372 HOUSATONIC SOCIETY. 



about five inches deep ; harrowed thoroughly. Ploughed 

 again in August, and again the first week in September. 

 Wheat sown the tenth of September, two bushels per acre. 

 Seed soaked twelve hours in strong brine, and then rolled in 

 quick-lime, about one bushel of lime to four of wheat. Think 

 wheat is not as likely to smut when sowed in the above man- 

 ner. I used twenty-five bushels of the Soule wheat, and five 

 of the Mediterranean. Harvested the Mediterranean about 

 the 20th of July, and the Soule ten days later. Yield, sixty 

 bushels of the Mediterranean, weighing sLxty-four pounds per 

 bushel, and three hundred and twenty-two of the Soule, 

 weighing sixty-five pounds per bushel, making three hundred 

 and eighty-two bushels, by measure, and four hundred and 

 thirteen bushels, by weight. I passed through the field with 

 my boys and hired man, about the first of June, taking out a 

 few scattering stalks of rye, and all foul weeds that we saw. 



EgremonTj July, 1852. 



>S. H. BnshnelVs Statement. 



My field of corn, which yovi examined, contains three acres. 

 It is not in a high state of cultivation, nor is it any better, or 

 received any extra culture, more than my other plough land. 

 It was mowed last year. The year before, I took off a crop 

 of rye, which was sowed after oats. This spring, before plough- 

 ing, I put on some twelve or fifteen loads of very coarse straw 

 manure to the acre, and ploughed it under, eight inches deep, 

 harrowed it, and furrowed it deep, going twice in a row, about 

 three feet apart; marked it across the furrows, making thirty 

 hills on the square rod, which, I think, is about the right num- 

 ber. I put in the hill a shovelful of muck — nothing but 

 muck — which had lain in the barnyard during the winter. 

 And here I wish to bear testimony to th"e value of muck, or 

 swamp mud, as a manure, particularly in the raising of corn, 

 having used it successfully for a number of years. Early in 

 the fall, I get large quantities of it into my barnyards, filling 

 up all the low places, putting it under my cowhouses, stable 

 windows, and sheds. Here it becomes warmed up, absorbs 

 all the urine and other liquids of the yard, which it retains? 

 and makes it as valuable as the manure from the stable, for 



