No. 129.] ISa 



During the past year I have removed miles of fence and intend 

 to continue the work of destruction until the outside fences only 

 remain. So soon as our Legislature pass a law making it incum- 

 bent upon all to keep their cattle within their own domain, that 

 too shall follow the rest. I am convinced that the only way to 

 keep stock, such as horses, milch cows and working oxen, when 

 land is valuable, is to soil them. The advantages are numerous : 



1st. No cross fences are required on the farm. 



2d. The cows give twice as much milk as when running at 

 large. 



3d. They are fit for the butcher in the fall, being fat. 



4th. They are always on hand to be milked. 



5th. They are never worried by being driven to and from the 

 pasture. 



6th. All the refuse grass of the farm is eaten. 



7th. Eight acres will keep them longer than forty would de- 

 pastured, 



8th. The fields are always in order, not being poached by their 

 feet in wet weather. 



9th. Food may be cut and carried to them in about the same 

 time usually consumed in driving them long distances to and 

 from pasture. 



10th. The amount of manure made is enormous, each cow 

 voiding 12,000 pounds of urine in a year, which is absorbed by 

 the refuse on the yard, and the carbonic acid and ammonia, re- 

 tained by means of sulphate of lime aiid charcoal dust. If the 

 farmer would adopt the soiling system, he would obtain at least 

 nine times more manure than he does by depasturing ; and I here 

 assert without the fear of contradiction, that without the aid of 

 manure no man can make a living in our section of the United 

 States by farming. 



