandon and Church Pastures to furnish 

 l(.ir slaughter annually from 70 to 80 at each 

 larm. The hogs have a irood woods range, out- 

 side of the enclosure. 58 hogs were kept up in 

 pens throughout last year, lor experiment, until 

 killed ; and the result was so favorable, that the 

 course is continued there, and has been also com- 

 menced on the upper estate. The hogs so con- 

 fided were fijtter when killed, and weighed more 

 lor their appearance then the other ranging hogs. 

 At Upper Brandon, the hog management has 

 been very unsuccessful. Not more than about 

 70 hogs are killed lor bacon each year. It is ne- 



on the farm in which he has a share, except so far j cessary on the lower estate every year to buy 

 as having a small enclosed standing pasture. j much more pork for the farm supply, besides all 



It is therefore by no means designed as a | that is raised ; and there is a still greater defi- 

 Bubject of censure, in the general, when staling ! ciency to supply on Upper Brandon, 

 the objections which apply particularly to the i The cattle are kept in the winter farm-yard 

 cattle and grazing management on the Brandon j through the day as well as night; and until late 

 estates. The making of manure is the great ob- I in the spring — sometimes until the 10th of May. 

 ject there sought and gained by the keeping of! The sheep, during winter, are let out of the pen 

 cattle; and except this, there is very little ofi to graze in the day, when convenient. 

 other benefit, except that of furnishing plentiful j Every portion of the ofial of the grain crop, 

 supplies of milk, butter and meat, to the families ' (corn-stalks and wheat straw,) not required for 

 of the proprietors, and the breeding and raising I food, is used as litter, and converted to manure, 

 oxen for labor. There are no sales of products I There are no other sources of supplies of litter, 

 of stock, except about 100 lbs. of butter from the ( The wood-land is so distant that the leaves are 



upper estate, and 150 lbs. from the lower, and 

 some few veals from both, annually. 



Horses, and stable management. — On each 

 farm, it is made the regular business of a suitable 

 hand to clean out and then litter the stable, and 

 chop up the long forage, (corn-fodder or clover 

 hay,) with a straw-cutler, and have the proper 

 supply ready in the trough of each horse, when 

 brought in from work, so as to save time. The 

 allowance ofcorn is 5 large ears to a mule at each 

 feed, three times a day. To large horses and 

 unthrifty animals, more corn is given. Of the 

 long forage, there is always an abundant supply 

 on fiand, and it is given freely, chopped as above 

 stated. And were this allowance less abundant, 

 more corn would be necessary. 



The corn is sometimes crushed in the ear, for 

 horse-feed, and it is highly approved. The prac- 

 tice was introduced on Lower Brandon by its 

 late proprietor, and has been continued since. It 

 is not supposed that there is any great saving in 

 the allowance of grain— but the animals seem 

 to thrive better, and require less long forage. 



The stables are fully littered at all times. In 

 cold weather, the litter and excrements are suffer- 

 ed to accumulate for ten days or even two weeks 



not deemed worth being brought to the farm- 

 yard, and there are no wet natural meadows 

 used for mowing. All the manure made before 

 the 10th of March, is carried out on the field for 

 corn, (already ploughed early in winter,) and 

 spread and ploughed under before planting the 

 corn. When very coarse, the manure is heaped 

 in the spring and heated a little, to somewhat rot 

 and reduce the coarser parts. The stable ma- 

 nure issomeiinics mixed wiih the poorer manure 

 of the cattle yard, to forward the rotting. The 

 manure made in the cattle yard after March the 

 10th, is suffered to remain there, and is used the 

 next spring. This delay is deemed advanta- 

 geous, as such manure is very coarse. Top- 

 dressing on clover, for which such coarse stuff 

 is well suited, and can be cheaply so applied, 

 has not been yet tried by Mr. Harrison; but he 

 will do so. From the farm-yards and stables, 

 there were manured for this crop, (part of the late 

 made manure of last spring, applied in autumn 

 lor wheat on clover fallow, tiut principally for 

 recent manure, to corn this spring,) more than 60 

 acres on Upper Brandon, and more than 40 on Up- 

 per Quarter — a good heavy covering, supposed to 

 be about 60 two-horse cart loads per acre ; besides 



as may be most convenient. But in warm wea- jihe land manured by summer cow-pene, (wiih- 

 ther, Mr. Harrison deems it necessary that the j out litter as usual,) and which would amount to 

 stables should be cleaned out every dav. For j 7 or 8 acres for each farm. Oa Lower Brandon 

 Vol. X.— 36 " ' 



