1872.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
299 
to their strength in use. While we need to 
have them light, they must be strong, and the 
form that will best include these two requisites 
is the best to use. In figs. 1 and 2 we give 
v forms of double and single trees which have 
been used by us for many years in farm work 
and in heavy lumbering, and we consider them 
preferable to any other. The double-tree has 
the three holes in line, and is strengthened by 
light iron bands, so placed as to resist the ten- 
dency to rupture the wood. This enables them 
to be made much lighter than they otherwise 
could be to be equally strong. Fig. 2 shows a 
single-tree with the "belly" placed in the front. 
There it is of greatest use in resisting strain ; 
when placed behind it is of the very least ser- 
vice. We have to acknowledge a communica- 
tion from Prof. Miles, of the State Agricul- 
tural College of Michigan, on this subject, 
which we should gladly publish had we space, 
but as he entirely indorses our views as to the 
effects of uneven pulling in the several shapes 
it may be made to take, its purpose is accom- 
plished in this earlier prepared article. We 
hope the matter is now finally set at rest. 
A Case of Mixed Husbandry. 
We have no doubt that in all the older States, 
near good markets, mixed husbandry is better 
both for the farmer and the farm. The grain 
farms of the West are deteriorating, and the 
plantations of the South are becoming barren 
by the persistent cultivation of cotton and to- 
bacco, without fertilizers. Every crop impover- 
ishes the land and takes something from the 
capital of the land-holder. With mixed hus- 
bandry it is quite possible to return to the soil 
more than is carried off every year. The annual 
sales may be steadily increased, and the soil be 
kept constantly increasing in fertility from the 
products of the farm. There is a great safe- 
guard, too, iu mixed husbandry against loss of 
crops from peculiarities of the season. The 
cultivator doe3 not put all his eggs iu one basket. 
He is certain to have something that will be 
specially adapted to the season. If great heat 
comes, and drouth, Indian corn will be success- 
ful. If he has \ wet season, grass and roots 
■will flourish, and the extra growth of potatoes, 
beets, and turnips will compensate for the de- 
ficiency in the corn-bin. Iu the variety of his 
crops he is certain to have something that will 
sell at paying prices. 
As an example of mixed farming we present 
the sales of a New England farm for the past 
year, taken from the record: 
FROM THE HERD. 
Heifers and beef cows $743 84 
Veal calves 106 73 
Batter 14!) 47 
Total from herd. $1,000 04 
FROM THE FLOCK. 
Lambs, sheep, and wool 113 76 
Pigs and Pork 250 33 
Turkeys 389 23 
Hens 46 33 
Eggs— 261 dozen 68 33 
Geese , 35 42 
Ducks 24 54 
Total animal products $1,933 98 
Potatoes 10S 12 
Lima beans 25 50 
Onions 26 77 
Straw 68 95 
Pasture 4 50 
Vegetables 130 92 
Pickles 22 50 
Cranberries 8 00 
Rve 6 85 
Wood 372 74 
Railroad ties 123 20 
Total amount of sales $2,832 03 
In looking at these figures it will be noticed 
that the sales of animal products are $1,933.98, 
while the vegetable products amount to only 
$898.05, and of this nearly $500 is for wood 
aud timber. The hay, corn, oats, rye, and the 
large root crop, carrots, beets, mangels, and tur- 
nips, were nearly all consumed upon the farm. 
And in addition to these there were large pur- 
chases of corn and hay to winter thirty head 
of horses and cattle and thirty-two sheep. 
Large quantities of peat, loam, and leaves are 
used in the yards and stables in making manure, 
aud iu addition the wood sold is exchanged for 
fertilizers. These are used extensively in top- 
dressing the meadows as well as in raising hoed 
crops. The purchase of fertilizers is regarded 
as only a temporary necessity to bring up ex- 
hausted fields. The farm will soon be in a 
condition to keep fifty head of cattle, and to 
make manure enough to keep the fields con- 
stantly increasing in fertility. 
Another item worthy of notice is that of 
poultry and its products, amounting to $563.85. 
Nearly four hundred of this is from turkeys. 
They have a good range through pastures and 
woodland, and pick up their own living mainly 
from June to October. Poultry, especially the 
turkeys, is regarded as more profitable than any 
other stock kept on the farm. The best varieties 
are selected, and none but the largest and best 
are kept for breeders. Sheep stand next to poul- 
try in the profit they yield. The sales for this 
year were from a flock of ten sheep only. They 
paid more than one hundred per cent above the 
cost of keeping. The least profitable stock 
kept is swine. They consume the buttermilk, 
and make a good deal of manure of excellent 
quality, and if there is any profit, it is found 
only in the item of manure. But it is doubted 
if swine can be raised profitably in New Eng- 
land, at the present prices of pork. Of course, 
those who know the great superiority of home- 
grown pork aud hams, will continue to raise 
enough for home consumption at whatever cost. 
But to compete in the market with Western 
pork does not pay even at the extra price which 
the Eastern article commands. The grain would 
give much better results if fed to poultry, sheep, 
or cows. With this single exception the policy 
of raising animal products for market rather than 
vegetable is regarded as sound. 
Of the common farm crops rye probably pays 
better than any other grain. There has been 
increasing demand for rye-straw in all Eastern 
markets for litter, until it is nearly as valuable 
as hay. As a rule, the straw sells for as much 
per acre as the grain, and if the grain can be 
kept at home, the farm can easily bear the loss 
of the straw. With a light dressing of manure 
it is easy to get 12 or 15 bushels of rye and a 
ton of straw to the acre. The labor is mainly 
that of getting iu the seed, and it comes at a 
season when other work is not pressing. Corn 
pays only because there is so much excellcut 
fodder in the stalks, when they are properly 
cured. Market-gardening will pay very well 
near cities and villages, where the business is 
not already overdone. But it is properly a busi- 
ness by itself, and requires more skill and capital 
than most farmers possess to make it pay. It 
wants glass, large stores of manure, which are 
likely to rob other parts of the farm, early 
hours, and close attention to marketing, which 
will absorb the attention of one man during the 
season. Eoot crops may be grown to almost 
any extent. If the market is dull, they may 
safely be fed out to stock, where they are certain 
to pay a handsome profit. With suitable soil 
and improved tools ruta-bagas aud mangels can 
be raised at eight cents a bushel, and we know 
of nothing better to make up for a short hay 
or grain crop. On any farm devoted to mixed 
husbandry roots should have a large place. 
Top-dressing Grass Land. 
It is a good thing at this season of the year, 
or before we thrash the new crops, to clean up 
the yards, sheds, aud every part of the premises 
where any kind of fertilizing material can be 
found. The amount of manure that can be 
scraped together in this way will be far greater 
than most farmers imagine. If it is allowed to 
lie spread out in the yards the fall rains will 
wash out nearly all the valuable ingredients. 
There seems to be a general idea that manure 
spread out on the land during the hot weather 
in August must lose much of its valuable in- 
gredients by evaporation. With very rare ex- 
ceptions, such is not the case. Many farmers 
would find it greatly to their advantage to draw 
out all the manure they can gather together and 
spread it out at this season on their grass land, 
either on meadows, permanent pastures, or on 
grass land that is to be plowed up next spring. 
We would specially recommend the free use 
Fig. 1. — FRAME AND SASH FOR DRYING FRUIT. 
of the harrow after the manure is spread. Go 
over it several times, aud respread any of the 
manure that the harrows may draw into heaps. 
It is a great mistake to suppose that cows and 
sheep do not like the grass after it lias been top- 
dressed. If the manure is well harrowed and 
completely broken up, the first rain will wash 
much of the soluble matter into the soil, and 
the grass will spring up and be sweet and ten- 
der, and all animals will eat it with far greater 
avidity than grass not top-dressed. 
About Drying Fruit. 
That there are better ways of preserving 
fruit than drying, all who put up their cans of 
peaches, cherries, and other fruits will admit. 
There is really nothing equal to properly canned 
or bottled fruit. But there are thousands who 
live where fruit is plenty and bottles and cans 
are scarce. It requires no little skill and some 
Fig. 
-OVEN FOR DRTING FRUIT. 
outlay to bottle fruit, and but few care to put 
up more than will be needed by their own 
families. The sun and the air are free to all, 
hence thousands dry fruit where one put- it up 
in the improved method. They may not be for 
