ON FATTENING CATTLE AND SWINE. ON MANURES. 135 



SO that it is done without much expense. I would say that 

 I think it important that hogs should have a place to lie where 

 they can be free from wet or dampness, for unless they have a 

 dry bed they will not fatten. The present year we paid seven 

 cents per pound for pigs, the pork was sold at eight and one half 

 cents per pound, yielding, we consider, a fair return and a good 

 profit. WINGATE MERRILL, Chairman. 



Danvers Nov. 13, 1852. 



MANURES. 



The Committee on Manures report that no entries for prem- 

 ium on that subject, have been made the present year. Your 

 committee regret that so important a subject should not have 

 been brought to their notice by those who have made experi- 

 ments on manures, so that others of less experience might 

 have the benefit of their knowledge. 



But lest the subject should pass without note or comment, 

 I will give my own method of increasing my compost heap, 

 though I do not expect to advance any new views. 



In the first place, I cover my barn yard and cellar with peat 

 mud and soil, to the depth of six or eight inches, and yard my 

 cattle through the summer and fall, upon it. Late in the fall 

 I give it another coating of mud, about the same thickness as 

 at first, where it remains till spring. By thus managing, the 

 liquors are all absorbed, and the droppings from the cattle be- 

 come pretty well incorporated with the mud during the win- 

 ter. It is true, by the above practice, I find it a little incon- 

 venient getting about the yard at some seasons of the year ; 

 but when the yard becomes too wet and soft, I obtain, if pos- 

 sible, a few loads of coarse manure from the stables, and spread 

 over it, so that the cattle may tread it into the mud. 



In the spring, I have it thrown into large heaps under the 

 sheds in the yard, (which are made almost expressly for this 

 purpose,) and barn cellar, — where it remains a few weeks, 

 when it is forked over, breaking the lumps fine, and making it 

 fit for use. 



