38 TRANSACTIONS. 



food to growing crops, acts also as a solvent to substances otherwise 

 worthless, it would relieve the agricultural public of a vast deal of 

 anxiety. 



But our remarks are already too far extended and we leave the sub- 

 ject, in the hope that the farmers of Hampshire may never forget that 

 accui'acy in conducting experiments is the only true criterion of their 

 value, either to themselves or the public. 



S. D. CROCKER'S STATEMENT. 



Much has been said, as well as written, of careful saving and judi- 

 cious application of manures. It has been estimated that many farm- 

 ers might better husband their resources and convert into manure 

 much that is now wasted. The importance of this matter, in connec- 

 tion with the farmer's success, and my hope of saving much that might 

 otherwise be lost, led me, four years ago, to adopt the practice of 

 stabling my cows at night, throvigh the summer season. 



My stable floor is covered with muck or loom, to the depth of five 

 or six inches, and this is strewn Avith leaves, straw, and anything that 

 will answer for bedding. These materials, as fast as they become 

 saturated and mixed with solid manure, are thrown, through the stable 

 window, into my hog yard ; and, here, they are subjected to a contin- 

 ual mixing process by the swine, with fresh muck, horse-manure, 

 ashes, plaster, old brine, &c., which are thrown into the hog pen, 

 from time to time. 



In the absence of a barn cellar, or sheds, this method, according 

 to my experience, creates three times as much manure, as the 

 common practice of allowing the excrements of cows to remain in the 

 open barn yard, and exposed to the wasting influences of the sun, air 

 and rain. The liquid manure, which is supposed by good judges to 

 be equal, in a given time, to the solid manure, is saved. The solid 

 niamxre, being mixed with muck and other fertilizing substances, re- 

 tains its own good qualities Avithout waste. 



I have never discovered any injury to my cows from keeping them 

 stabled, during the warm season. They have a free circulation of air. 

 With two cows, three hogs and a horse, I estimate that I make, be- 

 tween the first of April and December, forty cart loads of good ma- 

 nure; worth one dollar per load, at a cost which I think does not 

 exceed fifty cents per load. I make no account, however, of the 

 muck, except the expense of digging it in the autumn, and sledding 



