63 



STATEMENT OF JOSEPH HORTON. 



To the Committee on Improved Pasture Lands. Gentle- 

 men: — The land that I offered for your inspection, has been 

 in pasture a great many years, — not having been ploughed or 

 cultivated within the memory of my oldest neighbors, — and 

 measures 152 sq. rods. The soil varies from a stiff clay to a 

 light, yellow loam ; and the surface, for the most part, is cov- 

 ered with small, Ioav bushes. 



Treatment. With a strong pair of oxen and a plough, — 

 and I find that a medium-sized plough, with a straight, sharp 

 coulter reaching to the plough-point, is the best, — I plough off 

 the hillocks and ridges, frequently assisting the team by cut- 

 ting through the roots with an old axe. After ploughing I 

 leave the furrows exposed to the sun for a few days, and 

 then cut and cart into a heap to burn. 



A fire is started at once, and is kept burning until every- 

 thing is consumed. The field was then ploughed, rolled, and 

 harrowed, in the usual manner, and seeded to Winter Rye, 

 nine cartloads of ashes, the product of the fire, being applied 

 as a dressing. 



The next spring the piece was sown to grass, as the rye, 

 which looked well in the fall, was badly winter-killed. I got 

 but ten bushels of rye. The following gives the cost of the 

 improvement : — 



Dr. 



To 2 men and 1 pair of oxen ploughing off sods 1 day |(5 00 

 " " " " clearing " 2 days 12 00 



" " " *' ploughing " 1 day 6 00 



To 1 man and 1 pair of oxen harrowing & rolling 1 day 4 00 

 To 2 men and 1 pair of oxen spreading ashes 1-2 day 3 00 

 Cost of seed, — rye and grass 3 00 



$34 00 



