104 [Assembly 



four to six pigs each, A thich layer of peat is put on the floor of the 

 pen, with straw, corn stalks, and other rubbish, where it remains till 

 it is thoroughly worked up and saturated with urine, when it is thrown 

 over into the barn-yard, by the side of which the pen is built. When 

 the first layer of peat is removed, it is immediately succeeded by 

 another, and so on indefinitely. But Mr. T. is an economist in the 

 strictest sense of the word ; nothing about his farm is permitted to be 

 wasted 3 every thing susceptible of being converted into manure is sure 

 to find its way to the pig pen. In addition to this, the floors of his stable 

 are taken up, the earth dug out two or three feet in depth and then filled 

 up with peat. There it remains during the winter, absorbing the 

 urine from the cows and horses, and in the spring is dug out and 

 thrown into the barn-yard. It can readily be imagined how rich it is 

 in ammonia. On most farms a saving like this is seldom effected. 

 During heavy rains, there wiW be more or less washings from the 

 barn-yard ; but these are " headed off"." At the bottom of the yard 

 a place is hollowed out and filled with peat, which absorbs much 

 liquid manure that would otherwise be lost. This is removed when 

 necessary, and replaced with fresh peat. As before remarked, every 

 thing susceptible of being converted into manure finds its way at least 

 to the barn-yard. The peat, and all the rest of these substances, 

 (including a little lime), according to their destined application, are 

 mixed with the manure from the stable, and frequently turned ; and 

 it can well be imagined that a valuable, powerful, yet cheap fertiliz- 

 ing mass is thus produced. This is the kind of manure applied to the 

 corn under consideration, and it is undoubtedly the very best that can 

 be used for this and root crops, even on chemical principles. It may 

 be thought that the committee have gone somewhat out of their way 

 in giving these details, but Mr. Townsend's process of preparing 

 manure was too interesting to be passed over in silence ; indeed, it 

 may be said to have an important and direct bearing on the value of 

 his crop of corn. Mr. T. furnished the committee with many inter- 

 esting details in regard to the profits of his farm, all tending to illus- 

 trate a beautiful system of economy, attended with the most grati- 

 fying results; but these do not come within the province of this 

 report, already extended to a greater length than was intended. 



