64 tra:nsactions, 



be laid on each side and the whole covered first with a little straw, 

 then sods inverted, and the upper part filled with finer earth. In this 

 way I have made within- a fjw j^ears about seventy-live rods which do 

 well. After these, deep main drains were propi'rly made, all un- 

 necessary ditches were filled, and then the land was ready for the 

 plough. I ploughed, for corn, turf land in autumn, about seven 

 inches deep, and prepared at the same time — if possible — a pile of com- 

 pqst manure of thirty-one horse-cart loads for each acre, to be applied 

 in the Spring and harrowed in. The ground being planted with corn 

 and kept even, I have succeeded in getting good grass by sowing 

 seed among the corn and working it in in August. Sometimes I give 

 the land a second ploughing and seed down with oats. 



In this way I have been over the sixteen acres, draining, planting, 

 and seeding. The last piece of rough, low, unproductive ground has 

 been made smooth and I trust will prove to be productive by a differ- 

 ent process, a plan recommended by Mr. Buckminster of the Massa- 

 chusetts Ploughman ; that of seeding immediately upon the inverted 

 sod, which cannot be too highly recomm.ended for low ground. As 

 your committee saw this ground, before and after the operation, it is 

 needless for me to enlarge upon it. 



While I have been engaged in carrying out these principal objects, 

 I have been constantly experimenting on a small scale for my own 

 benefit ; but, if it Avill be proper here and of any use to others, I will 

 mention some, which, although they may not have been made with 

 that exactness which might be desirable, yet are satisfactory to me. 

 Some of the experiments have already been mentioned, and I may 

 add that my experiment in subsoiling — though cattle-show orators 

 may keep telling us to plough deep, that we have strata of farms (no 

 one knows how many) underneath those we now till — has not been 

 the most flattering. I have no doubt that subsoiling upland, the 

 present year, Avould have operated well; but, in ordinary seasons, 

 low lands deeply ploughed retain too much moisture, which retards 

 the ripening of the crop. 



Ploughing in buckwheat or Indian corn to enrich sandy land, I am 

 satisfied is a long process. Salt to kill worms, and oyster-shell lime 

 to cut up moss and make corn grow, may answer in some locations, 

 but something else, or perhaps nothing is better. Guano harrowed 

 in for corn, has been dear manure to me. Many think there is econ- 

 omy in boiling sour apples for hogs, but sour meal and milk make 

 sweet pork fast enough. 



1 have been in the habit of keeping a good supply of earth during 

 the summer months in the bottom of the barn-yard, stable, hog-pen, 

 privy, and sink hole, to absorb the valuable liquid and with the ma- 

 nure to be harrowed in for corn. The winter made manure is 

 ploughed in on corn-stalk or stubble land. I never mean to allow 

 the air to become impure about the buildings from the waste of fer- 

 tilizing matter, but have earth at hand to cover every foul spot; thus 

 having the comfort of a wholesome atmosphere, and at the same tim© 

 saving food for crops. 



