rather better adapted to that kind of soil than any other manure or any other soil. No guano is used in this county.

Yours, respectfully, &c.,

JETHRO S. HOLGER.

JACKSONBURG, WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA,

November 16, 1852.

SIR: Dr. Bunnel, to whom the Circular before me was addressed, has deceased. Before his death he requested me to answer this Circular, and in compliance with which I make the effort.

The staple products of this county are corn, wheat, and hogs. Until recently corn and hogs were the main reliance of the farmer, owing to two facts: first, the soil was new and very productive of corn; secondly, corn could be fed to hogs, which could be driven to Cincinnati, 65 miles, our nearest market; too far to haul wheat over bad roads. Since we have a canal and better roads to market, more wheat is raised than formerly; besides, the farmer begins to discover that our soil, that for the first 15 years of cultivation yielded from 50 to 70 bushels of corn per acre, without manure or extra cultivation, now requires manure and rotation in crops to maintain it in a state of productiveness.

But little attention, however, is paid to the saving and application of manure most economically; all that is done in that line is to gather up once a year, in the farm-yard, all the manure that has accumulated, and apply it to the poorest field, or the poorest spots in a field, before planting corn, or sowing wheat.

Corn is planted from the 20th of April to the 15th of May, according to the season.

If clover sod is to be planted, late fall or winter breaking is considered the best, on account of the sod becoming more rotten and the ground mellow. Fall ploughing, however, makes the ground obnoxious to the cut worm, as most of the vegetation is thereby destroyed, so that the worm must depend on the young corn plants for sustenance.

When corn is to be planted in ground that was in corn or wheat the previous season, it is ploughed just before planting and harrowed. It is not generally ploughed more than six inches deep; but I am satisfied that deeper ploughing would well pay for the extra labor, from some experiments which have been made in the vicinity.

After harrowing, the ground is marked out both ways about three and a half feet apart, with a common shovel-plough; the corn is dropped by hand, and covered with a hoe; three stalks are designed to be left in a hill. This season there was a remarkable failure in corn coming up, owing, as it was supposed, to the severe cold of last winter, when much of the seed corn was yet in the field ungathered.

When the corn has been up about two weeks, it is gone over twice in a row with a cultivator or harrow; after which it is ploughed three or four times with a shovel plough and hoed once. The average yield of corn per acre is about 50 bushels, though 100 is not uncommon; in such cases the corn is drilled. The cost to the farmer who owns the land is about 7 cents per bushel, or 14 cents to the renter. The average price at the nearest market is 30 cents.

Wheat is seeded from the 1st of September to the last of October; ground is ploughed but once. As much wheat is sown in corn as by any other plan; the yield however is not near so great as when sown on fallow or clover sod. Clover ground is generally ploughed just before sowing; the wheat is sown, then harrowed, which is all the labor applied generally.

Those who pay any attention to rotation in crops adopt the following plan with much advantage: first, one crop of wheat, then two of clover, then one of corn; the clover is sown in March or April, on the wheat. One and a half bushel of wheat are sown per acre; harvest generally commences by the 27th or 28th of June. When sown among corn, 12 bushels are an average crop; on sod, 20 bushels. The yield is increasing; 30 bushels per acre is not uncommon without extra labor; price 52 cents per bushel.

Hessian flies and weevil seldom injure wheat in this region, though. this fall the young wheat appears to be badly injured by the "fly;" I know of no remedy. The greatest enemy to wheat in this country is the "rust." The best remedy is to sow early varieties of wheat, and sow it early, so as to be ready to harvest early. The rust appears to "strike" all wheat at one time; after which, the grain does not increase in weight; hence it is obvious that early wheat will be the best.

Hogs are still the principal crop; they are generally sent to market at about 15 months old; average weight, 200 pounds net. The first 12 months of their lives they are fed merely enough to keep them in "growing order." Then commences, about the first of September, the "fattening," which consists in feeding them as much dry corn as they will eat until the first of December; during this time, each hog consuines about 14 bushels of corn and increases about 100 pounds net pork; it is worth $5 per hundred.

From a variety of experiments, I am satisfied that two points in the above plan are wrong: the first is letting a hog remain poor 12 months of its lite, when it could be made as large in 9 months as it generally is in 15; the second error is feeding corn without grinding.

S. S. BOYD.

QUEENSVILLE, JENNINGS COUNTY, INDIANA,
December 2, 1852.

SIR: As rocks make the mountains, so items make a history; and if every man could give his fellow his experience, there is no doubt every man would see something to improve on, if not to imitate. Your valua ble Report, so far as I am a judge, is the very medium calculated for that business; and it is, I think, a work that every practical and thinking farmer should have, if possible, in his family; it is so well adapted in its compositions to the wants, the intellect, and feelings of the farming community; and, although there are an abundance of agricultural journals, and good ones, which have been, and at this time are, working great changes in the farming class, for the better, still I consider your Report as a great boon to the community; and I hope that, as such, it will be upheld and encouraged to the fullest extent, not only by good contributors, but by the government as well.

The county I live in is fast emerging from a slovenly and unsystematic manner of farming, and what with the improvements of railroads and steam-power, scientific publications, the introduction of improved stock, of good and improved ploughs, farming mills, and other tools and implements for the saving of labor, we are continually progressing, so that we hope ere long to be able to rank with the first farmers in the State.

Our crops of wheat generally this season have been good-considerably over an average crop, but from 10 to 14 days later in harvesting, and the weather prior to that time very cool, indeed, for the season. We have had a remarkably dry and favorable time for wheat, oats, and hay, not having any rain worth mentioning till all was, or might have been, housed or stacked away, although our corn crops had like to have suffered in consequence; but, fortunately, before it was too late, we had copious supplies of rain, which did just save our crops, and that was all. Had the rain kept off one week later, a vast amount of corn in this section would inevitably have been lost; but as it is, I think the drought we suffered will not cut us (generally speaking) far out of an average crop. The worst part of the season, take it altogether, was in the spring, and the greatest inconvenience and detriment we suffered was in getting our corn to come up and stand the attacks of birds, and but more especially the mole. It is very common for moles to attack and eat the grain after planting (more or less) in this country in sandy or loose soils; but never do I recollect of their ravages being so early, so extensive, and general as this season; and it is a pity there cannot be found some certain remedy, some effective drug, in which corn might be steeped to prevent its destruction, both from birds and small animals of this kind. There is one thing, however, I have proved to my satisfaction-and that is, that the hardiness of white seed-corn in sprouting in a cold season far exceeds the yellow. The yellow, if it is sound, may come well in a good season, on a wet, heavy soil; but it will not do in a cold and wet spring; it will rot in the ground when the white will come tolerably thrifty.

Our fall here has been particularly seasonable for turnips, potatoes, and other fall roots and vegetables; but I hear many complaints of the rotting of the potato; nor do I believe the best at this time raised are as good in their eating qualities as they were some years ago.

Our wheat sown this fall looks well, having had so far the most favorable time for it I remember to have seen.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

STEPHEN CADBY.

BEDFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE,

September 28, 1852.

SIR: I received your Circular some time since, and now attempt to answer the interrogatories therein contained, so far as I am prepared to do so. I regret that I am not able to give a more full and satisfactory statement.

Wheat-No guano is used here in the production of this crop. The average product per acre has been about ten bushels. Time of seeding, from the middle of September to the middle of November; harvesting,

about the first and second weeks in June. Seed prepared differently, viz: sometimes soaked in brine, sometimes in water tinctured with blue-stone, sometimes simply poured into water, and all that will swim skimmed off, and sometimes sifted with a wire sieve; but, oftener than any other way, it is sown without any preparation at all. Generally one bushel of seed per acre; generally sown amongst corn, and ploughed or scratched once; sometimes sown on stubble or fallow ground, and ploughed twice-perhaps three inches deep. Yield for the last three years generally less than formerly, owing to the seasons. Average price, 75 cents per bushel.

Corn. No guano is used in the production of corn. Average product per acre, eight barrels. All I can say as to the best system of culture is to plough deep and close, and stir the ground often whilst the crop is young. The only method of feeding here (or nearly so) is whole; but we suppose it would be better for horses and cattle, chopped, and for hogs, cooked. We prepare our ground for planting by ploughing twice, (in general;) then lay off rows about four feet distant each way, two stalks, and sometimes three, in a hill.

Peas and beans only raised in small quantities for table use. Barley not raised here. Average yield of oats per acre, twenty five or thirty bushels; quantity of seed sown, one and a half bushel per acre. Average yield of rye, ten bushels per acre; quantity of seed sown, one-half bushel per acre. Rye is considered renovating to land.

Clover and Grasses.-Quantity of hay cut per acre, about two tons. No fertilizers for meadows and pastures used. Timothy and herdsgrass are preferred for meadows; about one gallon pure, clean seed sown per acre. I do not know that red clover is injurious to horses.

Dairy husbandry is not atended to here, any of consequence, more than for family use. However, I think the average price of butter and cheese is about 12 cents.

Neat Cattle.-Cost of raising until three years old, about $12 or $15; which is fully as much as they will sell for when fat at that age. Value

of good dairy cows, either in spring or fall, from $10 to $20. It is thought that a given amount of food will yield more meat in a Durham than in the native breed. We generally break steers by yoking a wild one with a trained one.

Horses and Mules.-The growing of these animals is profitable. The expense of rearing a mule until three years old is about $45. Brood mares and colts should be treated tenderly, with plenty of wholesome food, and a shelter or stable in cold, rainy weather. The colts should not be weaned under four months old; and, when taken from their dams, should not be permitted to hear their neigh.

Sheep and Wool.-Wool-growing is not considered profitable here; therefore, we are not prepared to give the cost per pound, &c., &c. The number of lambs annually reared will, perhaps, not vary much. from the number of ewes, though it frequently happens that the lambs die, very considerably, at six or eight months old.

Hogs.-The best breed is, in general, those which have been best raised and kept; though I have no doubt but that our breed of hogs has been improved not only by increased care and attention, but also by a cross with the Berkshire and other foreign blood. We have generally such an abundance of corn here, that we have not tried much to

ascertain the cheapest method of obtaining pork and bacon; but we find it profitable, in raising pork, to have red clover for hogs in spring and summer; and if our corn should be a little scarce, we find it cheaper to turn hogs on a field of oats, when the clover fails after harvest, than to buy corn to feed them. And after having eaten the oats, then turn them on a rye field, which (if plenty of it) will keep them till new corn may be fed to them. Hogs can be fattened early in the season cheaper than late. Here, in order to save labor, and in that sense to fatten our hogs cheaply, we usually turn our fattening hogs into a corn field about the middle of September, and deliver them to the drivers about the 8th and so on to the 15th November. I know of no new or superior method of putting up pork and curing bacon. The common old method is in use here.

Rice. This crop can be successfully cultivated on upland.

Cotton. This crop is not raised in my neighborhood, except for family

use.

Tobacco. This crop is not raised in this vicinity, except in very small quantities, for family use.

Hemp. The culture of hemp here is on the decrease, I think; average yield per acre, five hundred pounds.

Potatoes are only raised here for home consumption; yield per acre not taken account of; it is, however, tolerably good.

Fruit culture is not receiving great attention here. I have found that apples, as well as peaches, are worth something for hogs, &c.

Manures. Our lands are, in general, rich, and we have paid but little attention to making or preserving manures. No lime nor plaster is used as a fertilizer; neither is guano.

Most respectfully, yours, &c.,

WM. BOONE.

Remarks. Our correspondent says that "lands there are generally rich." If so, how does it happen that farmers in Bedford county fail to raise more than eight bushels of corn per acre? He says that the average product of wheat has been about ten bushels per acre; and concludes by informing his readers that "but little attention is paid to the making and preserving of manures." Our object in this note is simply to give a hint in favor of paying more attention to the manure heap, and not forget to try both lime and plaster.

D. L.

NEAR PINE GROVE, CLARKE COUNTY, KY., 1852. SIR: The Circular from your Office for August, 1852, was duly

received.

As far as my knowledge extends, no guano has ever been used in this region of Kentucky; nor has lime or plaster been used as a fertilizer. Our soil has plenty of lime in it.

Ground is generally prepared for planting corn by breaking up in the spring, as soon as the ground will do to work, with two horses or oxen, as deep as the plough can be made to enter. If sod-ground, it is fre quently double-ploughed; that is done by running a plough which cuts