down meadows; 12 quarts of timothy and from 4 to 6 pounds of clover the quantity used per acre. The cost of growing hay depends upon the value of the land; on our meadows, from three to four dollars per

ton.

Dairy. The average yearly product is 100 pounds of butter, and 100 of cheese, or 150 of butter alone, per cow. Cost of making butter, two and a half cents; cheese, one and a half cent. My mode of making cheese is this: The milk is set in brass kettles, with a large spoonful of rennet to a pailful of milk. After two or three hours, it is crossed off, to allow the curd and whey to separate; then in the morning it is dipped off before setting the morning milk, which is then used in the same way. It should not be hurried in any of the operations. After it is wheyed off, dry; then scald very slightly; then break or chop the curd and salt it, at the rate of a common sized saucerful to a half-bushel heap. Cheese is usually worth from 7 to 8, and butter from 12 to 18 cents per pound. Good cows are worth $25 in the spring, and $15 in

the fall.

Hogs.-The best breed now with us is the Suffolk. The cheapest way of raising pork is to keep pigs on milk through the summer, then fatten them on corn and apples; 100 pounds of corn will yield from 16 to 18 pounds of pork. We salt our pork in clean salt, packed edgewise, and add cold water for a brine. For hams, 4 quarts salt, 4 ounces saltpetre, and 1 quart molasses, to a hundred of meat.

Potatoes. The rot has troubled us so much of late years, that there are not so many raised as in former years. We find that we avoid the rot very much by early planting-say by the middle of April.

Fruit. We are giving a good deal of attention to the raising of fruit, more especially apples. There is no doubt but what it is one of the most profitable crops that can be grown on a farm. Sour apples, boiled with pumpkins, make very good feed for hogs; and I think sweet apples are worth more than potatoes, bushel for bushel. The best variety for winter are the Roxbury russet and Baldwin.

Manures.-In making our compost heaps, we use both lime and plaster. I make my compost, in the fall, of muck, with about one fourth part yard manure, and one fourth bushel of lime, to every load of muck, to hasten the decomposition; and I also use some plaster to prevent its wasting. I shovel it over once in the spring before using it. After treating it in this way I consider it equal to my best manure.

I remain yours, very respectfully,

HENRY MERRILL.

DOVER, N. H., January 17, 1852.

SIR: Your Circular of August last, addressed to me, asking for information in relation to the state of agriculture in this vicinity, came duly to hand. I exhibited the Circular to such of our farmers as I considered best qualified, by experience and practice, to answer the interrogatories therein, and have waited in vain for them to furnish those answers to this late day. I do not feel myself competent to give the subjects embraced in the Circular that attention which their importance demands; but I will venture to dot down the results of my observations, and what

little experience I may have gained of the subjects, in this immediate neigborhood.

Wheat. This grain is not extensively cultivated in this region, nor has guano been introduced as a manure. When this grain is cultivated, the yield is generally 20 bushels to the acre, and, when exhibited for sale, brings $1 12 per bushel.

Corn. The corn crops are not large, it being raised mostly for home consumption. The common yield is from 25 to 40 bushels to the acre, and experience has taught the farmer in this vicinity to plough in autumn 5 or 6 inches deep; and in the spring to apply manure liberally, and plough again deep enough to mix well the soil and manure. The best method of feeding this grain is when ground into meal.

Oats are raised in small quantities. I think 30 bushels per acre an average crop; the quantity of seed sown, 3 bushels per acre. The average crop of barley is about 20 bushels to the acre; quantity of seed sown, 2 bushels per acre.

Rye is now a profitable crop, and least exhausting to the soil-yields 25 bushels to the acre; seed about 1 bushel.

Butter. I have no data for estimating the quantity of butter made in this county; but, from my own experience, I should think about 140 pounds per cow for the year. There is but little cheese made in this county.

Neat cattle.-Cost of raising until 3 years old, $18 50.

Horses. The raising of horses is profitable, and the expense of raising till 3 years old, about $50.

Potatoes.-No sweet raised-the average yield of the common, 100 bushels per acre; cost of raising the same per bushel, 20 cents.

Fruit. The culture of fruit is increasing, and can be made very profitable. The Rhode Island greening is the best winter apple, and the Roxbury russet the best for spring use and exportation.

Manure.-Cellars under barns are much approved for manure, with floors so arranged that the water from the cattle runs on the manure, and, by having dry sward or dried and pulverized muck to absorb the extra moisture, makes more and far better than throwing it out to be washed by the snow and rain. In collecting the depth of rain falling through the year, I take the years 1843 and 1850:

It is not possible for me to obtain the mean temperature of each month, but I herewith transmit the mean temperature for each year from 1833: to 1843, with the addition of the depth of snow in this town during the same years

SIR: I received your Agricultural Circular some time since, and have not had sufficient leisure to give a detailed answer; but I will give you a short account of what we think the most profitable and least expensive mode of raising wheat, corn, rye, and oats in this vicinity.

As a sample, I will take my farm, which contains 90 acres-40 acres in tillage, 30 pasture, and 20 wood and timber.

I plant to corn 2 acres-take a piece that is bound out, or bears the least grass, and draw on (the last of April) 20 loads of barn yard manure, and spread to an acre; then plough it 6 inches deep, turning it flat; then harrow it mellow, but not to disturb the turf; then furrow it lightly, 3 feet apart. I then take of manure made the summer before, and hog manure-drop a small shovelful in the furrow, 23 feet apart, and plant the corn from the 15th to the 20th of May. I harvest in September, by cutting it up at the ground, and let it stand in the stack two or three weeks; then I take it to the barn and husk it. Seventy-five bushels are an average yield to the acre, and 500 pounds husks, which are worth $1 per 100 pounds for making mattresses. The average price of corn here is 75 cents per bushel. After the corn is off we plough the ground so as to sow it with wheat early in April, (without ploughing in the spring,) and get about 20 bushels per acre; or, if the spring is backward, we sow with oats, and get 50 bushels per acre.

For potatoes we break up green-sward in the spring, with about the ame quantity of coarse, or straw manure; spread on the grass before ploughing, as we use for corn; then turn it over, and harrow it fine, and

plant (without manure in the hill) 3 feet one way and 14 foot the other; hoe twice, and dig in September. Average yield, 200 bushels per acre.

We then plough, and sow with winter rye, the first of October, and seed with herdsgrass, (timothy,) six or eight quarts to the acre. If the land is in good heart, or well manured, six quarts are enough. We use the same seed and quantity on wheat ground.

We attend to the dairy business to some extent in this section. Our cows are mostly native breeds, and we think they are about equal to the Durham or Ayrshire, with the same keeping. We let them get their living in the pasture in summer, and keep them on hay and corn-fodder (stalks) in winter. In a dairy of 20 or 30 cows a fair average of butter per cow is 100 pounds, and is worth 16 cents per pound; but some dairies turn out much more. A neighbor of mine sold last year, from 11 cows, 2,190 pounds of butter, besides what was used for the farm by 7 persons. The milk, where some is given to the hogs, nearly fattens them. Hogs 20 months old will weigh from 300 to 500 pounds; and pigs 8 months old will weigh, on an average, 250 pounds. What are called the " grass fed" are the largest, but will not fat as soon as the Suffolks.

There are many fine horses raised in this town. It is profitable, as a colt 3 years old will cost $45 or $50; the average price is not less than $75. With regard to breaking colts, a man who is used to it will break one in from 3 to 6 weeks. In the first place bit them, by putting on the bridle, and draw the reins tight, and fasten them to the surcingle just back of the withers, and let him wear it two hours occasionally; then put him beside a steady horse in the harness, attached to the plough, wagon, or sleigh a few times; then use him alone, being very gentle with him, and in a few days he is broken. Keep him well, and make it a point not to go by him without speaking to him, and pat him, and he will soon learn that you are his friend, and he is broken before he knows it—and that, too, without whipping or injuring him-the law of kindness applying as well to brutes as to man.

Very respectfully, yours,

Hon. THOMAS EWBANK,

OSMAN DEWEY.

Commissioner of Patents.

BRISTOL, ADDISON COUNTY, VERMONT,

January 8, 1852.

SIR: Your Circular, addressed to me as president of the Addison County Agricultural Society of Vermont, was duly received. My remarks are chiefly applicable to this county.

Wheat.-Guano is not used in the production of wheat or any other crop in this county to my knowledge; as a general thing, winter wheat follows corn or peas.

Manure.-Barn-yard manure is applied to the previous crop-say 10 or 15 loads per acre, ploughed once; usually from 6 to 8 inches deep. The production of winter wheat is increasing in this county, both in yield per acre and number of acres. Some make 50 bushels per acre, but this is rare, and only on favorable locations with the best of husbandry; perhaps the average yield per acre is about 20 bushels. The

white bald, or Genesee wheat, is generally preferred; price $1 per bushel. Spring wheat has not done as well for the last two or three years as formerly. The Black Sea has done the best of any variety.

Corn is a valuable crop to the farmer, and usually a profitable one, al. though this year may be an exception; perhaps not more than half an average crop in the county, in consequence of an early frost and a very severe drought; still there are some extra good crops. We plant about the middle of May, and harvest about the middle of September. There are a great many varieties cultivated in this vicinity, mostly yellow; cannot say which is best. The best system of cultivation here in the interval is to manure on top and incorporate thoroughly before planting; on clay or loam, the better way is to manure on the sod and turn under. We use gypsum or ashes on the young plant soon after it comes up. Our best farmers grind all their grain for feeding animals, and consider it good economy.

Oats are much cultivated, but considered an exhausting crop; has averaged this year about 40 bushels per acre. Sow 2 to 3 bushels of seed per acre. Peas, beans, or rye are not cultivated to much extent in this county.

Hay was a full average crop the past summer-I should think over a ton per acre. Most farmers stock with clover and herdsgrass seed-say 12 qts. of herdsgrass seed, and S or 10 pounds of clover seed, per acre. The best fertilizers are, compost manures and gypsum for top-dressing.

I have been disappointed in obtaining the desired information as to dairies. The cost of raising neat cattle varies according to the price of hay. Three-year-old steers range from $30 to $40. Dairy cows usually sell in the spring for $25 to $30; in the fall for $16 to $20. Cannet say what amount of beef 100 barrels of corn will produce; but am confident that a given amount of food will produce more meat in a Durham, Devon, or Hereford, than in a native animal. The easiest mode of breaking steers is, for boys to accustom them to the yoke as early even as from 3 to 6 months old; but they are not put to service much until 3 or 4. years old.

The breeding of good horses has always been a lucrative business, and our county horses are considered among the best in any market. The cost of raising a colt to 3 years old will vary under different circumstances. My experience is, that the mare should be allow to run with the colt, without doing any service, until the colt is 8 or 10 months. old, and then wean the colt, beside the mare, on hay. The colt should always be well fed, and kindly treated, and accustomed to the harness while young, beside a gentle and well broken horse, but should not be put to hard service until fully matured.

Sheep and wool are staple articles in this county; the breeding of stock. and wool-growing have been prosecuted a number of years, and probably will continue to be a good business to intelligent and experienced breeders, and of such we have a goodly number.

I know of no experiments having been made to ascertain what amount. of wool a given amount of hay will produce; but I think a pound of merino wool can be produced as cheap as any, all things considered. The sheep in this county are mostly of Spanish and French inerino; of the latter we had a large importation last season.

Roots, as sugar beets, carrots, and Swedish turnips, are being culti