SOILtKO AKD SOILING CROPS. 85 



When a strip a few rods wide is cut off, the land is at 

 once plowed with a swivel plow, the furrows being all 

 turned one way. To avoid heaping up the soil near the 

 fence, an open furrow is first plowed a few feet from it, 

 jind then closed, leaving the surface level ; the land is 

 then plowed close to the fence — if one is there — and then 

 the other land is turned, leaving no open furrow or back 

 furrow, as the furrows are all turned one way. Nar- 

 ragansett sweet corn is then planted, with the Albany 

 planter, in rows twenty-seven to thirty inches apart, the 

 seed being dropped about twelve inches apart, and three 

 to five grains in a hill. The land is kept well cultivated 

 to keep it free from weeds, and to help the crop. A boy 

 of eighteen is able to do all this work for a herd of thirty 

 cows, the expense being no more than his wages. The 

 other farm work is done by the ordinary help ; the boy's 

 work being to cut the fodder, feed the cows, and, with 

 needed help, to replant the crops at intervals of about a 

 week or less ; some plowing may be done every day. 

 Thus the work goes on all summer. 



In the winter, the fodder is cut in the upper part of 

 the stable, and the cut feed is dropped down a large 

 shoot into the feeding box under it on the floor below. 

 The large, roomy stable has ample storage for hay and 

 fodder above, and, as it is connected with the barn and 

 other buildings, the fodder is easily brought to the sta- 

 ble when a fresh supj)ly is wanted. The roots are kept 

 in a cellar under or connected with the barn, and for 

 twenty or thirty head, or less, it is no difficult matter to 

 slice a sufficient quantity every day in the feed box with 

 a spade ground sharp on the edge. Half a bushel daily 

 is the regular ration, given at noon. The cut roots are 

 sprinkled with the usual meal, and some salt. All the 

 stock are fed in the same manner; the bull and the 

 young heifers having their proportionate rations. The 

 bull gets the same as a cow, being kept in serving condi- 



