1846 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
171 
aernsrenra'.'. 
According to our views of this matter then, the far¬ 
mer’s barn-yard must be the “ savings bank” where all 
the deposits are to be gathered to effect this object. And 
in order to have every thing safe, about the vault, 
the yard should have a firm bottom and be raised at the 
sides so that all the liquids as well as the solids may be 
safe from embezzlement. Some recommend paving the 
basin of the yard in order to prevent leakage. We 
have found a very good substitute for this in spreading 
an even surface of ‘‘ hard pan” or subsoil (a sub¬ 
stance not unfrequently found within reach of the plow, 
on exhausted lands.) Into this repository it is no mat¬ 
ter how much litter is thrown during the winter, when 
it is continually subject to the trampling of stock, and it 
is of very little consequence how coarse it is, provided 
it is of a consistency to absorb the juices of the yard. 
The refuse of corn-stalks, potato and pumpkin vines, in¬ 
deed anything and everything which is capable of ab¬ 
sorbing moisture may be deposited here with assurances 
of a speedy and profitable dividend. 
We have now got our materials together, for every¬ 
thing must imply the whole, and what is to be done 
next? On this point there is yet a diversity of opinion. 
Some would say, let the heterogeneous mass remain 
over summer, and in autumn cart it off to the corn-field 
for next year. Others, perhaps would think it alto¬ 
gether advisable to reduce its quantity by some artifi¬ 
cial process, and make of it rich rotten manure, fit for 
corn the present season. Either of these ways may do 
for those who have enough and to spare, but the farmer 
of limited means cannot, and the one of strict economy 
will not submit to the “ falling of stocks ” which must 
be consequent in either case. 
We believe that it is now conceded by most farmers, 
that the farm-yard should be cleared as early as may be 
every spring, and that its contents be applied directly 
to the soil. Yet we know there are some, so much 
devoted to ee ancient usages” and so bound in the opin¬ 
ions of their fathers as to suppose that corn cannot be 
raised on many soils without pursuing the wasteful 
practice of letting their manure lie over the year pre¬ 
ceding, and the tedious operation of applying it by 
shovels-full under the hill. This process, if the land is 
previously in tolerable tilth, will certainly give a fair 
crop. And why should it not? Did the provident far¬ 
mer who adopts this course ever reflect that the shovel- 
full so applied Avould have been three or four shovels- 
full if used in its fresh or unfermented state. Now let 
careful experiment decide this question. Make an es¬ 
timate of the number of loads of fermented manure ne¬ 
cessary to manure an acre of corn in the hill. Then 
make your own estimate of the number of loads of 
green manure necessary to make those loads rotted ma¬ 
nure, and apply them to the adjoining acre, and see, not 
only where you get the best crop of corn, but the best 
succession of crops, for in making agricultural estimates, 
the account should always run beyond the present year. 
If you find the balance in favor of using green manure 
and spreading upon the land, then you gain one year in 
the use of it, a period of no small importance in im¬ 
proving a farm. And the advantage to the present crop, 
where manure- is spread upon the land instead of ap¬ 
plied in the hill, is greater than at first imagined. In 
the latter case its effects are earlier felt we admit, and 
they are sooner over, for however rapid the growth of 
corn may be, while the roots come within its immedi¬ 
ate influence, it is checked as soon as they push into the 
i>nmanured land beyond; while in the former case, they, 
by pushing forward, are meeting new supplies as their 
increasing growth requires them. So then, we say, 
use barn-yard and stable manure in as green or unfer¬ 
mented a condition as possible. It is the fermenting 
process that is needed in the soil, and it is by this that 
like leaven it diffuses itself through the mass “ until the 
whole is leaven,” or fertilized. We care not how 
coarse the material be if it has only laid in the yard 
until it has absorbed its fill of the juices, for the coarser, 
the longer its effects will be visible. It will keep the 
soil if inclined to clay, loose or permeable to the sun 
and atmosphere longer, and if it is sand or gravelly 
land, it is much less subject to evaporation, and goes to 
form vegetable mold, which renders it more tenacious. 
Hence the benefits of plowing in green crops on such 
lands. They furnish a fertilizing medium which is not 
soon lost by air, and winds, and rain. 
In the application of barn-yard manures in an unfer¬ 
mented state we should be guided by circumstances. If 
very coarse, w r e would by all means plow them in, as 
in that case, the harrow could not cover them sufficient¬ 
ly to prevent evaporation, and therefore loss, which 
should be carefully guarded against, would follow. But 
where but little coarse material is combined, thorough 
harrowing may be sufficient. 
With regard to the application of manure to spring 
grains, such as wheat, &c., we have of late years taken 
the loosest litter in the barn-yard, and spread it after 
the last harrowing, with good effect, though it may 
seem like a contradiction of the doctrine we have ad¬ 
vanced. But there are attending circumstances which 
alter cases between plowed and hoed crops. It is 
usually a long time before the latter cover the land so 
as to obstruct the operation of winds and sunshine. In 
the case of wheat, it soon starts up and covers the surface 
so that in a little time it protects the litter, through which 
it sprung, from too rapid evaporation. This litter in its 
turn, extends acts of courtesy to the grain, by keeping 
the earth cooler and in a more equal state of moisture 
through its growth. It also prevents its being beat 
down into solid masses, by heavy rains, and thus pre¬ 
serves to it a readier fitness for atmospheric influence. 
Yours truly, W. Bacon. 
Richmond, (Mass.,) Feb. 16, 1846. 
EXPERIMENTS IN THE CULTURE OF POTATOES. 
L. Tucker, Esq. —Time was, as aged people have 
told me, when a barrel of potatoes was considered a 
sufficient winter’s supply for any family. From such a 
small beginning it has become one of the most impor¬ 
tant crops of our country, and its importance should en¬ 
list the feelings of all farmers to make every possible 
exertion to increase the crop without extra labor. 
There is a great difference in people in regard to the 
amount of seed necessary to be used in planting, and in 
regard to cutting’, &c. Some farmers plant their pota¬ 
toes whole, and use from 20 to 30 bushels on an acre; 
some plant only the seed end, thereby saving one-.half 
or more; while others pursue different methods. I never 
knew an individual, however, who only planted a part 
of the potato, that did not plant the seed end. In my 
opinion, it is desirable that experiments should be made 
extensively, to ascertain, if possible, the exact amount 
of seed necessary—if it should be cut—and if so, to as¬ 
certain that part of the potato which is best for planting. 
I send you the following account, hoping others, that 
have never done so, will be induced to make experi¬ 
ments with the potato, (and a great variety can be 
made,) believing the result will be beneficial. 
I In years past, we have cut our seed potatoes, using 
I those of middling size, and put the seed ends of two in 
[ a hill. In 1843 and ’44, we planted a few rows with 
ij the rest, cutting the seed so as to have only one eye in 
a piece, and put three pieces in a hill. At harvesting 
it took two or three more hills for a bushel, where only 
three eyes were put in a hill, than where the seed ends 
were; but the potatoes were larger and fairer, with but 
few that w r ere too small for the table, while of the 
others, probably a fifth part were too small. The hills 
might be planted nearer together of the three eyes in a 
hill, thereby making the product of an acre greater than 
of the other method. 
This year we tried a new experiment. Took pota¬ 
toes about the size of a hen’s egg; cut them, leaving 
about a third, or more of the potatoe on the seed end, 
and planted two rows, putting two seed ends in a hill 
in one row, and two other ends in a hill in the other 
row. The rows were treated and cultivated exactly 
alike throughout, but owing partly to the drouth th-e 
yield was not large. In the row in which the seed 
end? were planted, it took 40 hills to make a bushel; 
