FARMS. 131 



to graze. From July 20th, to September 26th, six cows and 

 one yearling were fed from one hundred and five rods of corn 

 sowed for that purpose. The corn was sowed in drills twenty 

 inches apart, at the rate of three bushels per acre. This, with 

 one quart of meal, (rye and corn,) per day, with grazing two 

 hours in the morning, was their entire living. I have never 

 before fed so entirely upon green fodder, and think I have 

 never had stock do better. They have held their condition 

 better than ever before, which I attribute to regularity of food, 

 and freedom from the annoyance of flies. It may be thought 

 out of season to speak o^ files, but in my estimation, it is a 

 matter of no small consideration, and any who have not 

 observed it, will be surprised to notice the avidity with which 

 animals thus accustomed, will seek a retreat from these annoy- 

 ances. The subject of soiling is, I am happy to know, being 

 brought into more general practice by agriculturists in this 

 vicinity, and I have no doubt this, with the more thorough and 

 extensive cultivation of root crops, will rank high among 'the 

 improvements in agriculture of the present age. I have sown 

 seven-cightlis of an acre of rye, which I design for soiling in 

 the early part of next season, then use the land for a crop of 

 Swedish turnips. The barn is forty-six by sixty-five feet, with 

 eigliteen feet posts, and a basement seven feet in height. The 

 basement eighteen by thirty-two feet, is connected with the 

 room above, and is used for storing hay ; sixteen by twenty- 

 three for roots, and the remainder for stabling and manure. 

 A part of the stabling is upon a level with the main floor, and 

 directly over tlie manure cellar. Tlie swine are kept upon the 

 manure, and make themselves generally useful by composting 

 it with muck and such refuse as is afforded them. Tlie manure 

 is all kept under cover till hauled to the field, either for direct 

 application, or further composting. My cows and such other 

 stock as are kept near the barn, have been stabled at night, for 

 the last thirteen years. The chief object of this is the saving 

 of manure, which I have ever made a prominent point. Well 

 do I remember the first accumulation of manure under my 

 barn in the summer of 1855, (the droppings of two cows,) and 

 remarking to a neighbor on the number of loads of manure 

 thus produced, when he coolly replied that I might call it so 

 many loads of stuff. The barn has been re-covered and painted, 



