from $1 to $1 25, controlled by the demand for wheat-flour in New York.

Corn.-This crop is extensively cultivated in this county, and is considered the most remunerating at present. It seldom fails with us to produce a fair yield, except in seasons when the larva of a beetle are prevalent in our lands. When these grubs prevail to a considerable extent, neither good husbandry nor high manuring can secure us a crop; and perhaps no other county has for the past twenty years suffered more loss from this source than Ulster. This formidable enemy to agriculture appears gradually to be leaving us, in all probability to appear in some other place, and there to renew the same destructive process practised on us. In order to give this beetle a slight introduction to whom it may concern, I will give a brief description of its general appearance and habits. The bug or beetle is about three-fourths of an inch in length, of a dark brown color, and may be seen in large numbers flying through the air, in the early part of the evening, about the last of April or first of May. They deposite their eggs generally in the month of June, on grass land, on soil that is light or loamy. The larva is hatched from the egg during the month of August, and feeds upon the roots of vegetables until the ground becomes frozen; it then descends below the frost, and there remains in a state of torpidity until the following spring. As the frost leaves the ground it ascends to the surface, (exhibiting no increase of growth during the winter,) and again resumes its former mode of living, carefully secluded from the rays of the sun; feeding on the roots of almost all kinds of grasses and vegetables. Its movements are slow and sluggish; its color nearly white, with the exception of the head, which is red; it has six legs, three on each side; it is at this age about one inch in length. It continues its destruction of all green vegetable matter with which it may come in contact, until the ground becomes frozen again. This is its most destructive season through its progress of change. As the ground becomes frozen, it again descends below the frost, (in some instances six feet below the surface,) as before; remains torpid until the next spring, when it again appears at the surface, being now about 1 inch in length. It continues to feed as usual on vegetable substances until about the middle of June, when it ceases to feed, descends deeper in the earth, and becomes torpid until about the middle of August, when a complete change occurs. It opens lengthwise from the head, back near one-half its length, and forthwith appears in the chrysalis state, in which it remains nearly inactive until about the last of September, when it changes into a perfect state or beetle, and still remains in a nearly torpid state until the following spring, when, about the last of April, it ascends to the surface and immediately commences to reproduce its species.

It has thus far baffled the ingenuity of man to prevent its ravages. Whole fields of Timothy have, within a few weeks, been entirely destroyed by this grub; and thousands of acres of corn have been totally lost. in this county by its ravages.

The white and yellow flint corn are usually planted by us-most generally on land that has been lying under clover for the two years previous, when manure is applied, and the ground ploughed early in May, generally about 6 inches deep, made level with a harrow, and marked out in squares for planting, about 3 feet each way. We plant usually from the 5th to the 25th of May, and cultivate with the plough, hoe, and

cultivator: (some crops of corn have been successfully produced by planting in rows, but not considered as safe.) We cut and shock our corn from the 10th to the 20th of September; shocks containing from forty to sixty hills. It remains thus secured until the middle of October, when it is gathered and housed; generally yielding from 25 to 50 bushels of corn to the acre, and occasionally from 50 to 100. This crop is more remunerating than all others, from the value of the stalks as food for stock.

I have used guano as a manure for some of my corn the past season, and, probably from my ignorance in applying it, received no benefit. İ applied about one teaspoonful (as directed by some of my books on agriculture) to each hill, and covered it immediately with the soil, a gravelly loam. In a few days my corn received a fine rain, and the corn to which the guano was applied then appeared more vigorous than other parts of the lot. The corn at the time of applying the guano was about two feet high. This rain was succeeded by a protracted drought, which continued until the ears had acquired their full size. At this time, my corn experimented on with guano (as, indeed, all my corn manured in the hill) turned a pale color, lost its vigor, and filled out the ears very indifferently. I shall experiment further with this fertilizer next season. I believe the safest way of applying manure for corn, is spreading it broadcast over the land. The nature of the corn-plant is such that it draws the greatest amount of nourishment from the soil quite remote from the Lill. In bestowing my attention to the corn-plant, I find the centre, or tap-root ceases to afford nourishment to the plant after six weeks old, when the growth is sustained (as far as vegetable and mineral elements are concerned) from roots extending far away from the hill, and beyond the possibility of assimilating any great amount of the manure placed at, or immediately surrounding, the plant. Hence the sudden transition from a bounteous supply of nutriment afforded by the tap-root, to a meagre supply, by the horizontal roots in the adjacent impoverished soil, affects, materially, the vigor of the plant at a time when it requires the greatest assistance; and the consequence is, a fair growth of stalk and a light yield of corn.

The cost of producing corn with us varies according to the value of the land, and its productiveness agreeably with my farm book. I find my experience in producing a crop of corn, averaging 40 bushels to the acre, was about 40 cents to the bushel, including interest on land, at $50 per acre. The price of corn, at our nearest market, will average about 55 cents per bushel.

In answer to your query respecting the value of manure made from feeding 10 bushels of corn to hogs, as a fertilizer for a corn crop, I have no data on which I can rely. I will, however, make an estimate that will very nearly approximate the truth. A full-grown hog, enclosed in a yard, will be about eighty days in consuming 10 bushels of corn, with no other drink but water. The whole area of the yard should be under cover, and secured from draining. One load of muck should be placed in the yard in such a manner as to receive and absorb all the droppings, liquid and solid; which, in ten days, should be removed in a heap, under cover, and a like quantity placed in the yard. This, at the expiration of the next ten days, should also be removed to the heap. This process continued until 8 loads of muck (which will embrace the time of feeding)

shall have been saturated with droppings of the hog. This compost, properly attended to, will, in a short time, undergo a slight fermentation, when it should be applied to the land and immediately covered. This will manure the one-half of an acre sufficiently to produce 10 bushels more corn than the adjoining half acre, not manured. I am convinced, from experience, that the value of the manure produced from a hog, when properly cared for, will be equivalent to the cost of the food.

Oats.-This crop is cultivated quite extensively in this county, and is considered to be a remunerating one; in our system of rotation, this crop follows corn. It is generally sown as early in the season as the ground will permit, at the rate of from 2 to 3 bushels to the acre; the ordinary yield about 40 bushels, although in some instances from 80 to 90 have been harvested from the acre. It is an exhausting crop; but the early returns it affords us for our labor, and its convenience as a food for almost all kinds of stock, induce our farmers to produce it quite extensively.

Barley. Very little of this grain is raised in this county; it does not, generally, on our soil, afford so profitable a return as oats; therefore, it is not cultivated.

Peas and Beans.-These are seldom raised in this county beyond family consumption. Peas are considered rather a renovating crop.

Rye. This grain is adapted to all our soils, and affords a good return for the labor bestowed in producing it. In our rotation of crops it generally follows oats, and is succeeded by seeding with grass. We sow about 1 bushel to the acre, and the yield varies from 12 to 35, and in some instances more; it probably would average about 16 bushels. The great demand in the New York market for rye-straw the present season (being from $1 to $1 12 per cwt., pressed,) will induce a greater area of ground to be sown with rye than usual. Rye is generally worth, in our nearest markets, about 62 cents per bushel; at present it is worth 90 cents. The present high prices paid for rye and straw will make it a more remunerating crop to the farmer than wheat, and consequently will be more generally sown.

Clover and Grasses.-The extraordinary increased demand the present season for hay, will produce a change in the routine of farming in this county. Our location on the banks of the Hudson, and our convenient access to the city of New York, will induce our farmers to turn their attention more to the production of hay than heretofore. Clover has formerly been considered the most valuable grass for seeding, on account of the luxuriance of its growth and the fertilizing properties it contains. It affords an excellent pasture for stock, and is a good renovater of our soils. We generally sow about 12 pounds of seed to the acre. Timothy has also been considered by us a valuable grass, but not so good a fertilizer as clover, and has generally been sown for its value as pasture or hay. We generally sow about 4 quarts of seed to the acre; probably more seed could be applied to advantage. It is a question worthy of some consideration by our farmers, whether the cultivation of hay for market will not ultimately exhaust our soils without an increased application of manure. The best fertilizers we now apply to the production of hay are decomposed stable and barn yard manure and ashes. Guano nor bone-dust has not been used for this purpose; and plaster, or

gypsum, as a stimulus, is used much less than formerly. From various experiments with plaster for the past fifteen years, I have been induced to abandon its use. Either our soils already contain a sufficient quantity, or some of the elements formerly valuable in the soil have disappeared. I believe the cost of producing hay will not vary much from $6 per ton.

Neat Cattle.-We have bred in this county, to some extent, several varieties of cattle. I am more particularly familiar with the Durhams, Devons, and natives, having bred no others. I believe the Durhams are most valuable for feeding, and will yield more beef in proportion to the feed given them than any other variety that I have fed. Good selections from native stock are probably as valuable for dairy purposes as any of the improved breeds. For working cattle I think the Devons unsurpassed. The usual price of good dairy cows in the fall is $25, and in the spring about $35. The cost of raising a heifer until three years old would be about $20, and its worth in market would not much exceed that price. Steers are seldom raised in this county; and heifers should come in as milkers at two years old to pay their raising. The high price of veal in the New York market, and the value of our pastures for dairy purposes, render the raising of stock a losing operation.

Dairy.-Cheese is not made in this county to any extent. Our butter is packed in tubs containing from 12 to 25 pounds, and sold weekly in the New York market. The average price for the present season is about 22 cents per pound; and the sour milk is fed to pigs for early market. The average produce of butter per cow is about one hundred pounds; but if properly cared for, will double that quantity.

Hogs. The most approved breeds of hogs we have are Berkshire and Suffolk, and their crosses the former for heavy pork for barrelling, the latter to be taken to market at about six months old. The preference of breeds of hogs is generally determined by the locality or proximity to market. With us along the Hudson river, who cannot compete with the West in producing heavy pork, where grain is cheap, there is a pref erence for a breed of hogs that mature young. Our cheapest method of making pork is by feeding sour milk, apples, roots, bran, &c.; pork made by feeding grain is less profitable.

Sheep and Wool.-Sheep were formerly bred in this county quite extensively; but the value of our land for other agricultural purposes rendered wool growing an unprofitable business. At present but few sheep are kept here, and those principally for the purpose of furnishing the market with mutton and lambs. Very few but the coarser breeds are now kept.

Potatoes. This crop was formerly considered one of the most profitable produced on our land; but since the potato disease has been prevalent, this crop has materially decreased, although a greater area has been planted the present season than for many years preceding, and the tubers are generally sound and healthy. Many varieties are raised by us without any decided preference. I have cultivated sweet potatoes successfully for several years, and have not found them inferior to those raised at the South. For these I use ashes as a manure, placed in

the hill.

Fruit Culture.-The cultivation of fruit is receiving decided attention

in this county. Much labor and expense are appropriated in producing the best varieties of fruits, grapes, and berries. These articles are now furnishing no inconsiderable commerce in this county.

Yours truly,

To the COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS.

DAVID L. BERNARD.

BYBERRY, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY,

January 13, 1953.

SIR: Having received one of your Circulars, soliciting agricultural information, I proceed to give some account of the crops and management of farm land in this vicinity.

The farms in this section are generally small, a majority containing less than 100 acres. The land is in a high state of cultivation, and sells for from $90 to $130 per acre.

The rotation of crops which is generally practised is, first, corn; then oats, wheat, and grass, three years.

Corn.-A Timothy sod is ploughed in the spring, five inches deep, rolled and harrowed; the corn dropped about the 1st of May in hills four feet apart each way; four grains in each hill. Some farmers prepare a compost during the winter and spring, of rich earth, manure, lime, and plaster, and place it on the hill at the time of planting. Others spread the manure broadcast upon the surface during the winter. The corn is worked principally with the cultivator and hoe; three stalks being left in each hill. During the latter part of September the corn is cut up at the roots, and placed in shocks of thirty-six hills, where it remains about one month, when it is husked and cribbed, and the fodder tied up in bundles and stacked near the cattle yards, to be fed during the winter. The stalks from an acre of corn, if properly cured, are equal in value to one ton of hay. The gourd-seed variety is generally planted, and the average product is about 50 bushels per acre; worth, this season, 65 cents per bushel.

Oats are sown after corn, as soon in the spring as the weather will permit, three bushels of seed per acre; and yielding an average crop of 50 bushels per acre. Occasionally much larger crops are raised. The price at present in Philadelphia market is 45 cents per bushel. Some farmers sow clover among oats, and put it down with wheat the following season-others plough the oats stubble; cart on the manure; plough second time; roll, harrow, and sow two bushels of seed per acre. In latter years guano has been used to considerable extent. About 400 pounds are generally sown broadcast, and ploughed in with the wheat; this quantity is considered equal in value to fifteen loads of barn-yard

manure.

The Mediterranean wheat is universally sown, as it has been the least affected by the weevil, and yields, upon good ground, from 20 to 25 bushels per acre. It is worth, at present, $1 15 per bushel. Clover and Timothy seed are both sown with wheat.

The quantity of hay raised is from one to two and a half tons per acre. The clover is generally fed to stock, and the Timothy hauled to Philadelphia, where it is, at present, worth $23 per ton.

The dairy business is not very extensively carried on, though most