250 THE PRACTICAL FARMER. 



yearly average of 2 tons of hay per acre. From 80 

 to 100 bushels of corn, 30 bushels of wheat, and 45 

 bushels of oats are the average of the crops reaped. 

 The soil has been put in the best possible condition, 

 while it is regularly supplied with manures containing 

 everything taken away in the abundant crops. The 

 principle that all earthy matters sold away must be 

 bought back again, is never lost sight of in the regu- 

 lation of crops and the application of manures. The 

 woj'thless muck-bed was retained, and is made worth 

 a dollar a load to the compost-heap, especially as the 

 land requires an increase of organic matter. A new 

 bam has been built large enough to store all of the 

 hay produced on the farm. It has stables, which 

 are tight and warm, and are well ventilated above the 

 cattle. The stock being thus protected from the 

 loss of their heat, give more milk, and make more 

 fat on a less amount of food than they did under the 

 old system. Water is near at hand, and the animals 

 are not obliged to over-exercise. The manure is 



o 



carefully composted, either under a shed constructed 

 for the pin-pose with a tank and pump, or is thrown 

 into the cellar below, where the hogs mix it with a 

 large amount of muck, which has been carted in 

 after being thoroughly decomposed by the lime and 

 salt mixture. 



They are thus protected against all loss, and are 

 prepared for the immediate use of crops. No ma- 

 nures are allowed to lie in the barn-yard, but they 

 are all early removed to the compost heap, where 

 they are preserved by being mixed with carbona- 



