158 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



deriving much benefit from its use. Professor Rogers says the Hme used for agricultural 

 purposes sliould be what we call here the blue limestone, and adds that it should be the 

 blue-black limestone. My last kiln used ou land was all of this kind of stone, except the 

 arches, which were of the gray limestone. This Iviln was of more service to my land than all 

 the lime I ever purchased and all I ever had biu-netl. I will now tell you, as nearly as I 

 can, how I proceeded to use this lime. First, I had a large field nicely plowed which had 

 been much exhausted by bad management — much of it quite bare, and the soil washed 

 away. On the third day after the last wood was put in the kihi, it was cool enough to han- 

 dle. I commenced loading and hauling die lime, first going over die field and putting down 

 .small pieces of sliingles where I wished half a bushel put in a pile. I laid oft' 3.5 acres of 

 this field, part to contain 30, 40, .50, and part 60 bushels unslaked Hme. Fortunately for me, 

 Providence sent a line shower of rain soon after we finished hauling out the lime. This put 

 the lime into Hour. For fear another shower woidd put it into dough, I put all hands to 

 spreading ; then put four of my harrows on it, and I think we hanowed it three times to in- 

 corporate the land with the lime ; I dien sowed it to w-heat, putting it in in the usual way. 

 Having stirred it so nuich, the land and lime were well mixed, and produced me a very fine, 

 clear crop of wheat, with a strong growth of clover. I have since had this field in corn — a 

 ■fine crop — following it with wheat, which turned out uncommonly well. It is now well set 

 in clover. This is the only field that I can boast of as being much benefited by lime, and 

 this I attribute mostly to using the right kind of limestone. I have several times used lime 

 in compost-heaps with a good eflect. 



4th Qnestion. Is plaster of Paris or gypsum much used; in what way ; in whatquantity; 

 with what eflect — and what are the objections, if any, to the use of it ? What is the cost of it 

 here per bushel ? 



Ansicer. Plaster of Paris is much used here, mostly sown on clover, at the rate of 2 to 5 

 pecks on the acre, and is frequently mixed with an equal quantity of ashes (leached) ; plas- 

 ter is also used to roll wheat and Indian corn in ; it is sometimes sown on the growing wheat 

 — but this should be done not later than 15th March, for fear it will ripen early. You will 

 seldom hear any one'complain of the use of plaster but those who ovevstoclc themselves and 

 leave no grass on the land. 1 have used jilaster for about thirty years pretty freely, and 

 have not as yet felt any loss, but certainly a gain, from its use. It must be used judiciously. 

 I have this spring and summer usedD to 10 tons, and some of my neighbors have used it as freely 

 as myself, and heretofore with profit. Plaster costs us here about 40 to 42 cents per bushel. 



.5th Question. Have your lands generally diminished or increased in produce the last 

 twenty years ? 



Answer. Our lands in this vicinity have generally increased, and my own opinion is that 

 there is a spirit of improvement pervading among the farmers for several miles around us. 



6th Question. Might not oxen be more extensively substituted ibr horses to advantage for 

 field laboi- — I mean lor the plow ? 



Ansu'cr. Oxen have been of liut little use for plowing ; those who have them use them 

 mosdy in hauhng out feed for catde during the winter and spring months. The use of oxen 

 is not so well understood as it is in the North. If we could obtain those having a quick step 

 they would be more used. 



7th Question. Does or does not the Valley suffer more than fonnerly — say 40 or 50 yeai-s 

 ago — by drourii ? 'What say the old people .' Was it not Icirmerly better watered than now ? 



Aiiswer. Having resided in the Valley from 1790 to the present time, I can perhaps say 

 as much as most persons ou this subject. Judging from many springs that were, fifty odd 

 years ago, considered good springs, affording plenty of water, whicli are now dry, I must 

 couclude there is not as much w^ater as formerly, [the same answer holds good in the lime- 

 stone part of Monroe County.] 



8th Question. The usual wages given for white labor by the moiidi? Are they conveniently 

 to be had of a good description ? 



A?is2cer. White laborers generally obtain from $7 to $10 per month, and good ones can be 

 obtained. 



9th Question. 'Where Negroes are allowed in meat, instead of having it cooked for them, 

 what is the average allowance in die Valley Counties for each working liand ? 



Answer. In diis vicinity I know no one who does not have the victuals cooked for his 

 slaves. Generally as much is set down to them as they wish to eat; and most of them work 

 easy and are well clothed, and on lioliduys freciuciitly dress finer lliaii their masters and 

 mistresses. [This is the universal testiniony.] 



Having answered your several questions to the best of my ablhty, I hope, if you inchne 

 to publish any part of this letter, you will be so good as to improve my language ; you will 

 readily perceive I am no grammarian. 



[Grammarian or not, I have mac^e no alterations. As to the Iraiguage, it is 

 just the right sort—plain and clear, without flourish or pretension.] 



I took die old Amfrican Farmer for many ycai-s, and think I derived mucli information 

 from it. I have the different volumes tied together, with a view of having them bound. I 

 have taken the Albany Cultivator for several years, and am much pleased with it. 1 hope 

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