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T?ie " Small Farm" principle on a large Scale. Vol. VII. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



The «• Small Farm" principle, upon a 

 large scale. 



Messrs. Editors, — Much has been said 

 of late on the superior advantages of small 

 farms; the sequel of which is, don't cultivate 

 more land than you can cultivate well. The 

 force of this, no one will pretend to gainsay; 

 although the size of farms worked upon this 

 principle, may vary very much in extent; 

 depending upon the force employed, the 

 mode of cultivation, and the lay and quality 

 of the land. But however correct the prin- 

 ciple, and conclusive the arguments in its 

 favour, there are objections and difficulties, 

 which in many instances must be, for a time 

 at least, insurmountable. 



It frequently happens that upon larire 

 farms, the situation of the buildings is such 

 as to render a division difficult and inconve- 

 nient ; sometimes the desire to retain entire 

 the patrimony of our fathers, is an equal im- 

 pediment; or we may have added to our 

 acres, with a view of dividing them among 

 a rising generation. 



Now I propose suggesting a plan for the 

 management of large farms in this section 

 of country, which appears to me to em- 

 brace the advantages of the small farm sys- 

 tem, without conflicting with any of the im- 

 pediments in the way of its adoption. And 

 though I may not add much that is new, I 

 may produce a system from abstract propo- 

 sitions, which will possess increased advan- 

 tages from being combined. 



1st. Arrangement. — Set apart for tillage 

 upon that portion of the farm best adapted 

 to that purpose, seven fields from 10 to 15 

 acres, according to the force to be employed; 

 keeping constantly in view the principle 

 upon which the system is founded, not to 

 cultivate more than you can do well; the 

 balance of the farm to be kept in grass for 

 grazing, which too, should be that part of it 

 best provided with water, shade, &c, and 

 which should be well laid down with such 

 grasses as experience has shown to be 

 adapted to the soil. 



2nd. Rotation of crops. — First year corn, 

 second, oats, spring-wheat, or barley, as cir- 

 cumstances may best suit, and clover seed, 

 a liberal allowance; 3rd. Mow first crop, 

 having as early as possible in the spring, 

 put on all the barn-yard, or long manure, 

 especial care having been taken to distribute 

 it equally over the land, so that every part 

 may at once receive its benefit, and that it 

 may the sooner be covered by the clover, 

 and thereby protected from the sun. Plough 



down the after-growth, with or without a 

 light pasturing, as the quality of the land 

 may justify, for wheat, which may be put 

 in with a common harrow or cultivator, the 

 latter of which I prefer, as it covers the 

 seed better, and leaves the surface more 

 uneven, to moulder down by the frost of 

 winter and the roller in the spring, about 

 the roots of the young plants. Sow grass 

 seed in the fall or spring, or both, as experi- 

 ence shall prove best, for without observation 

 and judgment, no theory can be successfully 

 reduced to practice. 5th and 6th. Mow first 

 crops, and pasture the after-growth. 7th and 

 last; Pasture with cows, horses, &c, the 

 standing stock of the farm ; which should, 

 upon no account, be allowed to run with the 

 fatting cattle. 



3rd. Manure. — As this is the main spring, 

 the very Philosopher's stone of the art, too 

 much attention cannot be bestowed upon its 

 preparation, preservation and use. In the 

 first place, let the cattle yard, sheep and 

 hog pens, be well covered with earth to a 

 depth proportioned to the amount of manure 

 likely to accumulate upon it, which may be 

 gathered from headlands, fence rows, or such 

 other places as may afford a ready supply; 

 and if a basin be formed below the barn 

 yard, for the reception of the liquor which 

 may escape from it, and a good deposit of 

 earth be annually supplied, with such weeds 

 and trash as may be collected, a large in- 

 crease of good manure may be obtained. 

 The hogs too, should be kept confined 

 through the winter and spring, and if fur- 

 nished with the "raw material," will manu- 

 facture a large amount of excellent manure. 



It has been ascertained by chemical expe- 

 riments, that gypsum applied to fermenting 

 manures, combines with the gases that 

 would otherwise escape, and renders thern 

 fixed, or involatile. With this view, and to 

 facilitate the decomposition of the lon<r ma- 

 nure, when it shall be applied to the land, I 

 propose mixing with the earth in the bottom 

 of the yards, and with the long manure, by 

 scattering a portion of it over the yards at 

 intervals through the winter, a sufficiency 

 of gypsum to produce that result; the 

 amount can be best ascertained by expe- 

 rience. Perhaps a ton to fifty cords, or an 

 hundred common cart loads would be suffi- 

 cient. If there should still be an escape of 

 foetid gas, the quantity could be increased. 



I have said that the long manure should 

 all be applied to the clover. This would be 

 returning to the soil all its produce, except 

 the grain, which shall be sold; and with an 

 application of gypsum and ashes to the corn, 

 {if it should require it.) with the proposed 

 rotation of crops, alternating dry with green, 



