THE CULTIVATOR. 
69 
Messrs. Editors— Hav¬ 
ing been much interested in 
the plans of farm houses and 
cottages, from time to time 
given in the Cultivator, I 
have been induced to send 
you the accompanying plan 
of a farm cottage, which I 
projected some three or four 
years since. It may be 
thought by some, that a fe¬ 
male is stepping out oi^ her 
department, when she at¬ 
tempts planning houses. I 
do not think so, inasmuch as 
females are the parties most 
concerned in these arrange¬ 
ments. 
This plan was predicated 
on a six year’s residence in 
a farm house, which, per¬ 
haps, was as convenient as 
most houses of that class, but 
when the “ labor saving” 
principle was applied, it was 
found very defective. I have 
observed that in all the plans 
submitted for your paper, 
there has been no provision 
for dairying; without this, I 
consider a farm house in¬ 
complete. From the expe¬ 
rience I have had in this 
matter, I am induced to shrink from the very thought of 
going out in the hot sun three or four rods from the 
house, as many times in the day as it is necessary to go 
to the dairy. If men would oftener consult their wives 
in these matters, I presume they would in many cases, 
reap their reward for any fancied compromise of dignit 3 ’, 
in additional peace and quiet. 
In this plan, (figs. 34 and 36,) I have endeavored to 
combine utility and heauty. In my estimation there can 
be no surer indication of happy independence, than a • 
neat, tasteful cottage, on a well managed farm, and where 
these are seen, I always presuppose its possessor realizing 
all that Thomson has so beautifully attached to a philo¬ 
sophical country life; 
“ Of men 
The happiest he, who far from public rage. 
Deep in the vale, with a choice few retired. 
Drinks the pure pleasures of the rural life.” 
****** 
“Here too, dwells simple truth, plain innocence; 
Sound, unbroken youth, 
Health ever blooming, unambitious toil, 
Calm contemplation, and poetic ease.” 
**'' A * * * 
This is the life 
Led by primeval ages, uncorrupt, 
"When angels dwelt, and God himself, with man.” 
By a little attention, you will perceive this plan admits 
of many modifications to suit the circumstances of the 
builder, without any sacrifice of the main conveniences. 
It is estimated that a frame house of this description, 
would cost in this vicinity, about $2,500, probably much 
less with you. 
In the first place, the ground should be selected so as 
to have drains laid under the surface, from the sinks, 
dairy, &c. to the piggery or barn yard. My husband 
suggests that to complete the arrangement of the fai'm 
buildings, the barn, carriage house, granary, piggery, 
&c. should be erected in the rear, so as to form a hollow 
square, sheltered from the cold winds, and open to the 
sun. 
I will now attempt an explanation of that part of the 
plan which does not explain itself. It was not thought 
necessary to give a plan of the upper part, as that can be 
arranged at pleasure. Suffice it to say, it is designed to 
have twelve feet posts, which will afford room, with such 
an elevation and width, for good chambers, well lighted. 
Explanation of ground plan, fig. 35; 
a. —Dark room for dairy utensils, &c. 
b. —Store room and pantry. 
c. d.—Cellar door, and passage from kitchen. 
e. /. g. —Sink, pump, and boiler, with faucet in bathing 
house for warm water. 
h. —Bathing house, with conductor from pump. 
i. k :—Fire place and oven. 
I —Window from sleeping room, finished at bottom, 
for door in warm weather. 
m .—Closet for books and papers. 
n _Passage to the out buildings, without going from 
under cover. 
0 .—Closet between ice house and dairy, for butter, 
cream, fresh meat, &c. 
p .—Passage for circulation of air, &e. 
r .—Portable or stationary sink, to prevent the necessi¬ 
ty of farm hands, and others, going to the kitchen to wash. 
The dairy should be dug down three or four feet, built 
up on the sides, and paved with stones, plastered over 
head, and the walls whitewashed. This part of the build¬ 
ing is supposed to have a shed roof, and may be suffi¬ 
ciently elevated to admit of a room immediately over the 
dairy and ice house, for curing cheese. If a spring of 
water could be commanded, in such a situation that it 
could be carried through the buildings by means of pipes, 
it would be a great advantage. 
This plan is supposed to front the east, access being 
had to the rear by the south end. It is perhaps unneces¬ 
sary to say any thing about ornamenting the grounds in 
front, as that is considered a matter of course. 
A FARM HOUSE.—(Fig. 34.) 
Dining t<. ^ 
I Siltinij 
Room 
18 X 18 
Kitchen. 
/2 ^22 
[feeHouse i 
Bxio 1 
1 o B 
1 Dairy | 
ik\ 
\ axJ> 9 
Coal 
House 
14x22 
Sleeping | ^ 
Room 
Porch S! X /O 
Q - O o_ q] 
Id X14 
! 1 
L Parlour 
-TTZ 
\\l Robe 
1 18 xm 
~ 
i 1 
Passage 
,0 
c 
Porch o8 X to 
(} 
n 
Ground Plan .— (Fig. 35.) 
One man to whom this plan was shown, remarked that 
“ such a house might make the women lazy.” If any of 
your numerous readers of the masculine gender, possess 
any such fears, if they have not already obtained that 
blessing, (a wife,) may they go to the ‘'‘far west,” where 
girls were never made indolent by convenient houses, but 
let them by no means go to New England. 
Yours respectfully, 
Matilda W. Howard. 
Zanesville, O., Feb. 14, 1843. 
ROTATION OF CROPS 
Messrs. Editors —From the account of the proceed¬ 
ings of the N. Y. S. Ag. Society, given in the Cultivator 
for this month, it appears there was no competition for 
the premiums offered by the Society for the Essay on Ro¬ 
tation of Crops, and introduction of new agricultural pro¬ 
ducts. This is to be regretted. A judicious rotation or 
succession of crops on the farm, being considered, ever 
since the introduction of fallow crops and sown grass into 
field cultui-e, as one of the most important points of hus¬ 
bandry. 
When the immense improvement is taken into view, 
which the alternate system, as it is called, has brought 
about in those districts of country in Europe, where it 
has been established, it cannot fail to be interesting to 
the American farmer. In these districts, the value of 
the land has been more than doubled, the farming capi¬ 
tal increased in a much higher proportion, and the ap¬ 
pearance of the country immensely improved, compared 
with what it previously was. 
It is gratifying to observe that the sowing of grass 
seeds on farms, has of late become much more general. 
Intelligent farmers now adopt regular rotations; but the 
practice is as yet far from general. Many farmers, al¬ 
though they now sow grass seeds, continue the old prac¬ 
tice of taking successive crops of grain until their lands 
become so wasted as to be of little value, and difficult to 
recover to a profitable state; a course injurious to the 
public as well as themselves. 
Regarding rotations, a view of European practice 
might afford some instruction and amusement; but the 
purpose of this communication is to notice some of the 
opinions and practice of American farmers on this sub¬ 
ject, in so far as the subscriber’s information extends. 
The subject is by no means new in America; societies 
and individuals have been duly sensible of its importance, 
and earnestly recommended 
it to attention. In 1819 or 
1820, your worthy and much 
respected predecessor, Jesse 
Buel, Esq. published a Trea¬ 
tise on Agriculture, which he 
offered to the Board of Agri¬ 
culture of this state, with a 
proposal to print and circu¬ 
late it, which, tho’ approved 
of by a committee of their 
number, the board was una¬ 
ble to accede to for want of 
funds. I supposed Mr. Buel 
was the author of it, but he 
told me he vv^as not, and I can¬ 
not now recollect the authors 
name.* This treatise, though 
it contains one or two erro¬ 
neous statements, is a work 
of merit, comprising much 
interesting information in a 
small conqiass. The author’s 
opinion of the alternate sys¬ 
tem, is in accordance with 
that of all who have writ¬ 
ten on the subject within the 
last fifty or sixty years. It 
is expressed in tho following 
emphatic terms: “It forms 
tho basis of all successful ag¬ 
riculture. AVhatever pains 
we take, whatever expenses 
we incur, in collecting instruments of husbandly, in ac¬ 
cumulating and applying manures, and tilling the earth, 
all is to little purpose, unless we superadd a succession of 
crops adapted to the nature ot the sod, to the laws of the 
climate, and to the physical character and commercial 
value of the articles raised.” The above contains a just 
view, concisely expressed, of the rrinciples on which 
all rotations ought to be founded. These principles are 
general, and applicable to every country, and to all soils 
and climates. 
Regarding the plants of which rofntions are composed, 
he adds: “ Never to select for a crop, plants not adapted 
to the soil, and never in any case to perinit tuo crops of the 
same species or kind, to follow each other This last, con¬ 
stitutes what is commonly called the alternate system, or 
sometimes the convertible husbandry, which is now ex¬ 
tended over the greater jiari of Britain, and has long been 
so in Holland and Belgium, where it had its origin, arul 
was first adopted and established. 
About the same time that Mr. Euel’s work was pub¬ 
lished, the Ar. Society of Albany county, oflered a pre¬ 
mium of forty dollars, for ihe best essay on rotation of 
crops, and on manures, and their most profitable applies- 
tion. This premium was awarded to John Nicholson, 
Esq. of Herldmer co. in this state, author of a very use¬ 
ful compilation entitled “ The Farmer’s Assistant.” This 
essay contains useful observations, and recommends the 
alternate system. 
The following are specimens of rotations from these 
tv/o authorities. The author of Mr. Buel’s treatise pro¬ 
poses the following for sandy soils:—1st, potatoes—2d, 
rye, followed by turneps—3d, oats or barley—4th, clo¬ 
ver—5th, wheat and turneps—bth, jieas, or lu;)ines, or 
lentils. In the above, there a'ppears nothing exceptiona¬ 
ble in principle, except the order, which ought to be, Isl, 
potatoes—2d, barley —3d, clover — 4th, wlieat—otli, peas 
—6th, rye—which is a pretty severe rotation for sandy 
land. The sowing of turneps on the stubble of the rye 
and \y|ieat crop, after harvest, without manure, which 
the author says he has done with success, with one. plow¬ 
ing, and sometimes without any jilowing, but only har¬ 
rowing in the seed, to be eaten off by sheep, does not ap¬ 
pear to have been followed in practice here, nor are lu¬ 
pines or lentils known here as croi)S. 
For loam, he proposes, 1st, potatoes — 2d, wheat—3d, 
corn — 4th, barley—5th, clover—6th, wheat. This I 
should call a rather too severe rotation, requiring a very 
rich soil, and more than the ordinary manure of the farm 
to support it properly. 
Mr. Nicholson irroposes for all soils free enough for 
corn—1st, corn, with j^otatoes, pumpkins and turneps, in 
alternate drills—2d, spring grain and ruta baga—3d, bar¬ 
ley — 4th, clover, cut once — 5th, clover, cut twice — 6th, 
wheat. He says the practice of planting corn, potatoes 
and pumjrkins, in alternate drills, is common in Pennsyl¬ 
vania, anti doubts whether the sjtring grain couUi be got 
off sooit enough for jjutting in rutabaga. It would there¬ 
fore be preferable to keep out No. 2, and make the rota¬ 
tion a five shift in place of a si-X; a.s 1st, corn —2d, bar¬ 
ley — 3d, clover — 4tii, ])astiirc — 5tl'i, wheat, which is a 
very good course. For a gravel or sandy soil, he pro¬ 
poses 1st, corn, potatoes, &c. — 2d, spring grain, followed 
by buckwheat, jtlowed in — 3d, wlieat, rye or barley—4tb, 
grass— 5tlf, grass. I suspect the spring grain could sel¬ 
dom be harvested in time to sow buckwheat, and get it 
plowed in, in time to sow wheat'. 
In Oct. 1S23, Mr. Earl Stimson of Galway, delivered 
an Address before the Ag. Society of Saratoga county , of 
which he was then the President, in which his system 
* The Treatise here referred to, was written by Gen. Ar-m- 
STKONG, Seretary of War under Mr. Madison, and now residing 
in Dutchess county. It was orisinally published in nuiribevs in 
the Albany .Argus, while Judge Buel waseditor, and afterwards 
in a volume, and also we believe in the Memoirs of the Board of 
Agriculture. It was re-pnhlished. with nn Introdiicricn by Judge 
Buel, in the first series of Harper’s School Dist. Library. — Kdk. 
