57 



vinced that it is much better for any one to follow the same, or a 

 similar coui'se, than to cart manure from his barn, to any consid- 

 erable distance, and attempt to cultivate any land suitable for 

 grass. I have mowed grounds which had been laid down in this 

 way, for five or six years in succession, and obtained good crops, 

 — giving them, however, a top-dressing of compost manure, or of 

 ashes, once, or at most twice, in the meantime. 



My method of cultivation has in general been this : to turn the 

 sward with a large plough, to the depth of six to eight inches, 

 according to the nature of the soil and the crop to be grown. 

 This is followed by a heavy roller, leaving the surface flat and 

 smooth. Corn and potatoes have usually been the first crop. 

 The ground has been furrowed only in one direction, at the dis- 

 tance of three and a half feet between the furrows ; and hills 

 have been made two and a half feet apart. I have sometimes 

 spread green manure on the sod and ploughed it in ; but more 

 frequently have spread green manure after ploughing, and har- 

 rowed it in, and then put into each hill half a shovelful of well- 

 rotted compost. Formerly the subsoil plough was made to follow 

 the grass plough, in the same furrow, loosening the earth to the 

 depth of twelve to sixteen inches ; and the benefit of this opera- 

 tion was very striking, particularly in a time of severe drought. 

 Corn, upon ground treated in this way, was then perfectly green 

 and vigorous, while that upon ground under the common treat- 

 ment, was pale and parched. Nothing but the want of means to 

 employ a double team, prevented the subsequent regular use of 

 this plough in breaking up land. The use of the subsoil plough 

 has given place to that of the Michigan or sod and subsoil plough, 

 which requires less team, and may be, in most cases, equally ser- 

 viceable. Either plough is of peculiar value when, as in my own 

 general method of cultivation, it is intended to lay down the laud 

 the second 3"ear, Avithout disturbing the buried sod. 



I have experimented, also, in the mixing of crops, and am sat- 

 isfied of the great benefit resulting from the practice. I have 

 planted corn and potatoes in this way ; planting first four rows of 

 corn, and then two rows of potatoes ; thus covering the acre, and 

 presenting a larger surface of corn to the air and light, than can 

 be done in the usual way, — an advantage worth consideration, — 

 and at the same time protecting" the other crop from scorching 

 suns in a dry season. I think the cultivation of mixed crops is 

 deserving of more attention ; and we have in our reports sufficient 

 proof of its productiveness to encourage the practice. 



It has been my custom to plant at least half an acre of corn 

 for green fodder, — preferring the sweet corn, or that and com- 

 mon field corn mixed, rather thar^ the southern flat sort, — rplant- 

 ing it very thiek, in furrows two and a l^alf feet apart. I usually 

 put green qianure into the furrows, but have found guano a?]d 



