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corporated with the soil, the greater benefit will result from it; and, acting upon this principle, our practice is to clean the yard as early in the spring as circumstances will permit; and, if the quantity of manure will warrant, we spread and harrow in until it is buried from the sun's direct influIf the quantity does not meet our desires, we put it in the hill; at any rate, get it on or within the land as soon as may be.

ence.

By occasionally throwing plaster over the yard and manure heaps during the winter, and keeping them free from litter, beyond the necessary amount for the comfort of animals, the manure in spring will be found good enough for corn or any other crop. In the matter of feeding, our best farmers are coming to the grave, and, we are pretty confident, just conclusion, that it is better to soak their corn, than to grind it, if its nutritive qualities are the same. Two points of economy are gained in this way: first, the time spent in going to mill, which will amount to two or three times for a single grist; and the toll, which those experienced in the matter must know tends to diminution of quantity. How much grain the manure formed by feeding hogs with ten bushels of corn will produce, when applied to the land, I cannot say. By good management and a little help in the way of throwing turf, muck, and other decomposable substances into the hog-yard, one hog will probably make manure for an acre of corn in a year.

Oats, Barley, Rye, Peas, and Beans.-Of these, rye is the least exhausting crop; barley and peas next; and oats, from their being more certain and always in demand, are most raised and most exhausting. I have no knowledge of peas being cultivated as a renovating crop.

Grasses.-The quantity of hay per acre is various; a ton and a quarter will probably be a full average. The best fertilizer of meadow-lands must, of course, depend upon the soils to be improved. Top-dressings of composted manure are valuable; so is plaster, on lands adapted to clover; so is lime, but the high prices it commands in market will not admit of its general use. Ashes are valuable, though they may, with propriety, be incorporated with the compost heap, to be carted on to the land and spread immediately after the crop is taken off. Clover and timothy are the grasses most commonly cultivated in meadows; though with these many are now introducing red top, which is a fine and a more solid grass. The quantity of grass seed sown to an acre differs according to the dictates of the farmer's liberality and supposed ability; for some have still the idea that it is an expense-which they cannot, in economy, meet-to buy much grass seed; and a little, until they get more able, will do very well.

The advantages of thorough-stocking are, we are happy to say, being more and more appreciated; and, we presume, there are but few farmers who think of sowing less than a peck of timothy and clover on an acre; and when red-top is added, we presume the dose is fully doubled; at any rate, the quantities we have named are small enough."

Tobacco.-It has formerly been supposed that our soil was too hard, and our climate too cold, for the cultivation of this crop; but some few experiments, made on a small scale, in different sections of the county, the

[*This is a good practice. One cannot place the droppings of animals in the soil too soon after they are voided. Keeping manure in yards never adds to the aggregate amount of its fertilizing atoms; on the contrary, there is great danger of loss being sustained.]

last season-which was cool and late-may well lead us to suppose that, with proper attention, its cultivation may be attended with desirable success. The specimens we saw gave a large, thin leaf, such as could be easily cured, and we should think would command a quick market.

Potatoes. We had fond expectations-the early part of the season was so wet, and it was so cool throughout-that the country would be blessed with an old-fashioned potato crop; but, though the produce of sound potatoes was an improvement on that of former years, yet it was not entire. But very little was seen or heard of the rot until the 23d of August, when more rain fell than we had all the six weeks previous. Immediately after this rain, we heard complaints of the rot, which, as usual, prevailed most where fermenting manures were applied. How far its effects would have been felt if potatoes had been permitted to remain in the ground, we cannot, of course, say; for many fields were soon dug, and the experiment with them ended, so far as rotting out-doors was concerned. We think this will be overcome, and that the potato will yet be reinstated as a reliable crop; and, in order to gather some conclusions satisfactory to ourselves, we entered upon the following plan of cultivation, to wit: We planted the few we raised at five different periods, and in five different patches; first, we planted early potatoes early in May, on sward-land turned over in April; land, light loam on limestone, no manure and no rot; crop good for late years, fair for years of potato raising. Second, we planted a few rows on land where potatoes were grown in 1850, on a loam inclining to clay, limestone bottom; these were planted early in May, without manure; result last of September, about one-tenth slightly affected with rot. Third, planted peachblows around the corn-field, May 10; soil as before, on a stiff sub-soil; no manure; result in October, near the 20th, on the sides where the ground was trod down by the team in turning to plough, a few rotten potatoes were found; on other sides of the field, none; crop fair. Fourth, turned over a small piece of meadow very late in May: soil clayey loam, based on limestone; land harrowed and planted, without manure, the same day it was ploughed; crop hoed once, about half of it immediately after a shower; result in October, crop very fair of good-sized potatoes, and no rot. Fifth, turned over a small piece of sward in June; soil black loam, inclining to muck; no manure applied; harvested in October; potatoes large, well flavored, and no rot.

Such is the result of our experience with the potato crop the last year. While we permit others to draw such inferences as they see fit, the following claim our own attention: First, that it is not early planting nor late planting that mitigates the disease; at least in our case it made no difference. Second, fermenting manures, if they do not cause the disease, are auxiliary to it. We infer this from the fact that our neighbors who used such manures, on soils as favorable as our own, suffered much; while in former years we should not have thought of potato rot from any that existed among ours. Third, that open porous soils are more congenial to the potato than compact ones, or that the tendency of the disease is increased in the latter. This we learn from the fact that, on the hard-trodden headlands, a tendency to the disease was manifest; while in the same field, and in the same soil, lying light and friable, no such tendency existed. Fourth, this disease is not the result of the potatoes running out; those that were fairest, largest, best, and showing no indication of rot, were a

variety which has been cultivated on the farm without change of seed (not a very good plan we admit) for a quarter of a century, and promiseto hold out for size and quality for half a century more; while all appearances of rot were in those of recent introduction. In conclusion, is it not possible, after all, that this disease is owing, to a great extent, to the cultivation, rather than a visitation of Providence, or the depredations of bugs and worms, that fed, unblamed, upon the foliage before the disease was known? Who knows but the effect of thorough drainage and subsoiling, and the use of other than fermenting manures-straw, or clover, or buckwheat, ploughed in-would have the effect to do away with the evil? We do not; and if any one is otherwise enlightened on the subject, let him speak.

There is increasing attention paid to the culture of fruit, to which our soil and climate are admirably adapted. Probably the number of apple trees set the last season has increased in at least a six-fold proportion over those set in any former year. It is but reasonable to suppose that at least one-half of these, through want of care in setting and after-management, will fail of coming to maturity. While valuable fruits are doing as well in market as they are now, (good varieties of apples being worth, at thetime of gathering, from 50 to 62 cents per bushel at home,) there can be no mistake but that their culture will be a profitable business, probably thebest in which the farmer can engage. Let no one venture upon it, however, without thinking that, like all productive employments, it requires laborand watching. In the first place, good trees must be well set in carefully prepared soil, and then frequent watchings must see that the soil is kept loose around the roots, and that these are carefully fed with properfood. A fruit tree cannot, and ought not, to grow in cramped and starving circumstances, and they must be kept free from worms and other insects, which, if allowed to prey upon them, will first disfigure and then destroy them. We will suppose the cost of an apple tree, when set, to be onedollar-that is, eighteen cents for the tree, and the remaining eighty-two cents for digging the hole, preparing compost to place around the roots, and setting the tree; then add fifty cents a year for digging about it, pruning, and protecting from insects; at the end of ten years the tree has come into vigorous bearing, and the cost, exclusive of ground rent, which is paid by the increase of other crops, is $5 50. Eleven bushels of apples will pay for this; and the tree, if it has done well, has more than given this. From that time, then, there is an increase of profit without increase of labor. We have spoken of good trees, well set and well cared for, and know of no rule by which to estimate the profit of a stinted tree, stuck in the ground with a firm subsoil touching its roots, as though the cultivator was afraid they would run through and come out the other side, pruned by cattle and defoliated by worms. Disappointment and sorrow must be the reward of such cultivation.

The Baldwins, northern spies, pippins, seek-no-furthers, greenings, swaars, and Spitzenbergs, with other varieties, are all apparently at home in all the region about us. We know of no remedy for blight but thorough, deep cultivation. Plums, peaches, pears, and cherries produced well last season, and we see no object in the way of their successful cultivation. The best method of transplanting is to dig a very large,.. deep hole-say from four to six feet in diameter, and two feet deep-to receive the roots; if this is done six months before transplanting, to let.

the air operate on the sides and bottom, no harm will follow. Set the tree carefully, with its roots extended, at its former depth; cover them with rich earth or compost; throw the turf taken out of the hole around the sides, towards the bottom, where they will feed the roots; and if you throw hard pan or stiff soil, lay it on top, where the roots will not approach it, and the atmosphere will work it into good, friable soil.

Trees may be successfully set in spring or autumn. If set one year from the graft, a better proportion of root to the top will be obtained, and the growth will be subject to less stint. But be sure to keep cattle from them.

In the matter of forest culture, very little more is done than to preserve the wood lots. Farmers are beginning to see the importance of doing so much for the benefit of future years. It is now generally conceded by all intelligent and observing men, we believe, that the most economical method of managing woodlands is, to commence on a remote part and cut clean. This will save much in breaking down young timber, compared with the old and wasteful system of cutting a tree here and anotherthere, which will each, from necessity, break down a younger growth in its fall, and each tree will also require a separate path to remove it. Where: this mode is practised, it is not unusual to see patches of pasturage springing up, and but little prospect of a healthy aftergrowth of timber. By this thinning, too, the remaining trees are left more exposed to the winds, which, having full play, subject them to premature decay. By cutting clean, a young and thrifty growth is encouraged over all the land; the old paths are lost in it, and of course the waste of land in wood-paths is each year, as the labor is brought nearer home, diminished. Woodlands managed in this way may be renewed in from fifteen to twentyfive years, according to the location.

The practice of pasturing forests, which once prevailed, is fatal in its tendency, and by all good managers is nearly abandoned; neither sheep nor cattle are permitted to run in such grounds, unless the owner is willing to see his prospects of timber and fuel run out.

Meteorology.-1851 was decidedly a cold year; the lowest temperature was 17° below zero, in February; the warmest, two weeks in the early part of July, when we had summer heat, and aside from which we had very few warm days. Rains were abundant until the 10th of July; but from that time forward a drought followed, and the springs and streams were unusually low. The middle of November, corn suffered from the cold season; oats, spring wheat, &c., from the drought. Hay was good; and, taking all crops into account, they may be said to have been more than middling.

Yours, truly,

W. BACON.

RHODE ISLAND.

MIDDLETOWN, NEWPORT CO., RHODE ISLAND. Answers to the questions in relation to crops cultivated in this vicinity, stock, &c.:

Corn.-Guano is scarcely used; average product-say 40 bushels peracre; difficult to ascertain the cost of production; not considered a remu

nerating crop unless the price is nearly or quite $1 per bushel. The best mode of culture is to cover with a good coat of manure to plough in; and, after being well ploughed, to cover with another good coat of manure, and harrow well before planting, and keep clear of weeds by thorough cultivating and hoeing.

Oats.-Average yield-say 40 bushels per acre; 3 to 4 bushels of seed

used.

Barley. Not as much cultivated as formerly, and less productive. Three bushels seed generally used; perhaps 30 bushels per acre would be as much as an average now; though, formerly, 50 would sometimes be harvested from an acre. Considered less exhausting than oats.

Rye. Not much cultivated; less than formerly; perhaps 25 bushels would be a fair average; 1 bushel seed used per acre.

Grass.-Unless the hay yields about a ton to the acre, it is called small. Sometimes 3 tons have been obtained. Nearly or quite all kinds of manure are good for meadow or pasture. Clover, timothy, or herdsgrass, with red-top or border-grass seed, generally sown; and about 1 bushel of the mixture per acre generally, varying according to soil, &c. Horses. A few only raised; and when they prove well, barely pay the cost of raising; break young and use moderate.

Sheep and Wool.-Wool-growing would hardly pay were it not for the mutton and lamb for the market; middle-sized sheep are preferred. A pound of fine wool may, perhaps, be raised at as little cost as coarse; but the coarser kinds are in general preferred for mutton and lamb for the market. About as many lambs generally raised as there are ewes kept, and sometimes more.

Hogs.-Not much done in raising pork, more than for home consump

tion.

Root Crops.-The cultivation of these is believed to be on the increase. Make the land rich, and pulverize well before planting. Average yield, perhaps, 500 bushels per acre.

Potatoes.-Used to produce well, but latterly hardly pay for the labor, owing to the blight, which, if accounted for at all, I believe must be atmospherical.

CONNECTICUT.

DAVID BUFFUM.

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SIR: Your Circular to the president of the Brooklyn Farmers' Club was duly received through the politeness of the Hon. R. S. Baldwin, and we return an answer at the earliest time since a thorough discussion of the various questions.

Corn is the most important crop of grain raised in this town, as our farmers are mostly dependent upon it for fattening their pork. It is ground with oats or rye and barley, and fed in a raw state. Hogs will do better in this way, upon a given quantity, than when cooked.

Our best crops are raised upon green-sward, ploughed 7 inches deep, a few days before planting, which takes place from the 5th to the 25th

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