ON FARMS. 33 



old, 5 one year old next spring. Also, I horse, 2 colts three 

 years, 1 two years old, last spring, and lEive swine. 



I commenced cutting my cornstalks the 2d of Sept. and fed 

 them out to the cows through the month. I let some stand 

 until harvest. Where the stalks were first cut, < the corn was 

 gathered while I was confined ; but where last cut, the corn 

 was riper than where they stood until harvest. A basket in 

 which tlie corn was measured, was filled with ears from each ; 

 that where the stalks were cut made one quart more than where 

 they where not cut, besides the loss of stalks ; a bushel weighed 

 60 lbs. 



I consider a crop of wheat as very uncertain. I have known 

 the most promising blighted by sudden change from heat to cold^ 

 and by a heavy shower in a very warm day. Leached ashes 

 I consider a very good manure for wheat. 



The labor on the farm has been my own time, George Thur- 

 low's, my son, and one hired man at eleven dollars a month, 

 for eight months, and 29 days at one dollar a day. Also, a young 

 woman 24 weeks at one dollar per week. My wife superin- 

 tends the da iry^ Before ploughing we earned 53 dollars, besides 

 the business of farm. 



We have spent 65 days in taking down and rebuilding a barn, 

 and 70 days in removing loam and gravel, and laying stones 

 for the foundation of the barn and shed, besides the labor of 

 the team ; have made and new laid 50 rods of stone wall ; and 

 dug 120 rods of ditch, 70 on land purchased last spring, which 

 is 3 by 2 feet ; set 200 apple trees ; also, set about 400 grafts. 



Since the 5th of October I have been confined to my bed 

 and house, with a fractured hip^ and until lately have been un- 

 able to do any thing. 



Our custom is to drive the cows to pasture and feed the 

 swine before breakfast. And to go to field in summer at six 

 o'clock. Luncheon with tea or coffee between 9 and 10. Dine 

 at half past twelve — our drink cider and coffee ; tea at 5 — if de- 

 sired, milk after ; beer, water, and milk and water, is all the 

 drink required in the field. The grass that grew on one half 



