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Grazing. Our best meadows yield three tons per acre at one cutting, and some farms average more than two tons of hay per acre. But, generally, that would be too high an estimate.

Fresh green manure is employed with advantage as to top-dressing on moist meadows; but, if it contains much straw, it is better to allow it to ferment under shelter, or to compost it with peat er swamp muck, and draw it out in autumn, to be spread in the spring. Fermented manure may be applied in the spring, or in the summer after the grass is cut, or late in the autumn; but green manure seems not serviceable when applied just as the grass is starting into vigorous growth in the spring, which thus keeps the manure moist by its shade, and rapidly appropriates all of its volatile and soluble portions.

Ashes and gypsum are very valuable, and much used as top-dressings; but the former should not be applied with barn-yard manure, as it tends to liberate and dissipate its ammonia; while the latter should always be applied with it, as it will retain the ammonia, which might otherwise escape. If frequently sprinkled in stables and on the manure heap, it must, of course, become fully charged with this gas, which will be given up when needed by plants.

The effect of manure is most distinctly seen on land which is already in good condition, and when the most valuable grasses are firmly estab lished. Most of the land mowed in this region is permanently in grass, and its productiveness does not diminish for any length of time, if properly manured. When land is seeded to lie only a few years in a rotation of grass, red clover and timothy, or herdsgrass, are alone employed, using about two quarts of the former, with six or eight of the latter, per acre. When the land is moist, and it is designed to lie permanently in grass, a half bushel of reed-top seed may be added to advantage. A plentiful supply of seed produces a close turf, which prevents the growth of weeds, and the stems of the grass are finer and more valuable.

With regard to the cost per ton, by referring to my note book, I find that the past year we cut, by estimate, about 200 tons from 85 acres, -employing nearly 200 days' work; costing, with board and tools, $1 50 per day. Add to this, interest on the land, at least $3 per acre, and the cost of returning the manure to the land to keep it in good condition, we shall make the cost of the hay in the barn a little over $3 per ton. With a superior crop, contiguous to the barn, and a favorable season, it might cost less than this.

Dairy Husbandry.-The average annual produce of cheese to a cow in this region is about 300 pounds. Where the dairy is large, it is considered most profitable to make no butter except in the spring or fall, while the weather is cool and the quantity of milk small; for it is estimated that every pound of butter takes nearly two pounds from the cheese, besides affecting its quality.

In smaller dairies, the night's milk is skimmed in the morning, and *mingled with the new; for the cream, if once separated, cannot again be mixed with the milk; so that all will remain in the cheese, but will pass off in the whey.

It is estimated that the milk which will make 1 pound of butter will make nearly 3 pounds of cheese, although the proportions must vary much at different seasons, depending upon the quality of the milk and the character of the weather.

So many different circumstances must ever affect experiments upon these subjects, that we can never hope to attain that accuracy of result as in many other researches. Among these may be named the difference in cows-the milk of one being rich in butter, and another in cheese; their condition in flesh, the quality of their food, extremes of heat and cold, moisture and drought, and the quietness or excitement of the cow at milking time.

The cheese of this part of Litchfield county is much liked, and is sent to market under the name of Goshen cheese. The price this year has been low, yielding the farmers but 6 or 6 cents per pound. That of butter has raised, during the season, from 12 to 20 cents.

Neat Cattle. The average value of cattle, at three years old, is from $25 to $30, and we consider that it costs that to raise them. Good dairy cows are worth, in the spring, from $30 to $50; in the fall, about $10 less.

Steers are usually broken in the yoke when three years old. If stabled and confined in the stanchions, their necks become used to restraint, and they submit to the yoke very readily. The most common practice is to place them, when yoked, between two pairs of older cattle; and in this way they are sufficiently broken to put on the lead. Or they may be put there at first, or even driven alone-a halter being put on one to restrain and guide them. They should be treated very gently and kindly, or they may acquire bad habits, which may prove troublesome. It is important that they should be trained to move quickly, and therefore they should not be checked or overstrained by heavy loads when young. When oxen are worked regularly, especially upon the roads, or in the winter, when there is ice, shoeing becomes almost as necessary as with horses; and it is gratifying to the driver to see with what spirit his team will take hold of their load when well shod, and with what confidence they will go upon the ice. In order to put on the shoes, the smith confines them in a frame built for the purpose.

In a rough and hilly country like New England, the ox is advanta geously employed on the farm in preference to the horse. If well trained, and properly fed, he will do nearly as much work, while the expenses of keeping are very much less, and his liability to disease and accident is very small, indeed, as compared with the horse. And, when he is no longer needed for labor, his value for the shambles not only secures a season of rest and enjoyment for himself, but preserves his owner from all danger of loss.

Respectfully, yours,

T. S. GOLD.

NEW MILFORD, (NORTHVILLE POST OFFICE,) Litchfield County, Ct., November 6, 1851. DEAR SIR: Your Circular of August, 1851, was duly received through the politeness of the Hon. Truman Smith.

Living in a region of country favorable to agriculture, I have noted with some interest, the effect of improved cultivation of the lands in vicinity. Twenty-five years since, much of our plough-lands w

hausted, and presented as forbidding an aspect as does much of the wornout lands of Maryland and Virginia. By judicious cultivation, these lands have been most completely renovated, and their productiveness and value have been increased from 100 to 500 per cent. The same land which, a few years since, would hardly pay for cultivation, will now produce 60 bushels of corn per acre, and other crops in proportion. Our usual course with worn-out lands is to summer fallow, ploughing to the depth of about five inches; cross-plough early in September, being careful to leave the soil thoroughly pulverized; then spread evenly upon the land from three to six loads of fine manure; sow with rye, and drag with harrow; then sow from six to eight quarts of timothy seed per acre, to be followed by a bush. As soon as danger from severe frosts is past in the spring-say the 20th of April, the ground is sown with clover, at the rate of from two to three quarts of seed per acre, and dragged in with a heavy bush or harrow. This, so far from injuring the rye or timothy, will decidedly improve the crop. The next step is to sow, about the first of May, 100 pounds of Nova Scotia plaster per acre; the plaster being repeated annually, while the ground remains in grass. Lands treated in this way, if not too closely fed, will produce a most luxuriant crop of grass, for three or four years in succession; when the timothy will have formed, a thickly-matted turf, so essential to the production of Indian Such land, with a slight manuring, will produce 50 bushels of corn to the acre.

corn.

Neat Cattle.-Cost of raising, until three years old, a good animal, about $28; which sells for from $28 to $36 and $40; the latter prices for fineworking steers. Much attention is given to selecting and breaking steers, and probably no county in the Union can boast of finer oxen than Litchfield county; many working oxen selling as high as $150 the pair, though the average of good oxen might be set as low as $110 per pair. It is generally conceded that the raising of a poor animal does not pay expenses. There are a variety of opinions as to the most valuable breed of cattle for practical farming purposes. My own observation and experience have led me decidedly to prefer a cross of the Devon and Durham, which unites many of the good qualities of both, without retaining the defects. In answer to your inquiry, as to the best method of breaking steers to the yoke, I will give you my own. Steers are generally matched at two years old, and much depends on a similarity of temperament. When yoked, a strip of board should be fastened to the horns by strings, which will prevent them turning their yoke. Too much caution cannot be used in the breaking, as many of the bad habits of working cattle are acquired during that time. When first yoked, they should be permitted to stand, during the day, in the yard. In this way they become accustomed to the yoke, without any trouble on the part of the owner; and will generally, before night, walk about the yard together in the yoke, taking feed from the hands of the master. On the second day, put them into the teams, between two yokes of oxen if convenient, which day's work will generally satisfy them that what cannot be avoided had better be patiently endured. If a steer refuses to go, and lies down in the yoke, in. serting a pin in the end of the tail will change his mind immediately, and bring him to his feet; when coaxing, whipping, or dogging will make no impression. Two or three trials of that kind, and he will forever abandon the experiment. Gentleness and using will, theu, soon make them

obedient and handy. My estimates of cattle will be understood to apply only to imported breeds, under good management. Neglected stock fall short of the estimate from one third to one-half.

Sheep.-The raising of fine-woolled sheep is generally abandoned in this vicinity, and coarse sheep, for mutton, have been substituted, which are considered the most profitable stock of the farmer. The South Downs are preferred, for the purpose of raising lambs for market. The number of lambs will generally exceed the number of ewes in a flock. The lambs should be dropped in February or March; they are sold, at four months old, from $2 to $2.50 per head, some flocks selling as high as $3; while the fleece from the ewes will bring about the same as a fleece of fine wool, the quantity per head being greater. For raising lambs, a flock should not exceed fifty in number; while thirty is, perhaps, a better number. During the season of lambing, the sheep must have good shelter, and a good supply of roots or meal. This food, till grass, will insure a good market lamb.

Yours, with much respect,

ALBERT N. BALDWIN.

Hon. THOS. EWBANK,
Commissioner of Patents.

MILFORD, NEW HAVEN COUNTY, CT.,

December, 1851.

SIR: I herewith send answers to some questions contained in your Circular for August, 1851, which asks information on the various branches of agriculture. A part of the topics only are noticed; for you truly say that no one person can be expected to reply to all the questions, as they extend over the agricultural productions of the whole country.

As much of the land in this county has been cultivated for about two centuries, and as most of the farms are not large, as compared with those in some other States; as the primitive soil was not remarkably rich; as fertilizers are not very abundant; and as labor commands a high price, you will readily see the circumstances in which products of agriculture are produced. All localities should be judged by their peculiarities.

Wheat. There is but a very small proportion of wheat raised in this county, or State, as compared with the quantity of wheat flour which is consumed by the inhabitants, and for manufacturing purposes. Formerly, a fair crop of wheat could be raised in this region; but, latterly, the wheat has either shrunk or blasted so much, that its cultivation has been neglected. But, for the last two years, the wheat has done better; and at the late agricultural fair in this county, and more especially at the late fair in Fairfield county, some fine samples of very plump wheat were exhibited, and the growers stated that the crops were much better than formerly. Perhaps the liberal use of lime and ashes, as manures, has something to do with these improved crops of wheat. Both fall and spring wheat are doing better than formerly.

Corn (Maize).-This is the most valuable crop which is raised in

State; not that it will compare with the crops raised in some western and southwestern States: yet it is large enough to supply the inhabitants, and have a considerable surplus for exportation. This surplus is sent to the States lying easterly of this State, and to the West Indies, in the shape of corn meal. But as the West India trade has declined, the exportation of cornmeal has proportionally declined. Guano is not extensively used in raising corn, as its cost is relatively higher than other manures; but where it has been used, it has answered a good purpose; and, in small quantities, it is applied either in the hill at the time of planting, or about the corn at the time of first hoeing. The yellow variety is mostly preferred, and generally the ears with eight rows are grown; but some prefer the ears with ten and twelve rows. The ears with eight rows ripen earlier than the other varieties. From 20 to 60 bushels the acre are raised; but this quantity is varied both ways, according to the state of the soil, the mode of tillage, and the season. Various modes of tillage are pursued. Some sward-land is ridged, and the corn planted on the ridge, and the balk is ploughed up at the first hoeing; afterwards, the corn is hoed once or twice, according to circumstances.. Others plough the whole land flat, and plant upon the furrows. Flat tillage is coming into general use; the labor is thus lessened, and the land is in a good condition to bear the drought. Four kernels are dropped in a hill, and the hills are about three feet and a half apart. is better to spread the manure, and plough it in, than to place it in the hills, especially if the season be dry. Thorough tillage generally pays well. From ten to twenty cords of yard-manure to the acre are needed to insure a good crop. Corn should be planted as soon as the season will permit.

It

Hogs fatted on corn make the hardest and best pork; sometimes it is fed whole and sometimes the corn is ground. When fed in both ways, hogs thrive better than when it is fed either way alone. Generally, corn is fed raw, but hogs like it better when occasionally cooked; yet this mode is not generally followed, for want of cooking conveniences and the high price of fuel. If the cultivator is able to do the work himself, with the rent of the land, the value of manure, the team work, and the seed, a bushel of corn may be raised for from 25 to 30 cents; but when all the labor is hired, but few farmers make their fortunes by raising corn in Connecticut. For some years past, the price of corn has ranged from 75 to 90 cents the bushel.

Oats. Most of our farmers cultivate this crop and in rotation. Oats usually follow a crop of corn or potatoes, and with this crop the grassseed is sown. From 20 to 25 bushels the acre are considered a good yield; and from 2 to 3 bushels of seed are sown to the acre, according to the goodness of the land; on rich land, the lesser quantity will answer. Oats should be sown as early as the season will allow, as early sowing goes far towards producing plump oats. Most of the oats are fed to horses; but corn and oats ground together make fine feed for hogs. Oats exhaust land more than rye.

Rye is extensively cultivated, and yields from 20 to 35 bushels the acre, more or less, according to the richness of the land and the thoroughness of the tillage. The crop of rye is greatly increased when the land is manured with whitefish, which are bought at the landing places at from 50 cents to $1 per thousand, according to the supply and demand..

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