454 NORFOLK SOCIETY. 



twenty acres of land, the system is very important ; a knowl- 

 edge of my "experience and practice" may be useful, I there- 

 fore, comply with your request. 



Between the years 1813 and 1821, I managed my farm, 

 according to my own judgment, with satisfactory success. My 

 attention was early drawn to the subject of "soiling" milch 

 cows, in the summer season, instead of keeping them in pas- 

 ture, from the following circumstances : My farm consisted of 

 about 170 acres of good loam, level, without stone, almost 

 every square foot of which might be easily made subject to 

 the plough, with the exception of about twenty acres, which 

 was salt marsh. Nearly half of it had been always applied 

 to pasture, and had upon it, by estimate, four or five miles of 

 interior fence, which could not have cost, originally, less than 

 $1,600, and being post and rail, annually cost about $60 in 

 repair. My farm being compact, the annoyance of having 

 fifteen or twenty head of cattle driven night and morning to 

 and from pasture, the loss of time in turning the plough, 

 owing to the number of interior fences, and the loss of surface 

 capable of being submitted to the plough, owing to the many 

 head-lands, all drew my attention to the subject of "soiling," 

 and its effects. 



I found that European writers maintained that sbc distinct 

 advantages were to be attained by the practice of " soiling," 

 over that of pasturing cattle in the summer season. 



1. It saved land. 



2. It saved fencing. 



3. It economized food. 



4. It kept the cattle in better condition and greater comfort. 



5. It produced more milk. 



6. It increased, immensely, the quantity and quality^ of the 

 manure. 



Satisfied, in my own mind, of the beneficial effects of the 

 practice, I adopted it in the year 1815, and adhered to it until 

 the year 1822, keeping from fifteen to twenty head of milch 

 cows with such satisfactory success that in the year 1820 and 

 1821, at the request of the Trustees of the Massachusetts So- 

 ciety for Promoting Agriculture, I published in their Reposi- 

 tory two essays, entitled " Remarks on Soiling," and which 

 may be found in Vol. VI., pages 113-125, and in pages 334- 



