Manure, as already stated, under the head of "wheat," is not used at all.

Meteorology.-No correct observations have ever been kept. thermometer (highest) has been, in August, 97°.

The

Before I conclude, I beg to observe, that I have raised water-melons this year from the seed; out of these melons I have now a second crop, as abundant in quantity as fine and flavory in quality and taste. Hoping the above information may be satisfactory, I remain, sir, yours, respectfully,

SIR: In compliance with your request I will proceed to give you a few brief statements on the agriculture of this vicinity to the best of my knowledge. Although I am not engaged in the farming business, I can probably satisfy you.

Time of

Wheat.-Guano is used as a manure on wheat crops with tolerable success. The average crop is from 8 to 12 bushels per acre. sowing from 1st September till 15th October; of harvesting, May and July. There is no peculiar way of preparing seed, only to select it clear from wheat cockle and rape; from 1 to 1 bushel per acre. Break up, harrow, plough, or brush in from 2 to 4 inches. Ploughing rather on the increase-broadcast. There is no particular remedy for Hessian flies. Some prefer early, and some late, as a preventive. Others sow slacked lime broadcast while the dew is on; after threshing, put up in the chaff as preventive against weevil. Worth from 60 to 75 cents per bushel.

Corn.-Guano is used very much in this crop; sometimes scattered broadcast, and sometimes a common shovel on the hill. There is no estimate made per 100 pounds. Average about 35 bushels per acre; worth from 20 to 30 cents. Break up in the fall; cross-plough in the spring, then harrow; check off from 3 to 4 feet, according to the strength. of the soil; drop from 4 to 5 grains in the hill. By this method you will be sure to have a good stand, viz:

One for the blackbird, one for the crow,

One for the cut-worm, and two left to grow.

It is my opinion it is much the best ground or chopped, but it is universally fed whole and raw. Your last question has never come under the consideration of our farmers, that I have heard.

Oats, Barley, Rye, Peas, and Beans.-Oats is an abundant crop; yields from 20 to 25 bushels per acre, and a dozen binds per bushel, sowing from 1 to 14 bushel per acre. Rye and barley scarcely raised at all; not enough to make any comparison. Peas and beans only for table

use.

Grass is scarcely used at all for hay. The blades of corn are used as a winter feed. Clover is sometimes sown for summer pasture, with indifferent success.

The Dairy is not used to supply any market. All made is in families; no peculiar way of treating milk; only a common log spring house below or above the spring. The common old model churn is used; big at the bottom and little at the top.

Cattle. Three years old, cost $2 to $3; worth $4 to $6. Good dairy cows, worth $10 to $12. Not ascertained-no experiment tried that I know of. Take while small, put a common yoke on their necks, with bows, and lash their tails together to keep them from turning their necks in the yoke.

Horses and Mules.-Their growth is considered profitable by the farmers. Rearing mules till three years old, from $20 to $30; worth from $40 to $65, and on the decline. Colts, from $30 to $40, till three years old; worth from $40 to $100, and on the decline. Brood mares, breed to good jacks and horses. Give plenty of dry food and good pasture and keep them out of the wet a few weeks before foaling. Breaking: just bridle them, bounce on their backs and stick there, and there is no more trouble with them.

Sheep and Wool.-Nothing more than for family use. No experiment. Large sheep, both for mutton and fleece, are preferred; no full-blooded merinos raised. Wool is worth from 25 to 30 cents. About two-thirds to the number of ewes.

Hogs.-The common old Grazier, mixed with Hindoo breed. Good clover or grass in summer, and corn-fed in the fall, two or three weeks, (last grass not extensively raised;) from 8 to 10 bushels. Kill in November or December; when cold, salt down in hogsheads or large troughs; hang up early in the spring; smoke with good sound wood until dried, then pack down again in corn, wheat bran, or ashes, and you will have good meat.

Cotton is scarcely raised at all, only by very small patches; not enough to give any information-therefore it will pass unnoticed; also sugarcane and rice not cultivated at all.

Tobacco. About 600 pounds per acre; cost of raising, about $1_75 per 100 pounds; worth, for the last year, from $4 to $7, but on the decline. No improved plan known; no peculiar rotation to maintain the fertility of the land. Guano is used with good results on old land; it makes our best and heaviest tobacco.

Hemp not cultivated at all. Turnips, carrots, beets, &c., not cultivated, except as a garden vegetable for the table. Neither increase nor decrease perceivable; no improvement in the way of preparing the land known; not used among stock; no estimate made.

Potatoes are cultivated about the same as the above-named roots, except sweet potatoes. Make round hills, plant, scrape down, and hill up. Nothing more done until digging time, in September and October.

Fruit. Neither increase or decrease perceivable; not enough cultivated to make it profitable to the farmers, only for family uses. No exportation made; no applicable remedy discovered for the diseases of fruit-trees. No grafting of consequence; no interest taken in the grape culture or forest culture.

Manure. No particular way, only to let it lie in where stock is stabled or penned for the winter. Plaster not used; no lime of consequence. Guano is used with good success; no particular quantity; thrown on as the strength of the ground may require.

So I believe I have given you all the information I can think of at present, but will take pleasure in communicating to you at any time, on any subject; as I would like to become a little acquainted at any rate. Or I am at your service for anything you want at any time that is within my power. Your obedient servant,

J. H. EUBANK.

VERNON, TENN., Nov. 27, 1851.

DEAR SIR: Your Agricultural Circular of August, 1851, is before me. I have delayed answering the many inquiries, hoping that I would be the better able to do so after gathering up as much information as possible upon a subject that is so important. I proceed at once to give you my information, imperfect as it is.

Wheat has never been raised, only for home consumption. Surest crop is raised from the May wheat; there are many other varieties tried, but none so sure as the early May wheat; it produces from 10 to 15 bushels per acre; by its early maturity, never takes the rust. The Mediterranean has been sown in various parts of the State for several years, but never in Hickman until this year; it did well this season, being very nearly as early as the May wheat, and grows better on thin land.

There are but few of the farmers who take any interest in putting it in well; those who do are well paid for the extra labor. When we have a crop of good wheat, not injured by late frosts, it weighs about 68 to 70 pounds per bushel; but the last two crops have been poor ones.

Indian Corn is the principal crop with most of the farmers, and, where the soil is good, they raise from 50 to 60 bushels per acre; 35 bushels would not be far from an average over the county. I have done as much in the way of experimenting upon this article as any one in Hickman. Having, from childhood, been brought up to work thin land, of course it has been to my interest to cultivate it to the best advantage.. The mode of culture several years back was, and is with a good many yet, to plough the land about 2 to 4 inches deep; and, from observa. tion, I find that in land that is the least rolling, the soil has disappeared. Land that is for corn, if stubble, should be broken up in October. Let.. it lie until the last of March, or first of April; break it up again; and then I use a log harrow, about 7 feet long, with iron teeth inserted in the log 6 inches apart-this being the best harrow I ever saw used. will give you a better description of it: The tongue, for oxen, is inserted through the centre of the log with a large mortice to strengthen it; the teeth should project back enough to let the weight of the log drag on the ground, and, the teeth being placed at the proper slope, they completely pulverize the land, and leave it perfectly smooth and finely harrowed up. The log should be of weight sufficient to mash the clods and level the ground. After harrowing land for corn, I check it at 4 feet, and drop

I

3 or 4 grains in each hill. About four days after planting, if the season is fine, cross over it with a side harrow. I plough and harrow four times with one good hoeing. If I use manure for the crop, put one shovel in a hill; it is some labor, but pays better than any I can give. The benefits of manure have been but little known in this county until within a few years; but it shows so plain upon the farms of those who judiciously apply it, that there will be but little thrown away or wasted, and every effort will be made to increase the quantity. The long, briertop, or gourd-seed corn is the most prolific, shelling out more from a cob than any other variety.

Oats are abundantly raised. Sow, from the 20th of February to the last of April, from 3 bushels to 1 bushel per acre, on corn or cottonland; and, with an ordinary season, you can make about 600 binds per acre. The small black oat is the kind used.

Peas are raised to some extent, and could be profitably raised with less labor than any other crop. I have raised 5 crops. My mode of planting is: After ploughing my corn three times, to cross the ploughing in the centre of the row forthwith with a small coulter; drop between the hills from 4 to 8 peas in a hill, and cover with the foot; in ten days, or as soon as the corn wants ploughing, run the bar of the plough to the peas, and the mould board to the corn; when ploughed again the other way, the peas will be of sufficient size for the mould-board; hoe out after the five ploughings; and, my word for it, in fair land, and a moderate season, you will not regret it. I have frequently sown them broadcast the last ploughing; but it is not so sure, as they are too late for a sure crop. The pea known as the cow-pea is the best, as they will lie on the ground and keep sound all the winter. I find that horses, mules, cattle, and hogs are very fond of them, and improve rapidly when well fed or pastured on them. The vine is a great addition to land; also, the Goober pea is extensively raised here, and, so far, has proved to be the most profitable crop that can be raised. The first ever raised for market was sold in Nashville in the fall of 1845. Since that time there have been upwards of 20,000 or 25,000 bushels raised within 10 or 15 miles of this place each year, and sell for from 65 cents to $1 per 22 pounds. The vine is equal to clover-hay for stock, if well saved.

Clover has done but little good in Hickman for the last two years. Neat Cattle.-Those who take care of the young, with good shelter in the winter, can raise them, until 3 years old, for $6 each; and they are raised upon such food as would be thrown away if not fed to cattle. Worth, at that age, from $8 to $10.

Horses and Mules are raised here to some extent-particularly mules; and those that have made a business of it appear well pleased with the profits arising from the sales at 2 and 3 years old. The cost of rearing one until 3 years old does not exceed $35 or $40. Worth, at that age, from $10 to $100. I could write a page in giving my views upon the management of mares and colts; but, as every one has a way of his own, I think it useless.

Hogs.-The best breed of hogs is the Berkshire, crossed with the native stock, and well fed all the time, or grazed on clover, oats, &c.; which, with plenty of salt in the spring, is a very good substitute for yearling hogs. Pigs should be better fed. The best mode of curing bacon is to kill your pork as soon as the season will allow; put on plenty

of salt; let it remain about 5 weeks; have a good, tight house, and be sure to have it high, with a cold spell to hang in, and you will never fail to have good bacon. The best mode of putting up hams—and I have tried many ways-is to put them up early in ashes-a layer of hams and ashes-and stalks across, to keep them from touching.

Cotton is a poor article for Tennessee, and particularly this season. Average yield, about 600 pounds per acre, and is selling for $1 40 in the seed. I would say to Tennessee, Let the southern people raise it: there is not an acre of land but what can pay better in almost anything that is grown than cotton. Try it.

We have some tobacco-raisers in this county, and they made it profitable last season; and, with proper culture, it is a profitable crop. Fresh, new land, or old, manured, does equally as well, and makes a heavier article; but it is a crop that requires an experience, to make it pay, that few are in possession of. The least neglect, and a total failure is the

result.

If what I have written, after correcting the many mistakes, will be acceptable, you are at liberty to publish. The enclosed are correct answers to a part of your questions, according to the best of my judg

ment.

Very respectfully, yours, &c.,

WILLIAM B. EASBY.

LINE POST OFFICE, OBION COUNTY, TENN.,

October 29, 1851.

SIR: A copy of your printed Circular came duly to hand; and, withinR a few days past, I have had the pleasure of receiving a copy of your Annual Report to Congress, accompanied by a few packages of seedwheat, &c.; for all which acts of kindness, intended both for public good and individual interest, be so kind as to accept my sincere thanks. As to the many kinds of information sought by your general Circular, I with much pleasure communicate a few important facts in relation to the culture of grasses and small grain, hoping they may obtain general circulation through the medium of your Annual Report to Congress, if you should deem them worthy of a place in so important and useful book.

In seeding new lands with grasses of all kinds, it is important that the soil should be prepared, without turning under the virgin, or top soil, so that the seed may be deposited in it, instead of the unsubdued subsoil. This preparation may be, by the use of a subsoil plough and harrow, or with the harrow alone, by which a better stand will be insured, and a far better yield. I esteem it of great importance to harrow all kinds of grasses and small grain in the early spring, whilst the soil is yet moist say in the latter part of March, or very first of April. The advantages that will result from adopting this mode of culture are these: the light and air will be freely admitted to the roots, which are necessary to luxuriant growth; and most foreign growth will be destroyed-thus insuring the largest product of which the soil may be capable of producing; and lastly, the spring harrowing will break up the turf-bound condition of most meadows, and perpetuate them through many years until