48 



Emery's seed-sower. This costs $14, but its cost would be re- 

 paid every year, if only used to plant corn fodder : and besides 

 this, all other small seeds, such as turnip, cabbage and beet, and 

 beans, peas, &c., can be planted "with it. 



I have fed mowing grounds in the fall but little, and am aban- 

 doning the practice altogether. I mow from sixteen to twenty 

 acres of English grass, and get from twenty-four to thirty tons of 

 hay. I seldom cut less than one ton, and usually not more than 

 two tons per acre. I use top dressing considerably ; spread 

 eighty loads on four or five acres of mowing land last fall, but am 

 not fully decided as to its economy. I should be governed by 

 circumstances in the use of it. 



I have sometimes seeded down land Avith rye sown in the fall, 

 but usually with oats in the spi'ing. My success has been good in 

 both Avays, especially when I have spread fifty or sixty bushels of 

 ashes to the acre, and worked them in Avith the seed, which is the 

 best Avay of applying ashes on my land. The grass seed used has 

 generally been one bushel of red-top, ten or fifteen pounds clover, 

 and a peck of herds-grass per acre. But this is too light seeding, 

 and more seed Avill be used in future. Bushing, rolling, and a 

 clean picking of the stones have always folloAved seeding, so as to 

 make smooth work for the scythe and horse-rake. A mowing 

 machine could not be used on my fields, until they are larger than 

 they are noAV. All the hay is usually consumed on the farm ; 

 none has been sold from the farm for ten years past. 



In the Avinter, I have sometimes sold milk, carrying it six miles 

 tAA^o or three times a Aveek. But it is preferable to make butter, 

 Avhen the Avork can be done in the family, and Avithout extra help. 

 My butter has usually been sold for tAventy-five cents per pound. 



I do not raise any stock, but depend on purchasing a supply 

 from others. I purchase such coavs as may be for sale, often 

 those that are unruly on farms not so well fenced as mine. 

 When past seven or eight years old, they are usually fed highly, 

 till in good condition for the butcher. They have often been 

 milked, however, CA'ery day for tAvo, and even three years. By fol- 

 lowing this method, I do not get many extra coavs, but while I keep 

 them, get a large average amount of milk per year, usually six to 

 eight quarts per day from each cow, during the year, Avhich is 

 much more than cows ordinarily yield, going dry oftentimes three 

 or four months. I certainly Avould not recommend my practice 

 for general adoption, but somebody must fatten the old farroAV 

 cows, and I think my method is a good one for that purpose. 



My hoed crops, for a few years past, have been potatoes and 

 garden vegetables. Have sometimes raised cabbages to the value 

 of $'.tO ; peas, $;S0 ; sweet corn, !|20 ; and beets, beans, &c., in 

 a similar proportion. Have not made this sort of cultivation a 

 large business, but preferred such crops to Indian corn. 



