508 [Assembly 



Judge Van Wyck — ^I suggest whether the expense of soiling, all 

 things considered, does not overbalance the profit. It might do per- 

 haps on a small farm, but on 200 or 250 acres, as the price of labor 

 is now and has always been, I think that the profit would be coun- 

 terbalanced by the expense. It is true that more manure is collected 

 on land, but that which is dropped on the pasture is not lost, it sinks 

 into the soil and becomes mixed with the grass, and especially the 

 surplus or decayed parts that fall away. 



Dr. Field — One of the greatest detriments to farmers, is prejudice, 

 prejudice I may say, stereotyped all over the land. Soiling, however 

 valuable, is not yet appreciated. I advise others to imitate the ve* 

 nerable General Johnson' — the farmer for profit — of 150 acres of 

 land — he only cultivated about one-third — but that is a perfect cul- 

 ture. He lets out the rest of his farm. 



Mr. Wakeman — Gouverneur Morris, on his large farm has used 

 the corn-stalks — planted broad cast, and if I recollect right, he re- 

 marked, that the saving by it was one half. Soiling is best near 

 cities where lands are high priced. 



Mr. Blyde — All depends on the value of the land. There is no 

 question at all, that near this city, soiling is best, it will enrich the 

 land, while in grazing, the manure is chiefly lost, and it is not diffi- 

 cult to show what the loss is compared with soiling. As to the 

 headlands they can be used to great advantage, and so can peat muck, 

 in the barn yard. I have tried the latter, and it is a fine absorbent 

 of the liquid manure. With the change from one kind of feed to 

 another, the cattle feel the change. 



Dr. Field — Green feed produces sometimes diarrhoea, and dry feed 

 stops it. But cattle can become habituated to green feed. A milk- 

 man buys cow^s, feeds and milks them, until they run down to five or 

 seven quarts a day — then suspends milking them, and fattens them 

 for beef 



