THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



397 



IVom horse yard, I am persuaded my estimate is too 

 low. Atf to the coiiiposied deiid annuals the 

 quantity will actually be about 50 loads, which 

 I have computed as equal to 150 loads of coui- 

 nion dun^f. The balance of ihe account is ^'e- 

 nuine guess work ; but 1 think [ have guessed 

 reasonubly. Thus it will be seen, that by tlie 

 first ol' July I will have moved and spread about 

 2665 ox-cart loads ol manure, the value of which 

 I would estimate as e(|ual to 2115 loads oC ^iu\^<J ; 

 to which add 1000 loads lor green lallow, 600 

 lor rotten limber, and 500 lor drill mould and oui 

 leedings, and we have a sum total of 4215 ox- 

 cart loads of dung. At 50 loads to the acre, I 

 will have manured 84 acres ; and having only six 

 laborers at my place of residence last year, I 

 will have manured 14 acres for each hand. My 

 resources lor manure, are the oHal of Indian corn, 

 rye, wheat, oats, millet, peas, hay, leaves jrom 

 woods, saw dust, ashes, mould, green weeds and 

 grasses, and dead animals. JMy eallle yards are 

 littered wiih corn sialks, leaves, and straw. My 

 horse yard is luttred wiih leaves, and saw dust. 

 My hog yards are lilieied with leaves, corn cobs 

 (which the hcgs enl,) green corn stalks, green 

 weeds, &c. The carted mould is obtained Irom 

 reservoirs made lor the purpose. The drift mould 

 is cast on, or Hoaied on, Irom dilches around the 

 hills. The saw dust is obtained Irom a saw mill, 

 and amounts to an average of about 50 loads ihe 

 year, but if properly secured wculd be at least 

 400 loails the year. 1 have used the mould Irom 

 my reservoirs, under, in, and on my manure 

 banks; but this year the greater portion, viz., the 

 1500 loads," were spread directly on the field, and 

 1 am inclined to think that I shall continue the 

 practice. 



Fifteen years back my lands were dead, and 

 my cattle, sheep, and hogs dying ; but now my 

 lands and stock ol animals are in good heart. 

 But perhaps one may ask, il my siock are all in 

 good heait, whence comes this 50 loads of com- 

 posted animal matter? Well, friend, the truth 

 shall come, out of 220 grown sheep 1 had about 

 25 to die, and out ol about 85 lambs I had about 

 35 to die ; besides one old cow and one runt calf; 

 all of which a.^e neatly vaulied, and undergoing 

 decomposition and composition. When it is re- 

 membered that we had a hard winter, and a light 

 spring ; and when I state that 1 have been housed 

 nearly ail the winter with rheumatism ; and fur- 

 thermore that my horses and hogs are all liil, nor 

 have I lost one, I hope I shall be acquitted, at 

 least of murder in the first degree. 



The compost from my vault is intended for tur- 

 nips, and by using a considerable portion of strong 

 ashes, it is expected to be ready lor use by the 

 first of August. 1 am now engaged In carting 

 leaves into my horse and hog yards, and expect 

 lo get in 600 loads before I cease ; and next year 

 hope to cart out double the above quantity. If 

 1 were not a grower of tobacco, I could now 

 begin to larm in good order ; but I need pasture 

 grounds, and tobacco is the best preparatory crop. 



My mould having been piled, is mostly carted 

 in the dead of winier, when it has to be bursted 

 up with a crow bar ; thus 1 move heavy loads, 

 and economize time. Saw dust will not act direct- 

 ly as manure unless the acid which it contains is 

 neutralized by lime, ashes, or strong dung ; hence 

 my reason lor composting il. A considerable 



portion of my bottom grounds, and some ol my 

 hills, were a lew years past of very acid cha- 

 racter, but by deep ploughings and nianurings 

 thev are now generally warm and t)roductive. 

 i have used no lime as ii would cost me about 30 

 cents the bushel ; nor Imve I uticd many ashes 

 umil last year. 



IJelore I close, I desire to say a lew more words 

 on the subject of the dead sheep, as il seems to 

 me this is tlie only dark part of my tstory. I liad 

 the nnslbrtune to loose one fi.tli part ol my flock, 

 lambs included ; now reader, what portion did 

 you lose ? And finally I have several sheep of 

 lull blood, both grown and lambs, not one of 

 which is dead or missing — and why? because 

 they were well attended, and perhiips more 

 heahhy. 



My sheep will in a few days be washed in a 

 yard on which leaves have been spread, ihe ma- 

 nure from which, with that from i lie hog yaid, 

 will not be moved liil next winier. 



Za. Drumjiond. , 



Amherst, May 5th, 1S41. 



ORNAMENTAL GROVES. 



To tlie Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Who IS there conversant witlt ancient history,, 

 that has not read ol the groves of Academus, 

 and, in our own day, heard much of the know- 

 ledge acquired, and pleasures enjoyed, beneath 

 academic shades? liulof ihise pleasing topics 

 1 shall not speak, whilst relbrmation Is called lor 

 nearer home. Every lover of nature has been 

 Irequently surprised at the indifi'erence v\hich ex- 

 ists in the community res|)eciing lasteiully set 

 groves. In nothing has nature been more prodi- 

 gal of her charms than in the vegetable king- 

 I dom ; and, next lo a well-regulated larm, it is pe- 

 j culiarly delighilul lo see a choice selection of trees 

 and fahrubs around the lamily mansion. The 

 snug log-cabin as well as the costly palace are 

 thus alike improved in appearance; and enhanced 

 in value, ihrough the simple agency of natural 

 association. How sultry and uninvning the pro- 

 spect around that house, where are no trees to be 

 ruffled by the passing breeze, and to comlort with 

 their shade under the ardent heats of summer. 

 The lack is apparent — ihe nakedness felt, as we 

 approach such a dwelling. Can u be wondered 

 at, ihen, that Solomon "spoke o\ trees, of the ce- 

 dar tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop 

 that springeih out of the wall," and that many of 

 his most choice comparisons are drawn from the 

 natural beauties with which he was surrounded. 

 Where can we find all the colors of the rainbow, 

 with a thousand other variegated tinis of inde- 

 scribable delicacy, so richly portrayed as in the 

 wide domain of nature? 



Below are briefly pointed out a few of those 

 trees and shrubs indigenous to the United States, 

 and best adapted lor useful or ornamental pur- 

 poses, with their popular names attached. 



Robinia, pseudo-acacia — black locust, false aca- 

 cia. This is not only an ornamental, but extreme- 

 ly valuable tree. It bears transplanting remarka- 

 bly well, will vegetate from the seed, is of vigo- 

 rous growth, and constitutes the most durable ma- 

 terial lor garden or lence posts in the United 



