20 Transactions of the State Agricultural Society. [July, 



The object of this essay, as announced in the introduction, is 

 to show the " expensiveness of farm yard manure." Dr. G. first 

 o-oes forward and speaks of the expense of farm yard manure, in 

 which he seems to include the entire expense of raising and sto- 

 ring the food of the animals who furnish the manure, as well as 

 the time and cost of feeding them. In the same connection, the 

 Dr. defends his calculations of the cost of the manure on the plan 

 which is said to be adopted in England, of buying steers or young 

 cattle for the sole purpose of making manure; alluding at the 

 same time to a practice common in Dutchess county, of purchas- 

 ing western cattle in the spring and grazing them until fall when 

 hey are sold in New-York. The cost is said to average $20, 

 md then in the fall to average $30 per head. 



We wish by no means to charge the Dr. with a misunderstand- 

 ng of the whole matter; and yet we cannot assent to his propo- 

 sitions. We regard this part of the husbandry as merely inci- 

 dental. The hills of Dutchess are well adapted to grazing, and 

 here an extra number of young cattle can be supported du- 

 ring the grazing season, at the end of which, the growth and im- 

 provement of the stock for the time being, enables the farmer to 

 realize an advance on the first cost, more or less, according to the 

 state of the market. The assumption is, that the entire farm is 

 devoted to the support of 100 head of young cattle, and that they 

 exhaust it of its provender is not correct. It is also assumed that in 

 order to take care of this 100 head of young cattle, two men 

 and a boy are required, at an expense of 276 dollars. All the 

 expenses of the system are supposed to amount to $1,046, and 

 the sales to only $1,000. Now without further comment, it is 

 well known that the farmers of Dutchess do not farm it in this 

 way, and at an annual loss, as is here made to appear. Hence 

 upon the face of the statement, it appears that there is some error 

 in the supposition, that the Dr., in order to make out the original 

 assumption that barn yard manure, if used, will run the farmer 

 in debt, has not given a fair or correct statement. It is not true 

 that the provender is exhausted, nor that it requires $276 to take 

 care of 100 hundred head of young cattle in pastures as well 

 fenced as those of Dutchess. 



The question is not, whether the system referred to above is 

 wholly right, but rather is it not such a system which, when well 

 followed out, especially that part of it which concerns the use 

 of barn yard manure, one which has been eminently profitable. 

 That more money may be made than has been made, is no doubt 

 true. That it is expensive to distribute barn yard manure over 

 the farm there is no doubt; but is not the expense well incurred, 

 and do not those farmers who do incur it get rich. Experience 

 IS certainly some test to which we can safely appeal. 



