Barley. I sow this on my corn stubble; get a good crop without injuring my land, and still prepare it better for wheat. Yield per acre, 40 bushels. Average price of the above crops here in the market-wheat, $1; oats, 31 cents; barley, 63 cents; corn, 1 cent per pound. As to dairy, I keep just cows enough to make the rotation of crops and to eat my clover. The information that I could give on this point would be of no importance. Tobacco is now cultivated here to some extent, and bids fair to be extensively raised, as it grows well, and will, no doubt, pay well when the people become acquainted with its culture. As to potatoes, the best place I have found to raise them is on sandy soil, in order to prevent them from rotting, as this is the chief thing we have to contend with in their culture. The theory about insects and mildew, in causing them to rot, is but the result of a brilliant imagination; as I have seen two varieties planted in one hill, where one would be entirely rotten and the other wholly sound. The most successful method I have practised is to plant them just as I do corn, using the same kind of manure, and in the same way. I think I can speak of the system of farming I have laid down with some confidence, from the fact that the farm which I cultivate was, ten years ago, considered worn out; but by deep ploughing, and a rotation of crops, the product has increased from 5 to 20 per cent. per year, and still continues to increase, but not to so great an extent. In the mean time I have husbanded all the manure that would accumulate from such a system. I have purchased no fertilizers but ashes and plaster. Lime would, no doubt, be of vast importance; but the cost here is too much to make it profitable-70 miles being the nearest place it can be procured. Guano has never been employed here; consequently, I cannot inform you whether it would be profitable or not. Yours, respectfully, JOHN HAGGERTY. FALLSBURGH, SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW YORK, SIR: Your Circular, calling for agricultural statistics for the current year, was duly received, and would have been answered sooner had it not been for a delay in order that I might furnish you with a meteorological table, kept at the Liberty Normal Institute, which I could not get until the end of the year. 1 remark that in replying to your questions I shall mention such artidles as I am familiar with, and those based principally on experience. Oats and Rye.-Oats are extensively raised in this county; average yield would not vary much from 30 to 35 bushels per acre. This crop has deteriorated very much of late years. The true cause is, I think, that the land has been exhausted of some of the necessary elements for producing this kind of grain. I use 3 bushels per acre for seed. Some farmers only use 2. The best acre of oats that was exhibited at our county fair, to which was awarded the first premium, was 66 bushels. The average yield of rye is from 10 to 12 bushels per acre. From 28 to 41 bushels have been on exhibition at our county fairs. From 14 to 14 bushel of seed used. I prefer the latter quantity. I consider rye the least exhausting of any grain we raise, and the oats the worst. Neat Cattle.-I have never kept an account of the cost of rearing. Heifers in calf at 3 years old are usually worth from $18 to $22. Good dairy cows in the spring sell for $25 to $30. There is very little difference in the prices in spring or fall. Since the Erie railroad has been in operation, new milch cows are eagerly sought after, at all seasons in the year, by men who furnish the New York market by that road. "How do you break Steers to the yoke?"-Our usual custom is to put them in a yard that is clear, and yoke them together; never tie their tails together, as was an old custom, to prevent their turning the yoke. Put a halter on the near-side one to prevent their running away, and, with the halter in one hand, and a whip in the other, commence driving them gently, seldom using the whip. If they are stubborn, urge them gently. Harshness only makes them worse. If they are disposed to run, let them have their way. The yard will prevent them from getting away from you. After worrying awhile, let them run a little while alone, for an hour or two, occasionally giving them a drive. They should not be driven to make them tired or leg-weary. This is the cause of some oxen lying down when they get a little weary. When they get a little used to driving, they should be fastened to something light, to learn to draw. A pole or a sapling is very good. After a drive of a few hours every day, they will generally get gentle enough to partially dispense, with the halter. It should wholly be dispensed with as soon as possible. After they get a little used to drawing, they should be put to a cart or wagon and taught to back. It is a very good plan to cominence backing where the ground is a little descending at first. Oxen, if properly managed at first, can be taught to back nearly as much as they can draw, which is often important. After they get so far broken that they will draw light loads, they should be driven a short distance and stopped, and be learned to hold up their heads. This is generally easily done. At first it will be necessary to lift up the yoke on the near steer by hand; and putting the right knee under the bow, and a little motion of the foot under the off-side one's chops, will bring his head up. A little practice in this way and a motion of the whip will make them raise their heads at the word when they stop. This always makes oxen show to good advantage. When I have a well-broken pair of oxen, that for size will match tolerably well with steers, I mismatch them together. In this manner they get broken much sooner. Oxen and steers should never be hallooed at as if they were deaf, much less whipped, only in case of necessity. Patience and kindness should be freely exercised in breaking steers. A good whip with a light slim lash is best, and, when it is necessary to use it, let it be a snap rather than a stroke with the whole lash. An ox should never be used to expect a blow before he starts, but learned to start. at the word, and, if they are not overloaded and mauled to make them draw, instead of their becoining drones, they will be spry and active, and will perform with nearly as much activity as the horse. Horses and Mules.-With mules I have no experience; with the horse I have. I consider raising horses of good stock and character a profitable business to the farmer, but those of inferior character a dead loss. Horses of an inferior character always sell at low prices, and it is gen erally to such men as are hard to get pay from; while those of a superior class sell readily to men who are able to pay down. I have never kept any account of rearing until three years old. One thing I am certain of-it costs but little more to raise a colt than a heifer or steer. As respects the keeping a brood mare, I can hardly determine. I have raised some excellent colts, and worked the mare the year round; others I have reared, and scarcely worked at all; and I have never been able to discover that the colt was any better at the age of three years. Great caution is necessary, in working a brood mare, not to overheat or overwork her. When a mare runs without work, she gives a larger flood of milk, and the foal depends on it. The reverse is the case with a mare that works. The foal soon learns to depend on its own feeding; and when weaned, will seldom pine away, like a colt that has always had a full supply of milk. I have generally found it easier to keep a colt in thriving condition the first winter when the mare has been worked than when she has run idle. This I account for from the fact that the colt has sooner learned to depend on its own resources. As respects the profit of keeping a brood mare at work, or one that does not, I consider the balance much in favor of the former. It is very expensive keeping horses, unless they are kept at work. "What is the best way to break Horses?"-I consider this an important question, and as much overlooked, perhaps, as anything relating to rearing and fitting horses for service. A well-broken horse is what every man wishes for, and will command a readier sale, although he may be somewhat inferior in other respects. Such a horse only can be depended on. When I speak of a well-broken horse, I wish to be understood one for farmers' use; and such a horse I believe, will answer all purposes that a horse is used for. I shall only speak of breaking to harness. I will simply say that my opinion is, a colt should not be used under the saddle until it is at least four years old. I think breaking to harness should commence at three years, but never put to hard work till six years old. In order to break a colt as he should be, it is of great importance to have a horse that is qualified to break him with; and, in order to make myself understood, it will be necessary to describe some of his qualifications. In the first place, he should be, in every way, perfectly true and kind. A horse that will bite a colt is unfit for the purpose. He should be a good stepper, because this is indispensable to a good traveller. The step is what tells in the journey. There is many a horse that can trot fast, and is at the same time a poor traveller. When a good stepper is found, it almost invariably follows that his other gaits are in proportion. He should also be well broken to the word. Now, I would put the colt in the stable, and put the harness gently on him, keeping the doors all shut, and let him stand in the stable a few hours in each day for a few days until he gets used to the harness, and occasionally lead him out doors to get him accustomed to it. After he gets over showing fear of the harness, he should be placed beside the horse he is to be driven with, and the two harnessed together. Great care should be used not to frighten him. After getting all ready, a person should take him by the head, and another hold off the lines with a whip, and begin to lead him along. If he is disposed to run, hold him in gently; never jerk him in the mouth; humor him in the bit until he gets use to it. After driving him around an hour or two, if he is not afraid, you may attach him to a wagon that is not too heavy, and drive. him on a walk, if possible; but, if he is disposed to trot, bring him to the walk as soon as you can, and drive him on the gait, and, if possible, never let him break the walk till he is learned to walk as fast as he possibly can. Much may be done, in the breaking of a colt, to increase his speed for a traveller. Driving him on a walk will not worry him; consequently, he can be kept longer in the harness than if he was driven. fast. As soon as he appears to get a little tired, unharness him carefully; see that every part of the harness is unloosed before you attempt to take it off. His breast should be washed with cold water. The next day he should be harnessed and driven as before, unless his breast shows symptoms of being galled, which will be discovered by the hairs being wet under the collar. He should never be harnessed when there is the least appearance of his breast being sore. Great care should be used in turning about, for fear the wagon tongue may strike him suddenly, and › cause him to kick. After he has been driven day after day till he has become accustomed to the harness and carriage, and learned to walk as fast as it is possible for him to do, you may commence the trot, in which he should be as thoroughly learned as to walk. It will not do to drive him far at a time; but drive him a little way, and stop till he gets rested. It is as necessary to teach him to stop and to start as anything else. After he gets thoroughly broken to the trot you may let him walk or trot occasionally; but be sure not to let him get both gaits mixed up together, which will spoil both. Make him understand his business thoroughly, whatever it may be. You may now commence drawing light loads with him, but be sure not to put a heavier load behind him than the breakhorse can easily draw, and get your carriage in a position that will start easily. Be sure to have your break-horse ready to start when the word is given. In this way he should be trained till he thoroughly understands his business. Always bear in mind that the gaits above described are of the utmost importance to the value of the horse; and whether driven to a load or light, close attention should be paid to his gaits till they are thoroughly understood by him. Now, another kind of training will be necessary for the farm. That requires another kind of gait. I have always found that the best kind of work to put a colt to at first was to put him to harrowing ploughed ground. This is work that will soon make him leg-weary a little, and it will be easy to bring the quick step to a slow one, which is always necessary for ploughing; and whether for ploughing, or dragging, or whatever the work may be that requires the horse to go slow, he may be trained to this gait without injuring his step before the carriage. But let him thoroughly understand what his business is, and in after-life he will never forget it, and it will add to his value as long as he is able to work. In driving on a walk the lines may be a little slack; but he should always be taught, when the line is drawn tight, to start off free; and, when the line slackens, to come to a walk. Great pains should be taken to learn him the word to stop or to start. "Whoa" should never be said to him unless it is intended for him to stop. Those who are unaccustomed to thorough breaking may say I am taking a great deal of unnecessary pains; with such I will have no controversy. I will only say to them, try your kind of breaking, or rather no break or gait at all, with a thoroughly broken horse on the road, and satisfy yourselves. I am confident that whoever will follow my mode of breaking will feel themselves well paid for their trouble. I am well satisfied that there are many that would have been valuable horses; but, for the want of thorough and proper training, they have become nearly worthless. There are some persons who have not a suitable horse to break a colt with. When this is the case, it would be better for the owner to put his colt into the hands of some man who has the proper means to do it. I have broken a number of colts, and never had one that proved unkind in my own hands. Some of them were very highmettled animals. With such much care is necessary in training. Such horses are generally much more to be depended upon when they are broken. Two years ago I received a small package of rye-grass seed from the Patent Office that bids fair to be valuable in this section of country. It starts earlier in the spring than any other grass I am acquainted with, and I think will produce two crops in a season. The seed ripened here by the 8th of July. I have harvested the second crop of multicole rye from the small package I received from the Patent Office. It appears to be of an excellent quality, and I think will prove productive. Root Crops.-Since the failure of the potato crop, the rutabaga and flat field turnip have been extensively raised, and I think are rather on theincrease. Carrots and beets are only raised for culinary use. Irish Potatoes.-Since the potato disease first made its appearance, the average yield per acre has fallen short of what it formerly was, with most varieties. Many of those that were formerly considered the best for culinary purposes have entirely disappeared, while a very few varieties have continued. Among those that have been the least affected by the disease, the yam potato stands first; and I do not know that I can do any better than to refer you to the Transactions of the New York StateAgricultural Society for 1849, page 571. In addition to that, I can say: that I have raised, ever since, excellent crops, without the least symptom of rot. In each year since, I have raised several other varieties, most: of which have rotted more or less. Some have rotted the last summer. I have, in the last three years, shipped several hundred bushels of this: variety to different ports, and in some six or seven States; and, so far as I have heard from them, they have been entirely free of rot. They arevery firm and crisp, and require the whole season, in this section, to mature. We have a wire-tooth horse-rake in this section that answers an excellent purpose in our stony country. It has, I believe, nearly done away with the revolver, and is a great labor-saving machine. Its superiority over the revolver is that it works nearly as well on the stony ground, where the stones are not too large, as anywhere. It is simple in its construction, and is easily repaired. The price is about $8 or $9. Annexed is a meteorological table, that was kept at the Liberty Normal Institute, in our county, which was kindly furnished me by the proprietor, John D. Watkins, M. D.: |