■ 35 



designed for stocks, leaving all others to grow, and even the 

 suckers Avhich shoot out afterwards, except when they interfere 

 with the grafts. In the second year, more of the original branches 

 may be removed, and a portion of the suckers : the third year, 

 all but the grafts. The advantage of this method is, that the tree 

 becomes more symmetrical in its growth, and sooner attains a 

 head than by the other method. 



Of the small fruits raised for the market, the currant forms our 

 principal crop. Qf this fruit we raised, in 1855, three hundred 

 and forty bushels ; in 1856, two hundred and ninety ; in 1857, 

 two hundred and eighty ; and the present season, four hundred 

 and thirty. They are grown chiefly in the shade of fruit trees, 

 as the most profitable crop we can raise there ; receive an annual 

 manuring in the Fall, of good barnyard manure partially rotted, 

 and two or three ploughings and hoeings during the season. The 

 cost of picking the fruit is a considerable item, being nearly a 

 fourth part of the entire proceeds. The expense of cultivation is 

 no greater than that of corn or potatoes. 



Our Neat Stock is of the native breed, with, perhaps, a mix- 

 ture, in one or two instances, of the Durham blood. 



We keep seven head of cattle in Summer — five cows and two 

 oxen ; allow the cows what pasturage we have, and when that is 

 short, feed with grass and corn fodder at the barn. This is oar 

 only experience with soihng. 



in Winter, we have usually kept from seven to ten head, 

 upon long feed, giving with hay one peck of roots per day to each 

 head. 



We sometimes raise the most promising of our heifer calves. 

 Our mode of feeding and managing them is, to allow them to feed 

 from the cow for one month after birth. They are then tied out 

 to grass, having meal and water placed within their reach, and 

 are allowed the udder once a day for two or three weeks longer, 

 when, if found to wean easily, they are separated from the cow 

 altogether. In Winter we give them much the same treatment 

 as to milch cows, taking care to keep them warmly sheltered. 



We do not raise our swine, but purchase them when two or 

 three months old, and fatten them, chiefly upon meal and the 

 refuse of the farm and kitchen. We have no data upon which to 

 base an opinion as to the cost or profits of pork raising. 



In composting, our practice is to mix loam with the products of 

 the sty and barnyard, work over the same in a heap once or twice 

 during the Summer, and apply the compost as a top-dressing to 

 grass lands, as before stated, in the Fall or Winter. 



We employ both native and foreign workmen ; but consider the 

 former generally superior in skill and ability to plan and carry 

 out work, if not always equal to the latter in strength of muscle 



