THE GENESEE FARMER. 



85 



A WORD MOEE ON BAEN-YAEDS. 



Messes. Editoes: — The comments of " B." on a 

 skort article in the July number of last year, on 

 the construction of barn-yards, has once more 

 " stirred me up to the subject." He stated that he 

 would not then attempt to give a better plan. 

 Thinking that he might do so at some future time, 

 I have deferred writing, waiting to see what might 

 be offered; but as nothing has appeared, I have 

 concluded to add a few more words on the subject 

 myself. 



The plan proposed was to make the yard in such 

 a manner that no water could run out of it. The 

 objectien was, it would not be practicable ; but if 

 so, would be too wet and miry. With a small yard, 

 and buildings without conductors at the eaves, or 

 if water from the surface of the ground adjacent 

 should run into it, the objection would be a good 

 one ; but these circumstances are not generally be- 

 yond the control of the farmer. As our ideas ex- 

 tend on this subject, why not extend, if necessary, 

 tke area of the yard? Move back the fence and 

 straw-covered sheds, and make sufBcient room, so 

 that the large basin in the center or at one end 

 will not incommode either man or beast. The 

 buildings should be spouted, and water on the out- 

 side prevented from running into the yard. Then 

 what falls directly from the clouds into it would 

 be absorbed by the strawy portion of the manure 

 or run into the hollow of the yard. The main part 

 of the yard should be nearly level, but with suffi- 

 cient inclination toward the center, so that the sur- 

 plus water would settle into it. If the soil is sandy 

 or porous, the reservoir should be bedded with 

 stone and clay. A yard constructed in this man- 

 ner would not only save tiiat rich portion of the 

 manure which is so frequently lost, but it would 

 also be far more comfortable for stock than one 

 where, in a rainy time, tlie water, doubting whicli 

 way to go, runs about, forming dirty puddles all 

 over the yard, but finally "clears out," taking, like 

 a thief, what don't belong to it. 



The writer has no model yard as yet, but he in- 

 tends to make one before long ; and if at any time, 

 when crossing it, he should sink, legs, body, and 

 axras, up to the chin, as he gazed around upon the 

 hungry upland he would consider himself on the 

 pinnacle of hope ratlier than in the "slough of de- 

 spond." Such a catastrophe would give one some 

 idea of the amount of manure in store, and of the 

 value of one's individual self as an article in the 

 world of manures. After due reflection, and hav- 

 ing fully defined his position, he would halloo to 

 the boys to come and cai't him out; and wherever 

 he might roll and shake himself, there would no 

 doubt be luxuriant crops for many years to come. 

 When a yard is small, and can not be enlarged 

 on account of permanent sheds, a reservoir should 

 be made on the outside. It should be water-tight 

 and covered. In it should be placed absorbent 

 earth, which, when saturated with the liquor of 

 the yard, would be excellent manure. Draw out 

 and replenish as often as circumstances require. 

 Without the earth, the .contents of the pit might 

 be drawn out and distributed over the fields by a 

 watering cart. Where loam or muck could be ob- 

 tained, without drawing it too great a distance, I 

 should prefer the former course. It may be said 

 by some that such a practice is attended with con- 



siderable labor and expense. It is true ; but I be- 

 lieve it would pay. In no branch of their business 

 do farmers practice more false economy than in the 

 management of their manure. All concede its 

 value, high praise i-s bestowed upon it, "it is the 

 life of the farm," "an inestimable treasure," "a 

 gold mine." But "what's in a name?" Manure 

 witliout the essence is like a man without princi- 

 ple — of little use for any place. If farmers in this 

 section would raise money on the end of wheat 

 straw, they must not only sow an early variety of 

 wheat, but they must sow it early, and also save 

 and apply to the land that liquid and richer portion 

 of manure which now so generally runs to waste. 



Adams's Basin, 2\^. Y. J. A. 

 1 ^ I ti — ■ 



LARGE vs. SMALL HOGS FOR FEEDEfG. 



Editoes Gbnesee Faemee: — An article in your 

 November number of last year requests such of 

 your subscribers as have tried both the large and 

 small breeds of hogs, to give their experience in the 

 premises. Having had somewhat of a costly expe- 

 rience, I give it for what it is worth ; and if one 

 farmer shall thereby be enabled to save what I 

 have lost, I shall be amply repaid for the trouble of 

 writing this article. 



In the spring of 1855, I procured from Illinois 

 some thorough-bred Suffolk hogs of the Stickney 

 stock. This is the most popular breed of sra.ill 

 hogs in the United States, and I confidently expect- 

 ed a rapid improvement in ray hogs. Some of the 

 half-bloods made fine hogs, but the three-quarter- 

 bloods were beautifully less. The full-bloods raised 

 were pretty little hogs, but slow of growth^ and so 

 very delicate that I lost more than half of them 

 after they were weaned. Some got so badly frost- 

 bitten that they died, some had the quinsy, and 

 some died without any known cause. 



In September, 1857, I had a litter of about 35 

 three-quarter-bloods. They were well housed, 

 bedded with leaves, and, with the sows, had all the 

 corn they would eat through the winter, and well 

 fed through the summer, with the run of good 

 clover pasture. Not wishing to be the laughing 

 stock of the neighbors, I was determined to make 

 something nice out of them. But they would 

 neither grow nor fatten "«i a7iy a^e." Last fall I 

 slaughtered them the 15th of November, and the 

 heaviest one would not weigh 100 lbs. nett. I am 

 ashamed to make such a confession, but facts are 

 facts. I will only add that they were better fed 

 and cared for than any hogs I ever raised. Their 

 whole history is a mystery to me. My conclusion 

 from my experience with them is, that, being lit- 

 tered in the fall, and constitutionally very delicate, 

 and having but little or no hair onthem, they got 

 so chilled "through the winter that they could not 

 recover. I had but thirteen out cf the thirty-five 

 to slaughter, as the balance died through the win- 

 ter and summer. My -only, regret is that they did 

 not all die when ^they were young. This breed 

 having been established in a climate of much more 

 uniform temperature (England), I suppose renders 

 them unable to withstand the vicissitudes of our 

 climate. Gut of some four pairs brought to this 

 county from different parts of the United States, I 

 believe my experience has been as favorable as any. 

 You can readily infer from the above that I wm 

 soon satisfied with the small breed of hogs. 



