154 
FACTS IN FARMING.-NO. 2. 
of the manure are just sufficient to moisten and de¬ 
compose the muck, straw, weeds, and other ab¬ 
sorbent materials, with which they are mixed. By 
this means, the whole of the excrements may be 
applied to the land, and experience has shown that 
the crops will grow better than when the manurn 
has been washed. 
The size and construction of a stercorary may 
vary, according to the number of cattle it is to con¬ 
tain, and the taste and means of the owner. As a 
general rule, the space allotted to each animal 
should not contain less than 70 square feet, with a 
bed of litter and muck 3 feet deep. The plan we 
would prefer to adopt, is shown by figures 36 and 
37, being 20 feet wide, and allowing 7 feet in 
length for each pair of animals. First, a pit may 
be dug, 20 feet wide, varying in length, according to 
the number of your herd, and from 2 feet to 2£ feet 
deep, the bottom of which may be covered with 
small stones, laid in mortar, or cement, similar to 
those used in paving streets. Next, a row of posts, 
10 or 12 feet long and 8 inches in diameter, may be 
set in the ground, 10 feet apart, on each side of the 
pit, with their top ends rising 8 feet above the pave¬ 
ment, or about 6 feet above the surface of the 
ground, for the purpose of supporting the roof. 
Then, a water-tight wall, or curb, may be construct¬ 
ed entirely around the sides and ends of the pit, 
formed of masonry, or wood work, rising about 3 
feet above the pavement, or 1 foot above the ground, 
with the exception of the gateways, which should 
be left but little higher than the surface, in order to 
admit the free passage of animals and carts. To 
the top of each row of posts, there should be spiked, 
or framed, a plate of wood, 6 by 8 inches, just 20 
feet apart, from outside to outside, for supporting 
the ends of the rafters. The pitch of the roof may 
be 7 feet, requiring rafters 4 by. 6 inches, and 12| 
feet in length, a pair of which should be spiked to 
the plates, once in every 10 feet. To the top of the 
rafters there should be confined a ridge pole, 3 by 
3 inches; and one small purlin on each side of the 
roof. The latter may be covered with rough boards, 
13 feet in length, with their ends projecting 6 inches 
at the eaves, and the cracks covered with 
battens 3 inches in width. The gable ends should 
also be covered with boards, which may be perfo¬ 
rated with holes for the passage of pigeons, into 
and out of their cotes. The roof should likewise 
be provided with saddle boards on the top, weather 
boards at the gable ends, and gutters at the eaves, 
for the better security of the manure from washing 
by rains. *. 
At each end of the stercorary, there-should be a 
gate sufficiently wide to admit the passage of a cart 
load of muck, or manure : and around the remainder 
of the ends and the sides, narrow strips of plank, or 
rails, should be nailed to the posts, so as to form a 
substantial barrier, or fence, in order to keep the 
cattle within their pale. The whole building may 
be covered with coaltar, paint, or any other ma¬ 
terials ; or it may be otherwise preserved and orna¬ 
mented, in such a manner as the caprice or ingenu¬ 
ity of the owner may invent or devise. 
On the sunny side of the stercorary, about 5 
feet from the posts, fruit trees may be planted, 
which will not only prove ornamental, but afford 
both fruit and shade. 
If the system of soiling, or stall feeding, is pushed 
to be pursued, racks and mangers can be construct¬ 
ed at the sides of the inclosure, and the cattle can 
be confined the principal part of the day, as well as 
at night, and thus effect a saving of almost a double 
quantity of manure. The pit, when empty, should 
be filled with dried peat, muck, or swamp mud, and 
littered with straw, refuse hay, weeds, or fallen 
leaves. As these substances become decomposed 
and mixed with the urine and excrement of the 
animals, more may be added, from time to time, in 
a dry, or pulverized state, with occasionally a sprink¬ 
ling of powdered plaster, but never of wood ashes 
nor lime. 
FACTS IN FARMING.—No. 2. 
Cultivation of Potatoes. —The cultivation of po¬ 
tatoes has become so precarious for the last four or 
five years, that it may be of service to publish an 
account of experiments, even if they have proved 
unsuccessful. I will therefore state my experience, 
such as it is, with a hope that it will be of more or 
less benefit to those engaged in the same calling 
as myself. 
I have planted on a variety of soils, including- a 
heavy clayey loam, gravel, black vegetable earth, 
loam, rich in animal and vegetable matter, and on a 
light, sandy loam. In the latter, I have always 
succeeded in raising sound potatoes, and I consider 
such a soil the most certain of producing a sound, 
healthy crop. 
In 1845, I planted my potatoes in April, May, 
June, and July. Those planted in May, I found 
succeeded best; and the vines of those planted late 
decayed early in September, soon after the young 
tubers began to form. 
On the 15th of May, 1846, I planted an acre of 
potatoes, on a moist loam, suitable for growing In¬ 
dian com. One part of the field, I manured with 
newly-slacked lime ; one with wood ashes : one 
with charcoal ; one with bone dust; one with 
poudrette: and another part with plaster, lime, 
ashes, and salt, mixed. The result was, that the 
largest yield and the least rot, occurred where lime 
only was applied, at the time of planting, in the 
hill. 
Observing that the two rows of potatoes next to 
the corn, which occupied a part of the last-named 
field, were entirely free from disease, and produced 
well, last season (1847), I planted a lot, alternately, 
with two rows of corn, and two rows of potatoes; 
also, a small patch exclusively with potatoes,-in 
the same field, manuring the whole with lime in 
the hill. Those produced between the corn were 
all sound, and continue so to the present time, and 
were abundant in their yield ; whereas, the others, 
planted by themselves, were more or less affected 
with disease. A portion of the ground was sub¬ 
soiled to the depth of 16 inches. On this part, the 
produce was one third greater. 
From my experience, as above, I would recom¬ 
mend potatoes to be planted among Indian corn, 
before the 15th of May, in a light, sandy loam, or 
some other dry soil, sub-soiled 16 inches deep, with 
a gill of newly-slacked lime, applied to each hill. 
D. 
Orange County, N. Y., March 27th, 1848. 
