340 



James Goiven^s Report. 



Vol. IX. 



crib capable of holding 1200 bushels corn, 

 one barrack, ample hog pens, and sheds for 

 carts and wagons. The barn buildings have 

 been filled this fall to their utmost limit, 

 except the corn crib. 



A substantial stone wall encloses the prin- 

 cipal manure heap; the drainings from this 

 heap are led into a place of deposit, in which 

 are received also a drain that runs under 

 ground from the kitchen, as well as drain- 

 ings from the pig pens, and the washings 

 from all the yards. These drainings form an 

 important item in the supply of manure to 

 my land; it is a saving which I cannot esti- 

 mate at less than $200 a year. This liquid 

 by a simple process is applied to the patches 

 of roots, &c., and to this may be ascribed 

 my great success in raising such crops. 



The dwellings, green house, shrubbery, 

 and gardens, I need not describe ; but it is 

 in point to notice the nursery of young orna- 

 mental trees, and Madura for hedges, raised 

 on places mostly waste on other farms, from 

 which I have an ample supply for my own 

 setting out, and a considerable stock to spare 

 ofMagnoliaTripetalla, or Cucumber tree, and 

 Silver Maple, of fine size, suitable for trans- 

 planting. I sold over fifty dollars worth last 

 spring of these trees, and have several hun- 

 dred dollars worth still on hand, for sale. 



Of Improved Cattle, my first effort was 

 with the celebrated " Dairy Maid," still 

 owned by me. Her first calf, Leander, by 

 Whitaker^s Prince of Northumberland, 

 was reared, and kept by me, for breeding. 

 Dairy Maid's calves alone, exclusive of 

 Leander, have already sold for more than 

 $500. It would be curious to trace her profit 

 at this day, by stating an account of her first 

 cost, her keep, and that of her son Leander; 

 crediting her by sales of her own calves and 

 grand calves; deducting for the portion of 

 capital which was invested in the dams that 

 produced the grand calves. To do this 

 would extend this paper to an unusual 

 length — suffice it to say, that Dairy Maid 

 has long since paid for herself, and that those 

 who laughed at me for giving $540 for one 

 cow, may turn this statement over in their 

 minds, and think, whether since 1838 any 

 investment of theirs, to same amount, in any 

 other branch of husbandry, has paid so well 

 But they may exclaim, " I cannot do the like 

 again;" yes, I can — for if the price of fine 

 cattle be reduced through their becoming 

 plentier, (thanks to those who made them 

 plentier,) the principal invested may not be 

 so large, in the purchase of one animal to 

 begin with, but there cannot be a doubt if 

 she be superior or superlative, the produce 

 of such an animal will realize as good a 

 percentage in future, as did that of Dairy 



Maid. But there is a satisfaction beyond that 

 of the pocket, and that is, that Dairy Maid's 

 breed will be of infinite service to the coun- 

 try. Her calves and grand calves, are pretty 

 well scattered already — and I make no doubt, 

 but where ever found they will demonstrate 

 the high character of the parent stock. 



My sales for the last two years, exclusive 

 of Dairy Maid's calves, amount to over 

 $2000. The stock now on hand is about 40 

 head, principally Durhams, among which are 

 Dairy Maid, Cleopatra, Walnut, Victoria, 

 Ellen Kirby, Miss Motlel, Victorina, Judy, 

 Bessy Bell, &c., &c. The butter sold for 

 the last two years exceeds $750; this is a 

 respectable item, when the calves that were 

 reared, and the supply for my family are 

 taken into view. From early fall to spring, 

 the butter averaged 70 lbs. per week — the 

 quality highly appreciated abroad, as well as 

 at home. In butter, cream and milk, there 

 is no stint at Mount Airy; so of fruits, vege- 

 tables, hams, &c. If I be a large producer, 

 I may be also classed as a large consumer, 

 and did I not produce, the markets would 

 have to suffer accordingly. 



In the hog line, I have been quite success- 

 ful, at least in bringing the animal by judi- 

 cious crossing, to great perfection. I fatted 

 off" my old Lincoln, and Berkshire Boars, and 

 my Hampshire and Chester county Sows, 

 last month ; they weighed from 400 to 450 

 lbs., sold for $86.24. Have sold the last two 

 years of pigs, designed for breeding, $150. 

 Bacon, lard, &c. over $120, besides, having 

 on hand 14 fine young barrows, last fall's 

 pigs, now ready for slaughter, which will 

 weigh from 250 to 300 lbs. each, value $150. 

 The stock on hand consists of one fine boar 

 of Lincoln, Hampshire and Berkshire breed; 

 one brood sow of Berkshire breed, 12 shoats 

 and seven pigs. The sow and pigs are the 

 same that took the premium at the last Ag- 

 ricultural Exhibition. 



Building and work, independent of the 

 farm, induced to the keep of a heavy stock 

 of working horses, consisting of five em- 

 ployed occasionally hauling stone, sand, &c. 

 They are the same horses originally pur- 

 chased, at and since the commencement of 

 my farming operations ; having neither sold, 

 lost, nor exchanged one. The two carriage 

 horses average 20 years old each ; my favo- 

 rite of these, is quite 25 — so much for man- 

 agement in this department. The imple- 

 ments — wagons, carts, ploughs, harrows, &c., 

 &c., are in keeping with the farm, and are 

 well kept as you may have observed. 



I keep no farmer on the place, in the 

 character of manager, having never as yet 

 been able to find a man qualified to conduct 

 the operations of the yard and fiield, in maa- 



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