FARMS. 5 



This present year, 1865, 1 have cultivated the same ground I 

 did last year, with the addition of about half an acre of tough 

 ground, well covered with brush and filled with stones, some 

 loose and some tight. On the part planted last year, I spread 

 one hundred and six loads of manure and ploughed it in. Put 

 no manure in the hill. The tough part was wet and could not 

 be planted till late. As it was then planted all around it, I did 

 not try to put on manure, but put plaster in the hill and planted 

 with potatoes. I got but few potatoes from this, but the ground 

 is now well rotted and in good state for cultivation. The 

 ground planted last year has produced a fair yield of corn — a 

 part of it very good — and a few potatoes. Potatoes have done 

 poorly with me this season. From fourteen and a quarter bushels 

 planted, I have harvested but eighty-two bushels. On the 

 ground where I had buckwheat last year, I planted corn, pota- 

 toes, beans, pumpkins, gquashes, &c., in variety. I put a little 

 plaster in the hill for corn, spreading manure at the rate of 

 eighteen loads per acre. This was done after all my other plant- 

 ing, and in June. The crop, as I expected, was very light, but 

 the land is improved somewhat. I have used, in all ways, for 

 farm and garden, one hundred and sixty-six ox-cart loads of 

 manure this season. I have never bought manure or fertilizers 

 of any kind, except plaster, which works well on part of my 

 land. I practice stabling cows every night the year round, and 

 as the manure drops in the barn cellar, mix with it from time to 

 time loam or sand and muck. I cannot give you the amount of 

 corn of this year's crop, as it is not all husked, but shall prob- 

 ably have three hundred bushels of ears. Had about forty 

 bushels of apples of all kinds. There is now upon the farm a 

 stock as follows : Two horses, one pair of three-year old stags, 

 eleven cows, four yearlings and a calf. If I do not increase the 

 stock, I judge I have keeping for them and about eight tons of 

 hay to spare. I have built, last season and this, about sixteen 

 rods of heavy wall, mostly with stone taken from the fields I 

 planted. I have also cut and cleared from one field quite a lot 

 of brush. The ground I have planted two years, I intend to lay 

 down to grass next season. I sowed about two and one-half 

 acres of dry, sandy land w^th buckwheat. The dry weather 

 injured it very much. The crop amounted to twentj'-three and 

 one-half bushels. Had I not felt anxious to turn a piece of 



