1870. 



NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 



267 



has been increasing for centuries. If we 

 make diligent use of the means at our dis- 

 posal, we shall have no occasion to buy com- 

 mercial manures. 



Col. J. B. Mead. — We don't get around to 

 haul in our muck piles, because we do not 

 like to hire help for that purpose when other 

 work drives, but it would be better to pay 

 money for help to draw muck and work it 

 over, than to expend it for commercial ma- 

 nures. I have, however, expended consider- 

 able for ashes, and find it pays handsomely. 

 My stocking was never better than after ashes 

 mixed with lime. 



Mr. Howe inquired if new stocking should 

 be fed off or left to rot on the ground. 



Geo. Tilson. — I cut a heavy crop of rowen 

 after taking off wheat, and then fed it all the 

 fall ; next season cut a heavy crop on the 

 same ground early, and after feeding with 

 horses six weeks, cut from one and a quarter 

 acres 136 cocks of rowen. I think superphos- 

 phate does not pay ; and I know of but one 

 man in this town, where over $10,000 worth 

 has been sold, who thinks it does. 



J. J. Washburn, — The reason why we don't 

 make and save the manures, is because there 

 is work in it. Mr. Howard often tells us to 

 save all the liquids, &c. ; but he don't do it 

 himself. I have offered him a liberal chance 

 to get muuk, but he don't touch the first load. 

 I should rim but little risk in offering this 

 village the free use of my muck swamp, only 

 one mile away. 



R. Nutting. — Any animal will sufficiently 

 fertilize soil enough to produce food for itself, 

 without deteriorating the soil, if its excre- 

 ments are aM saved, and if no grain, hay or 

 roots are sold. I prefer ashes to any com- 

 mercial manure, and next to ashes, salt. 

 Make an outlay of money for a single crop 

 to give the manure heap an impetus, and from 

 that crop go ahead increasing. 



Geo. Tilson referred to the trial of clover 

 as a fertilizer by Col. Cushman, of Roches- 

 ter, Vt. Mr. C. bought a worn out farm at 

 a very low price, and in three years raised its 

 value five or six times, simply by the use of 

 clover. 



G. F. Nutting. — Muck should be thrown up 

 in summer and covered with boards or slabs, 

 that it may get dry, and then be hauled in 

 winter. No labor can pay us better. By the 

 use of common soil as an absorbent, we sim- 

 ply save what otherwise would be lost; by 

 using muck, we add a positive element of value. 



A question, shall I haul out a pile of horse 

 manure by sledding and save time in spring, 

 or put the hogs upon it until I wish to use it ? 

 was answered by a majority of the club in 

 favor of letting the hogs work it. C. H. 

 Rowell would say, however, that if used for 

 corn in the hill on moist land, it is better used 

 as it is, and in that way is superior to any 

 other manure. j. j. w. 



Randolph, Vt., March 30, 1870. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 MY VIEWS ON COBBT RAISING. &e. 



The corn crop is, or should be, the crop of 

 Massachusetts ; if it should be, it may be. 

 The reason why it is so, is its worth in dollars 

 and cents. With one or two exceptions it is 

 the most profitable of all crops. It can be 

 produced for one dollar per bushel. At the 

 same time it is worth thirty-three per cent, 

 above this figure. Strip book-farming of its 

 gaudy trimmings, and let the cultivator exer- 

 cise his better judgment, and corn raising in 

 our own good State may take high rank among 

 its many profitable callings. From the first 

 landing of the Pilgrims to the present time, 

 it has stood as a beacon light, inviting the 

 sons and daughters of the soil to a hpppy, 

 pleasant and profitable occupation. The far- 

 mer should avoid following the deceitful Jack- 

 o'lanterns which meet us at every turn, and 

 beckon into the quagmire of speculation, and 

 which if followed lead us on and on till our 

 feet settle in the mire of utter discouragement. 



The process by which this crop is grown is 

 naturally simple, and should be so practically. 

 A farmer's outfit to commence business half a 

 century ago, did not necessarily cost more 

 than twenty-five per cent, of what it does at 

 present. The laborers on the farm were fa- 

 miliar with all its duties from childhood. 

 Crops were apportioned and varied as the 

 different soils required ; and the inmates of 

 liouse and stable were sustained principally 

 by the farm. Plenteous variety was enjoyed. 

 Body and mind maintained a steady increas- 

 ing growth. Fruitful seasons followed in reg- 

 ular succession. Happy families were reared 

 among the hills and vales, vieing with each 

 other in honest emulation; catching from one 

 and another an id«a of progress which was 

 practically improved upon, until men and 

 means were sent abroad who have built our 

 large cities, and made those improvements of 

 which we may well be proud. 



From our cities a flood of literature has 

 been sent out bearing the name of agriculture, 

 which in reality is about the same as if the 

 farmer should take the seeds of all his differ- 

 ent grains and sow them broadcast, without 

 any reference to varieties of seed or differ- 

 ence in soil. This has had the effect to en- 

 courage attempts to grow corn and other 

 grains on soil fit only for roots and grass, and 

 vice versa. Then the farmers of to-day mu^t 

 have a kit of patented tools of the latest 

 make fresh from the city, whilst his stock of 

 cattle must have the latest pedigree mark upon 

 them ; and if purchased from the stock of 

 some speculative breeder and at a fancy price, 

 so much the better, the buyer thinks. His 

 horses must be counted on for speed, so that 

 of necessity the cost is well up in the hun- 

 dreds or thousands ; and as though the evil 

 one was determined to show them ail the king- 

 doms of this deceptive world, ten or even 



