376 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



In 1845 I worked three men, three boys, and two women, one of them taken 

 off twice a day to milk, and made 38 hogsheads, weighing about 850 lbs. each ; 200 

 barrels corn, and 560 bushels wheat; some oats — the number of bushels not recol- 

 lected.* In 1846 I added one man, one girl and one boy. I made 36 hogsheads, 

 (the worms increased and destroyed a good deal,) 400 barrels corn, and 900 

 bushels wheat — the season for wheat the most unfavorable I ever knew. I 

 took no account of the quantity of oats. In 1847, with the same force, but very 

 much crippled by sickness, I have housed about 20 hogsheads tobacco, about 

 800 barrels corn, 1,000 bushels wheat, (the most sold for seed,) and 450 bushels 

 oats. I omitted to say that 1 sold my crop of wheat in 1845 for seed. The gross 

 sale of produce sent to market in 1847 will amount to about $3,400.1 



To give you an idea how my crops compare with former years, I took posses- 

 sion of this farm in 1834. Then my force was very small indeed. I had no 

 hands of my own: those I had on the farm were, one man, one woman, two 

 small boys, and one very old man and woman. My largest crop then was 100 

 barrels corn, 12 hogsheads tobacco, and about 600 bushels wheat, was the aver- 

 age. In 1836 I was married. My family consisted of myself and wife and one 

 boy ; the balance were hired servants. My family has now increased to 32 ; so 

 you see 1 have to look around me and work a little harder every day. 



I do not think any question that you have asked me impertinent ; and do as- 

 sure you that nothing could give me more pleasure than to answer them in a 

 manner that you could easily comprehend. 



Now, my dear friend, I have one request to make : — that is, that you will not 

 ridicule my letter, as you did my bad management.^ I am as unaccustomed to 

 writing long letters as you are averse to bad cultivation. 



I wish you would come to see me, and spend some time, then I could hear 

 you talk, and would show you something about tobacco that I cannot write. 



I omitted, in its proper place, to give my rotation of cultivation. When I 

 first took possession, we wrought upon Avhat we term the "/owr-field system." 

 The farm was divided into four fields. The first was to fallow for wheat, then 

 corn and tobacco, then wheat or oats, which preparad the land to receive clover 

 seed. But finding my force increasing and my farm getting no larger, I changed, 

 in order to have one-third of the farm to cultivate in corn and tobacco, and take 

 chances after them for wheat, which gives me a crop from two-thirds of the 

 farm each year. 



I should have said that tobacco should not be pressed together until it is per- 

 fectly cured ; then to stow it closely preserves its color. Probably it would be 

 proper for me to say that a single plant, or stick of plants, hanging in a house, 

 where it can have the air and influence of the sun, will cure green — it appears to 

 be necessary to fill the house properly to get it to cure well. 



I gave for Lyle's land, (160 acres,) sixty dollars per acre. The proceeds of 

 that place in 1846 were 12 hogshead stobacco, 700 bushels wheat, and 100 barrels 

 corn. That of 1847 will not exceed 8 hogsheads tobacco, 420 barrels corn, 550 

 bushels wheat, and 170 bushels oats. — The farm on which I live has 190 acres. 



Your friend, J. OWENS, Jr. 



[* This force was not, in what it would hire for, or in efficiency, more than equal to 6 able-bodied hands. 

 .Supposing the tobacco to be worth $5 a hundred on the farm, the corn 50 cents and the wheat one dollar — 

 leaving out of view the oats, pork, vegetables, cattle reared, with house-rent, firewood and living for the 

 whole family — leaving these out, and there is a product in the three items mentioned equal to $437 per 

 hand. What State or what staples or management can heat that? Ed. Farm. Lib.] 



[tThis year the force was increased equal, say, to two efficient hands, say 8 in all— sales $3,400 or S425 

 each I What is such land, with such management, not worth 1 Be it remembered that, in the mean time 

 all, black and white, have had their backs well covered, and their bellies well filled with a superabundance 

 of the best of food. Not so much ■' garden sauce " as the New England farmer ; but a good ham of bacon 

 for every .Sunday, with a fat lamb, turkey or pullet, for variety— and, withal, a better appetite, and moi-o 

 animated, cheerful and hopeful life than falls to the lot of the town millionaire, sufl'ering under the altem- 

 ating miseries of physical satiety and the sordid yearnings of avarice. Ed. Farm. Lib.] 



H If we ventured to jeer our friend about his management, it was for a want of neatness — which is so de- 

 lightful to look at — going, in a word, a lectle too much for the main chance. The plow had not run close 

 enough to the roads and fences ; and, besides, it may be that not quite force and time enough had been spar- 

 ed for the garden, and the dairy, and the poultry-yard, &c.— little matters that need not be too e.\aclly enu- 

 merated, but which every housewife who is allowed to see this, will comprehend without another word 

 from one of their oldest friends, the Ed. Farm. Lib.] 



