ing would be when the grain was cooked, or ground at least, especially if fed to cattle. It could not well be made palatable to horses, perhaps, when cooked, or be made to repay the trouble when fed to them in small quantities, even if it could. Of the mode of culture of corn, wheat, and other crops, I will perhaps speak more particularly at another time, if others do not.

Wheat. Next to corn, wheat is more raised than any other grain in this county. For several years it has been fast gaining in amount, and will very soon surpass the corn, if not in the number of bushels, at least in value. Much attention has been given to the introduction of new varieties. Some of them have been fully tested; others, not. Upon some, the millers or buyers pay a premium; others, they will only buy at reduced prices. This is one of the most effectual methods of approving or condemning a variety Machines are being introduced now for harvesting wheat, and some of them are designed to thrash, and partially clean it, also. They are truly labor-saving. The sickle has been laid aside, and the scythe and cradle will most probably soon give place to this machinery, worked by horse or steam power. Machines are already almost exclusively used for the thrashing. The last crop of wheat was a very good one. It was altogether free from rust, the fly, or the weevil, and was harvested in good order. Hands are always scarce in harvest, and demand high wages. In view of this, less wheat is often sown than would otherwise be. It all ripens within a few days of the same time, and must be cut or lost; hands must, therefore, be had, at whatever price. It is to be hoped that the introduction of the machinery above referred to will soon obviate this difficulty. The wheat crop, I think, will continue to increase. It is a profitable crop, renovating to land, always commands cash in market, and most of the labor which it requires can be done when other business is slack. Last year's wheat, during the spring and summer, sold for from 50 to 55 cents per bushel. This year's crop is selling at from 62 to 65 cents, and seems on the rise. (For the discussion of one point connected with wheat culture, see an article which I sent you a year or more ago) Spring wheat is seldom sown here; it is more uncertain than the fall varieties.

Oats, Rye, Buckwheat, Flax, &c.-A large amount of oats is raised here, but chiefly consumed at home; small quantities only are taken to market. There has been an increase in the yield per acre, arising chiefly from the better mode of sowing them; but there has been very little improvement in any other respect. The same kind of seed is sown as hitherto. A general opinion prevails that oats are more exhausting to land than anything else; this, I am satisfied, is an erroneous opinion. Rye is very little raised now. Buckwheat is still raised in small quantities, generally where some other crop has been taken off the same season. Flax is raised to a considerable extent; not as formerly, for the lint, but for the seed, which sells at from $1 to $1 25 per bushel, or even higher The lint is sometimes used in the paper-mills-of which we have one; but the seed is the great object. Hemp is seldom raised here; tobacco, I am happy to say, never. Broom corn is raised some seasons to a considerable extent, and is generally a profitable crop. When the business of broom-making was first introduced in this State, a few years ago, it was very profitable; but, like all such profitable employments that are easily understood, it was soon overdone. It is

hard on the land, soon exhausting its fertility. One crop will perhaps reduce the soil more than two crops of Indian corn. Barley is raised occasionally, but not in large quantities. In the western part of the county, on the hilly, poor lands, hops are raised to a considerable extent. I am not acquainted with their culture; but judge that they may be profitably raised by those who have very small farms. They also seem to grow well upon rocky land, and in poor soil. They are chiefly culti vated by German immigrants.

Vineyards. The same class of persons, in the same part of the county, have planted, and are planting, vineyards. Some have planted half an acre, and are making additions from year to year; some have planted one or two or more acres. Many of the vines are already bearing well. They are usually planted on hill-sides facing the south. Various kinds have been planted. The proprietors who are experienced in the business say that these vines give promise of productiveness, and are remarkably healthy. This, again, is a business in which a small, very small, piece of land will support a man and family. The grape vine is considerably cultivated in yards and gardens for its luscious fruit. It is a great producer, and will amply repay all the labor bestowed upon it.

Renovating Crops, Grasses, &c.-Grasses are the principal renovating crops, and they are raised with a double or treble purpose, as, besides renovating the soil, they are designed to furnish hay and pasture. Hay is made in quantities sufficient for domestic use, as its great bulk seems to forbid the sending it abroad to hunt a market, though I think it probably would pay well. Grazing is altogether too much neglected in this State and in the western part of Ohio. Especially are wood-lands neglected. By removing the logs and brush-the scrubby saplings, that will never become valuable, and the decayed trees-and then cutting off the lower limbs from the trees and saplings remaining, the thickest forests may be completely set with grass, and be almost equal for grazing to cleared lands. This is seldom done with us; and thus very nearly one-half the entire surface of the earth is lost for all agricultural purposes, except to furnish timber, which it would still do equally well. As renovators, then, they are chiefly sown, but with an eye, in most cases, to one or both the other objects. Considered as a renovator alone, red clover is preferred to all the other grasses for dry land; it has large, strong roots, which perforate the earth, and thereby loosen it to a greater depth than any of the other grasses, and probably furnish more enriching matter in their decay. Besides this consideration, the soil receives more from the above-ground crop, leaves, &c., than is received from any of the others. When it is designed for pasture-for I cannot keep entirely separate the distinct heads without taking up too much space-for pasture, then, some Timothy is sown with the clover. It is thought that cattle relish it better, and that they are less liable to be injured by it when first put on it in the spring; though clover alone will produce more pasture. Timothy is very generally preferred for hay, though clover is perhaps most profitable, from the fact that it furnishes a crop of seed after the hay has been taken off, besides a large amount of refuse straw for manure. In wet lands Timothy is generally preferred to clover. One cause of this preference is, that it is less liable to be frozen out in those lands; but that reason will no longer exist when the draining of them is completed, which it is to be hoped will soon be done. Red-top

is also raised to some extent in wet lands, and seems well adapted to them; but it is regarded as an inferior grass. It does not possess the strength and nutriment for cattle and other animals that Timothy and clover and blue grass do, and I suppose the same is true as to furnishing nutriment for the earth. I have called clover a grass, and do not think it any great misnomer. Peas have never been raised here as a renovating crop.

Manures.-Well rotted manures are the best of all renovators. These, I am truly sorry to say, are greatly neglected in this part of the country; but I am equally rejoiced to add that a great improvement is manifest in this respect. The best reason that I have seen given for this is the following: The early settlers, finding the land so rich, thought its fertility could never be exhausted; they, therefore, deemed it unnecessary labor to save or apply manures. Experience is only now driving this notion out of the heads of their sons and successors. Barnyard manures are now beginning to receive from many pretty careful attention, and other kinds that are easily obtained, especially where it is necessary to remove them out of the way. With a few exceptions, sufficient care is not taken to apply all that might be collected. Lime and plaster are seldom used; guano, so far as I am informed, has never been used at all. Every year is working a change in regard to these land restoratives.

Their

Potatoes.-Sweet potatoes are not so much raised as Irish potatoes. They require a dry, warm soil, but a sandy soil is generally preferred. They are seldom marketed, but are designed for table use. culture would be vastly increased if a kind could be obtained that would remain sound during the greater part or all the year, as Irish potatoes do; but the kinds now in use cannot be kept, without much inconvenience, even for winter use.

Irish potatoes are raised in large quantities, being much used in most families as an article of food. They are also taken to market in considerable quantities at Cincinnati, which is the great market for almost all the spare products of the farm. They are sometimes fed to hogs, which do well on them. The potato is a very productive plant. More oushels of potatoes will probably grow upon an acre of ground than of any other kind of crop that we raise; but they also require a great deal of labor. Very many different varieties are cultivated. The potato rot has never visited us to any extent; indeed, I doubt whether the real disease has ever visited us at all. It has not been found necessary to seek a remedy, as the amount of injury has generally been so limited. Other Root Crops.-Turnips, beets, and some other bulbous roots, are raised in gardens for table use, but are seldom made a field-crop for the feeding of stock.

Tomatoes.-But a few years have elapsed since the general introduction of the tomato plant; yet few, if any, garden vegetables are in so great favor. Tomatoes are easily produced in all kinds of soil, and the plants bear most abundantly. They grow best on light, alluvial soils, but, as I said, can be raised in abundance anywhere. There are a great many varieties of them, differing in size from the fraction of an ounce to two or three pounds in weight. The middle-sized varieties are usually the most esteemed for ordinary cooking purposes. In their common green state they cannot be preserved during the winter, but they are now extensively preserved in tin cans for winter and spring use. They

are cooked, as for the table, with salt, pepper, &c. Tin cans of various sizes, from one quart to two gallons, are made. Small openings are made in the tops of them, through which they are filled whilst they are yet warm, so that the air may be mostly expelled from them. These openings are then covered with small pieces of tin, and they are soldered, so as to make them air-tight. If they are kept where they will not freeze and thaw, they will remain good any length of time. I ate some in July or August that were put up in this manner the previous October, and so fresh and well did they taste that they could not have been distinguished from those just plucked from the vines. They should soon be used when opened, for they will quickly spoil when exposed to the air. It is therefore advisable that the size of the cans be made proportionate to the size of the family, so that, when one is opened, it can be used before it will spoil. Peaches, pears, cherries, and fruit, or berries of any kind, may be preserved in the same manner.

I find that subjects accumulate on my hands; but I have already occupied too much space. I should like to speak of the various kinds of stock-such as horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, &c. I should also like to write some account of the several fruits-such as apples, pears, peaches, cherries, &c. I should in like manner be pleased to write an essay on hedging, and say something of some other matters, also; but I must close. Should this be acceptable, and Providence favor, I may write on them hereafter.

Yours, most respectfully,

JOS. BRADY.

SWAIN'S MILLS, RUSH COUNTY, Indiana,

January 3, 1853.

SIR: According to your request, I hereby attempt to answer such of your inquiries as I feel competent to answer correctly.

We put no guano on ground in this county; but we use common stable manure, increasing the crop of wheat or corn twenty-five per cent. by a light covering of the ground. The average crop of wheat is from fifteen to twenty bushels; seeding, from 20th of August to the last of September; quantity of seed, from one to one and a half bushel per acre; plough twice, or plough a furrow six inches deep first time; four the second; the yield is increasing; rotation not regular; few Hessian flies; no weevils; price 50 cents. Clover, or clover and Timothy, sowed in February or March.

Corn.-Average crop, forty bushels; cost, 10 cents, including rent. Culture: plough sward in fall, or early in spring; other ground, later; plant four feet wide in hills, three stalks in a hill; plough often while the corn is small; stop before the tassel appears; keep every noxious thing from the hill.

Oats.-Average crop thirty bushels; one and a half to two bushels seed per acre.

Clover and Grass.-Quantity per acre, one and a half to two tons. Clover is considered the best fertilizer; though Timothy mixed does well either for meadow or pasture; quantity of seed, three quarts per acre; cost of growing per acre, $3, clear of rent. Red clover is very good for

horses the fore part of the season, and by frequent salting they do well afterwards; but need grain when used any time.

Neat cattle cost (say) $4 per year; will bring $15 at three years old; good dairy cows, $18 to $20, spring or fall; one hundred pounds of corn will make (say) fifteen pounds of beef. The Durham, &c., are preferred, generally, by good farmers. I have never tried the experiment of weighing and feeding. The best plan for breaking steers is to yoke them while small, and work them frequently, and not beat them too much.

Horses are grown at a profit, and so are mules; rearing to three years old cost (say) $50. To rear good and serviceable colts, I should work the mother moderately, and feed her well, and let her have grass while suckling; but if you wish a mare to prove with foal, keep her from clover during the time of trial. The plan I prefer to break young horses is, to hitch them, when two years old, with an old, steady animal, and load them no more than the old horse can pull, together with the colt, until he inclines to pull well; taking good care not to let him get scared in gear; and if he should, never let him run away, for he seldom can be trusted afterwards.

Wool-growing is not very profitable here; the cost of production equal to the price-say 25 to 30 cents; the cost of coarse wool nearly equal to fine. The lambs are more hardy and easier reared; the proportion of lambs to ewes varies from one half to three-fourths, or seven-eighths, according to the severity of the winter, (as they generally come in the winter,) and other circumstances; large sheep are most profitable either for mutton or wool.

The Berkshire hog has been reared here; but farmers do not like him so well as the improved common stock.

Farmers differ

The Shakers of Ohio keep the best stock I know of. as to the best mode of rearing them: some say give them all they will eat; while my opinion is, half that quantity will make more perk, with the same grain; or, in other words, giving two hogs what one will eat, I think, will make more pork; for nature does much for growing animals. When I commence the process of fattening, I give them all they will eat. There is a great saving in grinding grain, particularly for young hogs; and either cook or sour it for rearing; but give it in dough for fattening.

Potatoes.-Average crop, four hundred bushels per acre, Irish, and two hundred, sweet. The best Irish are Meshanock and Pink eye; the best sweet are the Spanish; but they are not so good to yield as the native yellow; the cost per bushel-say 30 cents for sweet, and 15 for Irish. Best mode of culture: drill for sweet, and hills for Irish, and ploughing and hoeing for both varieties; manure not necessary for sweet; where hogs have been fattened is the best for Irish.

Fruit is receiving increased attention; but peach trees do not flourish. Apples are a profitable crop. I view potatoes better for food than apples for any kind of stock. The best variety for keeping and exportation is the Geneting or Never fail; though many other varieties keep well-such as Wine sap, Canon, Pearman, Newtown Pippin, Vandevere Pippin, &c. We manure and in prove our soil by clover more than any other way; though we use the manure from the livery or horse stable next to clover when easily procured, and think it more congenial for a cold, wet soil, or