On the use of Shell-Marl 243 



four are employed with the carts; two in ploughing, 

 harrowing, &c. for the cultivation of the crop ; and the 

 other two or three, as may be, do the blacksmith's and 

 carpenter's work, as also the fencing and other work ne- 

 cessary on a farm : the six hands employed with the 

 carts and ploughs, are not taken off for other business, 

 except in the time of harvest, and sowing wheat, when 

 they are probably stopped. / do not work so much with 

 the plough as formerly ', but more with the harrow, which 

 lessens and quickens the labour of cultivation, keeps the 

 ground cleaner, and, I think, in better tilth. Occasion- 

 ally I hire or employ some women, for hoeing work and 

 spreading manure. I flush my ground in large lands, 

 and harrow and roll as it may require ; then, instead of 

 listing, as common, mark it out each way with a plough, 

 very shoal, so as not to disturb the grass ploughed down, 

 and after dropping the corn, cover it with the plough or 

 harrow, and immediately put in the harrow, keeping it 

 going, as the weather will permit, till just before harvest, 

 when we plough the ground, and finish the cultivation 

 with the harrow, except something should occur, making 

 it necessary to plough again after harvest. This I have 

 found the best mode of cultivation for corn. I plant my 

 corn about four feet apart each way, and have from three 

 to five stalks in a hill, or cluster, for I endeavour to keep 

 down the hill, and have the ground as level as possible. 

 In saving my corn crop, I cut it up, without pulling it 

 from the stalk as usual, and cart it in all together, then 

 husk it out, leaving the husk to the stalk : I lay these 

 near my feeding yard, and throw them into it twice a 

 day : this gives us a large quantity of strong healthy food 

 for the cattle, which servos them all winter, and keeps 



