There is no regular system of rotation practised among us, each having a system of his own, and many no system at all. I will give my own, which is also practised by a few others. I will commence with a green sward: first year, corn; second, oats and barley; third, wheat, with clover and Timothy seed; fourth, mow the first crop for hay-the same season, a crop of seed; fifth and sixth, pasture. Plaster is applied each year while in clover, and the crop of hay is usually from one and a fourth to two tons per acre; the clover-seed from one and a half to two bushels per acre. The expense of getting in hay is generally about one dollar and fifty cents per ton; but to all these estimates should be added the interest on the price of land, at sixty to eighty dollars per acre, and taxes, which are increasing at a rapid rate.

Your humble servant,

JOHN BOWMAN.

PAVILION, GENESEE COUNTY, N. Y.,
December 21, 1852.

SIR: The Circular requesting agricultural information was duly received, through the politeness of Hon. A. P. Hascall, and I have hesitated to reply on account of my limited information; but such as I can give, is cheerfully submitted to your disposal.

Wheat. The most common varieties are the Soule, Blue-stem, Whiteflint, and Mediterranean, and they are generally preferred in the order named; though each kind has its friends, depending upon a more perfect adaptation of soil to a particular variety, and consequently their success with it. The Soule requires a rich soil; the Blue-stem and White-flint will succeed on rather poorer soil; the Mediterranean is a coarse, hardy wheat, and not raised much on our fine wheat lands, but is chiefly used on soils where the other kinds would be likely to winter-kill; and as its market value is less, it is not much of a favorite. No guano is used in this section, to my knowledge, in the production of wheat. I judge the average product this season to be 22 bushels per acre; though some fields have yielded from 40 to 50 bushels per acre. Time of seeding, from the 15th of August to the 15th of September; the kind of soil and weather indicating more definitely the time of seeding. Harvested this season the latter part of July. The preparation of seed is by a thorough cleaning and separation of small shrunk wheat and foul seed, with the fanning mill; 2 bushels per acre is generally used in sowing broadcast; 6 to 7 pecks in drilling both ways, (crossing the field the second time at right-angles with the first drilling,) and 5 pecks is considered sufficient in drilling one way. The usual method is, to plough grass land but once, from six to ten inches deep; the after-cultivation being done with the harrow and cultivator. Stubble land is sometimes ploughed twice. The yield per acre, in some localities, was larger than usual the past season, and, as a whole, I think the yield increasing. In the spring the ground is seeded with clover, and it remains two or three seasons as pasture or meadow. If the clover is grown as a renovating crop, it should be ploughed under the second season; or if the preceding wheat crop has been injured by worms, it should not remain long, as frequent working of the ground will destroy them. Some practise sowing Timothy seed in the fall, im

mediately after the wheat, though a more common one is with the clover in the spring. Less Timothy is used on wheat soils now than formerly; the objection to it is, that it exhausts the soil, or appropriates to its own use elements that are essential to the perfect growth and maturity of the wheat plant; and that it serves to perpetuate wire worms, as they are more liable to injure the succeeding crop, where Timothy is used. For the Hessian fly I know of no better remedy than to keep the land rich-not exhaust it with spring crops; prepare it well, and sow at a proper time; give it room to produce rank and vigorous stalks; upon such, flies do but little injury. Sowing near or after the middle of September is considered a preventive, as the season for depositing their eggs has passed, which is usually the last of August or first of September; but on some soils, if sown late, so as not to germinate before the last of September, the injury from the winter and the rust or mildew, of latesown wheat, would equal that of the fly in the fall, aside from its liability to be attacked in the spring. The weevil has done us no injury yet; a very few were found in this section the past season. The average price at the nearest market (Le Roy) has been 90 cents per bushel.

Corn. The cultivation of this important grain is on the increase. The most esteemed varieties are the eight-rowed yellow, red-blaze, and Dutton. No guano is used in this section in the production of corn. The average product per acre varies much, some farmers getting 25, others 45 or 50 bushels per acre; an average would be not far from 30 bushels per acre this season. To produce an acre of corn will cost at least $12, if interest on land is included. This fall new corn has sold at 50 cents per bushel. Cost of production on this estimate, 40 cents per bushel: 30 bushels at 50 cents per bushel, would be $15-stalks $4; this would leave a net profit of $7 per acre. The usual practice is to plant on grass land, manured with 12 or 15 loads of good barn-yard manure to the acre; though some depend upon the stimulus of a fresh-turned sod, reserving the manure for wheat land. Plough deep, the first of May; harrow it fine; mark it for rows both ways, 3 feet apart; plant about the 20th of May, from 5 to 7 grains in a hill. If the ploughing and harrowing have been thorough, the after-cultivat.on may be done principally with the cultivator and plough, leaving but little work for the hoe. Ashes, lime, and plaster, mixed and sprinkled upon the hills just before or soon after it appears out of the ground, is considered beneficial; if injury from the wire-worm is apprehended, salt is sometimes added. In feeding hogs it is esteemed best to have the corn ground and cooked, or cooked if un. ground; dry unground corn will increase nearly one-fourth its bulk in cooking, though a common practice is to feed it raw and unground (it is less trouble) for cattle, ground, but raw. I have no experiment by which to judge of the increased quantity of grain per acre which the manure of 10 bushels of corn consumed by hogs would make, but think it might be 4 or 5 bushels.

Oats are considered an exhausting crop, and are less cultivated than formerly; average yield under ordinary circumstances, 25 bushels per acre: in favorable seasons they will yield from 40 to 45 bushels per acre; 40 cents is the average price. Land ploughed but once. Sow from 2 to 3 bushels per acre.

Barley is cultivated to some extent; is not so exhausting as oats; it requires a light soil, with a good supply of vegetable matter; 20 bushels

may be considered an average yield, and 60 cents an average price per bushel; quantity sown 2 to 3 bushels per acre.

Rye is not cultivated.

Peas but little cultivated as a field crop, though they are not so exhausting to land as others. They are not cultivated as a renovating crop, though I think they would be a good preparatory crop for wheat, on clay and sandy soils, that are lacking in vegetable matter, if turned under with the plough, or suffered to decay on the surface.

Beans. Their cultivation, I think, is on the increase. Price this season at the nearest market, $1 per bushel; average yield 18 to 20 bushels per acre. They are exhausting to land, as the harvesting removes the stalks, which are rich in the most valuable elements of the soil.

Buckwheat is raised to some extent; time of seeding about the 20th of June; quantity of seed from to bushel per acre. The past season was unfavorable to its filling. The yield was not large-probably 20 bushels would be an average; price, 50 cents per bushel. If grown as a renovating crop, it should be sown early, and ploughed under while in

blossom.

Millet was introduced into this section the past season; how extensive its cultivation will be, I cannot say. It is an exhausting crop, but valuable. If cut when in blossom, though the seed would be valueless, it would produce a number of tons per acre of fodder, as valuable as some of the grasses. Millet seed is rich in nutritive elements. It is also productive; when properly tilled, it is said to yield 65 or 70 bushels per acre. When fed to cattle or horses, it should be ground. Time of seeding, from the 1st to the 15th of June, 8 or 10 quarts of seed per Price, $1 25 per bushel.

acre.

Clover and Grasses.-The past season was not so favorable for grass as others have been; probably 14 ton per acre would be an average. Plaster is the principal fertilizer used for meadows and pastures. In laying down meadows, clover and Timothy are the only grasses used; from 6 to 8 pounds of clover seed, and 6 to 8 quarts of Timothy, per acre. The cost of growing hay, exclusive of interest on land, would be from $2 to $2 50 per ton. My experience in feeding clear clover hay to horses commenced this fall. The hay appears dusty, and the horses cough some; I attribute it to the dust, but cannot say whether it will prove a permanent injury or not. Perhaps the fault was in curing the hay.

Dairy husbandry is not pursued here to much extent; it is a secondary object, farmers consuming from one-half to three-quarters of their dairy products in their own families. A cow will make from 150 to 200 pounds of butter in a year. Average price of butter the past season, 15 cents.

Neat cattle are raised to some extent by farmers generally; and although a too common practice is, and has been, to keep them on cheap and coarse fodder, yet the actual cost of rearing until three years old has not been much less than $20; an average price at that age is from $25 to $30. Good cows sell in the fall from $20 to $25; in the spring, from $25 to $35 and $40. Cannot say how many pounds of beef 100 pounds of corn would produce. A given amount of food will produce more meat in a Durham or Devon, than in a native animal. There are no Herefords in this section. The interest in rearing cattle is increasing. Within the past season some of our enterprising farmers have obtained as fine specimens

of the full-blooded Durham as any section can furnish. The breaking of steers to the yoke is a rare occurrence; but when attempted, it commences the first winter, by yoking them occasionally, and driving sufficient to accustom them to the yoke and make them gentle. But few oxen are used on farms, and most of them are taken from Western droves, or the adjoining southern counties. Our cattle are principally intended for the shambles.

Sheep and Wool.-Considerable wool is grown here. At our nearest market (Le Roy) over 92,000 pounds were bought; one firm buying over 80,000 pounds, at an average of 38 cents per pound. The amount bought by that firm was less by 50,000 pounds than in some previous years. The clip was not less, but more wool the past season was sent to other markets. Most people consider wool-growing profitable; but as opinions are various respecting sheep and wool, and the comparative profit of growing fine and coarse wool, both wool and mutton being considered, I am under the necessity of leaving answers to the proposed questions for those more experienced in wool-growing and rearing of sheep.

Hogs.-New varieties are frequently introduced, but are so soon mixed up, that it is difficult to determine which are the best. A cross of the Byfield and the Leicestershire is generally preferred. Hogs are allowed to range over the pasture-fields and orchards during the summer, and with the milk and slops from the kitchen, thrive well; in the fall they are confined in pens and fed on apples, potatoes, and pumpkins, boiled together in such proportions as our supplies of each will admit, adding meal after boiling-afterwards fed on corn, until time of killing. In packing pork the Onondaga coarse salt is generally used, though some prefer rock salt, from the idea that it preserves meat better. As salt contains water mechanically confined within its crystals, the only source of danger in using it is in its dampness. "Wet salt is entirely unsuitable for preserving animal substances, inasmuch as the principal operation of salt as a preserver is due to its power of absorbing water from the material preserved." [The idea advanced that "wet salt" is injurious to pickled pork, or any meat, is unsound.-Ed.] And if the Onondaga salt is thoroughly dried, its preserving qualities are equal to any foreign salt. There is no bacon made. Hams are cured by moistening them with saltpetre water, then rubbing them with hot salt two or three times in the course of two or three weeks, or by packing in tight casks and covering them with strong brine, letting them remain four or five weeks, then smoking them with sugar-maple chips, or, what is preferred by some, corn cobs; afterwards kept in a dry cool place until used. Cannot say how many pounds of pork 100 pounds of corn will make.

Potatoes are cultivated generally, though the yield has not been large; 100 bushels is probably an average per acre. The preparation and tillage the same as corn. The round and long Pink eye and Mercer are considered best for table use, and are as profitable, though not so prolific, as some other varieties. Best system in planting is in drills from two and a half to three feet distant, and from eight to ten inches in the drill, one piece in a place; a light rich soil, free from clay, is best. If manures are used, they should be fine and well rotted; coarse and unfermented mauures. are considered injurious. During the prevalence of the potato disease, we lost none that were grown on a loose black soil, (re arranged drift, filled with vegetable matter;) but where the subsoil, a light, argillaceous

earth, (but not a tenacious clay,) was brought to the surface by the plough, and in levelling the ground, they were much affected apparently in proportion to the amount of clay mixed with the surface soil. No manures were used.

Fruit Culture.-For years there has been considerable interest in, and attention paid to, the cultivation of apples, which still continues; and attention to the cultivation of choice varieties of other fruits is increasing. For late keeping and spring markets, Russets are preferred; Pippins, Talman Sweeting, Greening, Spitzenberg, are some of the common, but good varieties for winter use. In my estimation, there can be apples enough grown on an acre of ground, allowing them to be good natural fruit, to make it profitable to the farmer, as food for stock; if choice varieties are grown, the amount of profit would depend much on location and market. For a number of years we have fed our apples to hogs, considering them equal to potatoes in fat-producing properties.

Root Crops, (turnips, carrots and beets.) In this immediate vicinity they are not much cultivated, yet they are favorably spoken of, and many propose raising, in future, an additional quantity. Average product per acre, cannot say; though a gentleman in the habit of raising some acres of the sugar-beet, each year, informed me they would yield 20 tons per acre. The tops he considered excellent for feeding cows; and I suppose, in his estimated yield per acre, the tops were included.

Answers to some questions proposed are omitted, as I could obtain no definite information as answers. Farming is not pursued with that system and regularity which might be desired. Wheat has been the great staple article in this section, and has received the principal attention of farmers: for years it was almost their only cash article; but lands becoming worn, requiring in some respects a different course to be pursued in its production, the facilities for transportation increasing, thereby furnishing a market for other farm products, the diffusion of agricultural and scientific knowledge is breaking up this exclusiveness and introducing more variety upon the farm, as well as system and economy in its management. Though as for debt and credit, or, in other words, the actual cost of farm operations, this is yet a matter of mere conjecture with many; but if the past is a criterion by which the future can be judged, the careless system heretofore pursued will soon be among the things that are past; and with the stimulus to exertion, of a good market and remunerating prices, agricultural productions will be greatly increased. Very respectfully, yours,

To the COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS.

J. L. CROCKER.

FREDONIA, CHAUTAUQUE CO., NEW YORK,
December 24, 1852.

SIR: Having for the past twenty years had in constant employ from 20 to 30 horses, I have been led by experience to believe that red clover hay, fed to horses in the usual manner, is injurious, and many times. creates a cough and the heaves. It may be fed in small quantities when wet or soaked in water, without injury.