246 
HUDSON-RIVER FARMING. 
with a machine, in the form of a stone boat, con¬ 
sisting of compact oak plank, about two inches 
thick, eight feet long, and three to four feet wide, 
according to the team used, or the work required to 
be done. This has a large number of miniature, 
wrought, scymeter-shaped cutters, with a sharp, 
convex edge, from six to twelve inches in length, 
set into the plank by shanks and keyed. These 
are slipped in or out at pleasure, and may be longer 
or shorter, near or far apart, according to the con¬ 
dition of the land, or the operation required. This 
cuts the land into thin slices, while another hori¬ 
zontal cutter, reaching the whole width of the plank, 
and to which it is fastened by shanks, and at any 
required depth, but generally five or six inches, 
divides and slightly raises the whole surface, the 
heavy plank, in every instance, forming by its 
weight, an efficient clod crusher for any lumps 
upon the surface. This operation tends to fill up 
the furrows and pulverize the earth, with the slight¬ 
est expenditure of team power. Another imple¬ 
ment is frequently applied to effect this object, 
which is simply a large triangular .frame with a 
neap or tongue, with apertures, in which culti¬ 
vator teeth are placed at any required distance. 
These implements having passed at right angles, a 
sufficient number of times over the field, it is ready 
for seeding. 
For planting corn , the implement well known 
as the cornplanter is used, which, with a man and 
horse, plants 8 or 10 acres per day, furrowing, 
dropping, covering, and rolling the seed at a single 
operation, and much more perfectly, than can be 
done by hand. Carrots, beets, and parsneps are 
sown with a seed drill, that acts with equal preci¬ 
sion and despatch; while a double-moldboard 
plow throws open the ground for potatoes, and a 
furrow on either side buries them. 
The small grains are sown broadcast, and cover¬ 
ed either by the gang plow, the cultivator, or the 
crescent-tooth harrow, (before described,) as may 
be most desirable. 
The cultivation of corn and potatoes commences 
immediately after their appearance above ground, 
and before the weeds have acquired strength or 
vigor. The crescent harrow or cultivator is passed 
at right angles between the rows and close upon 
the hills. The former is often run directly over 
and through the corn. The blades, or teeth, are so 
thin and the corn has so strong a footing, that 
scarcely any injury is done, by tearing or uprooting 
it, while there is great benefit derived from the 
thorough pulverization received directly among the 
roots. 
The great secret of easy and successful cultivation , 
is, to commence early and do it thoroughly. The 
weeds are then easily subdued, and the same dis¬ 
turbance of the soil that kills them, most effectually 
aids the growth of the crop. Should the weeds at 
any time get the upper hand, by reversing the ends 
of the crescent harrow, we have a thick series of 
hooks which will tear out the weeds with their 
roots, more perfectly than can be done in any other 
way. 
Small iron moldboards for throwing either right 
or left are employed for removing the earth. One 
of these is used as the last tooth in either leg or 
wing of the cultivator, for the purpose of drawing 
the mold, or top soil, avfay from the rows, and to 
admit the sun and promote early growth. In the 
next, and any succeeding operation, these plow- 
teeth are reversed, so as continually to throw the 
earth to the plants. With the adaptation to every 
purpose, which, by a slight change these different 
implements possess, the cultivation of the crops is 
made complete, without the aid of the hoe or any 
hand implement. Judge Van B . has raised 97 
bushels of shelled corn per acre on three and a half 
acres of ground, with the use of no other implements 
than those moved by the team. 
A large portion of the farm is devoted to mea¬ 
dow, hay being one of the most profitable crops for 
export, and the character of the soil being pecu¬ 
liarly adapted to it. One field, containing over 200 
acres, has 180 in meadow, and most of the remain¬ 
der will be added to it another season. No portion 
of a field, once laid down to grass, is ever subject¬ 
ed to the plow, unless the presence of weeds, or 
diminution, of the valuable grasses, renders it ne¬ 
cessary. Most of the meadows have been laid 
down for 8 or 10 years, and one has not been dis¬ 
turbed for half a century, at least, and has through¬ 
out that entire period produced good crops. 
The principal grass is Timothy, though clover, 
herd’s grass, and some other indigenous grasses 
are occasionally sown or come in. The former is 
kept in the sod, by allowing the grass partially to 
ripen before cutting, once in three or four years, 
and then omitting to rake the hay clean from the 
ground. This is sufficient to re-seed it effectually. 
The hay is made on this farm on truly rational 
principles. No grass is cut when there is either 
rain or dew upon it; and each mower is required 
to lay his grass in clean, regular swaths, which, 
with a little attention, is as easily done, as to scat¬ 
ter it heads and points over the whole field. After 
wilting at the top, a four-pronged, light, wooden 
fork is used for shifting the hay to a new spot, 
which has become heated by the sun ; and if very 
heavy, the swath is turned over. At every opera¬ 
tion of moving, a forkful is lifted to some other 
pile, carefully preserving in every movement, the 
horizontal position of the grass. If a rain is an¬ 
ticipated, a few of these piles are laid upon each 
other, and no trimming is then necessary to preserve 
the hay from injury from a week’s rain, as the grass 
in this position sheds the water perfectly. When 
cured in these small heaps, the cart passes between 
them, when they are pitched upon the load, after 
which, the horse rake passes over the meadow and 
gleans every particle of hay. 
A great improvement , it will be seen, is thus se¬ 
cured, by doing away with hand raking, and the 
horse rake is only used for gathering the scattering 
locks, the greater portion being first removed by 
the fork, without raking. This mode of curing 
avoids the scorching effects of a hot sun, the leaves 
and flowers of the grass are not burnt to a crisp, 
and then pitched and doubled together in a such a 
manner as to break off the finer and most valuable 
part of the hay. The juices of the hay are not so 
much dissipated as by the ordinary exposure, and 
the hay is consequently sweeter and more nutritious. 
Judge Van B. says he has never known more 
burn , or injury of any kind from putting hay into 
the stack or barn, however green it may have been, 
