P A P E R S ^ CONSISTING OF COMMUNICATIONS Made to the MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETT FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE, AND EXTRACTS. rUELIStlED BY THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOCIETY. BOSTON : PRINTED BY ADAMS AND RHOADES, yPsINTFRS TO THE STATE, 1807.* / UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Special Collections & Rare Books Spec. Coll. S 73 B32 1807 CONTENTS. ANSWERS id A^ricullura! Queries,. 9 Hints regarding Cattle, by Sir J. Sinclair, - . - - - 4S On the management cf Dung, - --... 54, On the cultivation of Potatoes, 5i} Of the influence of Soils and their amelioration up- on Vegetation, 58 On the benefit which Farmers ivould dcrisjc from the study of Botany, ---- G3 Remarks on the use of Pumice, 15 Qn feeding and fattening of S^vinc, 7S Remarks on Domestic Animals, - - 7f-^ OFFICERS, CHOSEN JUNE, 180G. Hon. JOHN ADAMS, Esq. President, JOSEPH RUSSELL, Esq. First Vice President, AARON DEXTER, m. d. Second Vice President. THOMAS L.WINTHROP, Esq. Treasurer. JOHN LOWELL, Esq. Cor. Secretary. DUDLEY A. TYNG, Esq. Recording Secretary. THEODORE LYMAN. Esq. 1 JOHN WARREN, m. d. SAMUEL W. POMEROY, Esq. . ^ JOSIAH OUINCY, Esq. >lrustecs. Rev. WILLIAM EMERSON, Rev. JOHN T. KIRKLAND, d. d. PREFACE. UNDER the patronage of Government the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promot- ing Agriculture, and the Board of Visitors of the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History, offer to the Public the tenth number of their Papers.. The answers to queries, sometime since proposed lO' praftical Farmers in the Commonwealth, of which we shall hereafter more particularly speak, form the principal portion of the original matter contained in this number. The high reputation of the Fdrmer^s Magazine, periodically pubhshed in Edinburgh, and the proba- bility that few agriculturalists in this country have an opportunity of reading it, together with tlie want of domestic communications, have induced the Trustees to make copious extrads from that valuable work. " Hints reoiardino: Cattle," will be deemed inter- €Stiiig by the inteUigent Farmer, who cannot but have observed the g:eneral inattention to the sub- ject on which they are suggested. The papers on " The management of dung,'* and " the culture of potatoes," although, perhaps, alluding to pra says, " a new breed of swine has lately been jintroduced from the East-Indies, much admired, 'Jhey ;ue shut up to be fattted in the fall, and killed .at the age of about eight months, and are galled 39 ■excellent pork." At Brcoklyn^ and In Middlesex., 33 well as in other places, besides the breed commonly known, and which is said to be improving by seleft- ing themost thrifty and promising for breedcr3,they have a mixture of the Chinese with the common. breed. The Middlesex' Society say, the pure Chi- nese hog is not esteemed ; the pork is unsuitable for the fisheries, and is not profitable for family con- sumption. But a mixture of one fourth Chinese with the common kind, ' is highly approved, and thought the best by some persons. In Marlborough^ Rev. Mr. P. says, " the small boned and short leg- ged kind are pref erred. ^ — The rose-back species is mentioned hytlieSturlrridge Society; and at Worcester,. they have the largest kind. The mariner o{ feeding- till thev come to the season for fattenins:, is little dif- ferent in different places. They feed on grass, corn, chesnuts, apples, potatoes, v/ash of the kitchen and dxiiry. They arc farted principally on Indian corn or meal. Some give them oats, or barley and In- dian corn ground together in equal quantities ; oth- ers, one part Indian mixed with three parts of boil- ed potatoes, kneeded together ; many feed them wholly with Indian mical in dough, and not a few* g-ive them all this variety of food alternately. Potatoes, say the Middlesex Society^ answer a good purpofe in the growth of swine. When they con- stitute a principal part of the food of swine, they serve to fill rather than fatten them. The quantity of food given is too great in proportion to the nourishment it contains. Hogs are usually killed at about eisrhteen months old, and v/eig-h from twG«- hundred and fifty, to four hundred weight. Some- think it profitable, or at least, convenient, to kilt part of their perk, intended for their own consump- tion, and'for the market, at eight, ten, and twelve months old : you may calculate such young swine to weisrh a.score a month. 40 3' )4:tJ.\ What numbor of bee-liives are kept ? what IS their product in honey and wax ? what is the man- agement ? and, what are the obftacles, which discour* age their extensive propagation ? Mr. Kent, answers — '' Bees are very much de- generated, within thirty or forty years. But few are kept, and these do very ill. 1 do not know the cause." Gentlemen, at Brooklyn say, few are kept, and this is the report from Barnstable. The Mid- dle/ex Society observe, " Bees are too much neglect- ed amono- us. The best manas;cment of them is to build and place their hives in such a manner, that they may retire out of one of them into another ; and their honey be taken, without deftroying the bee. You may take thirty or forty weight of hon- ey, and five or six pounds of wax, from a hive, in a good year, and leave enough for their subsistence through the winter season. The king-bird, and phoebe, arc considered as deftruclive of the bee. The martin-bird, which takes its food on the wing, as known to devour them ; and to subsist, in a measure, upon them. It is to be hoped, therefore, that persons will not court the presence of this bird around their houses, by building boxes for them, since they are so pernicious to this valuable insect." The Siiirbridgc Society, say, " one hive to a hundred acres of improved land, is sufiicient to be kept over the winter. If it swarms twice, the product of honey will be thirty pounds, v/hich at one shilling per pound, v.-ill be live dollars ; and the wax will be about three pounds, which at a quarter of a dol- lar per pound, will make the total five dollars, and seventy five cents. An early swarm, ought to be put into a hive thirteen inches diameter, and seven- teen in height ; and later swarms, in proportion : the door at the bottom, two inches and a half long, and one third of an inch wide ; and another door, six inches above the former. Of late, there are 41 many obstacles among us to their propagation. Firft, we have endeavored to enlarge our profits by keeping more (we have lately been convinced) than nature's resources would admit. This has occasion- ed an almost general destruction in the winter.— Secondly, we conclude another reason of their de- cline among us is, keeping them too long in one place. Thirdly, as bees do much the best in new settlements, we find our prosped: of success lessens as our land is growing older, and particularly su- gar maple trees becoming more scarce. This cir- cumstance has induced some among us to try to cultivate these maples, as fruit trees are cultivated. Our correspondent froin Worcester, answers, "I cannot ascertain exactly the number of bee-hives in this town. Every farmer would keep bees if he could readily procure them. A hive of bees can- not be purchased. A great deal of superstition prevails in our country respe(5ling the sale of bees. To get into the way of raising them, you must take a hive upon shares, or procure one by hunting for them in the woods. I keep bees. They re- quire in May, June, and July, confi:ant care and at* tention, but the produce amply repays it. I have not difcovered any obstacle to their propagation, unless you live near sugar houses or a Grocer's shop. These places I positively know will destroy them." Mr. P. of M<^r/^(?r<5z/^^/', says, the ancient practice of storming these industrious coUeftors of sweets by fire and brimstone prevails." Mere neg- ligence, he thinks, is the only obstacle to their ex- tensive and successful propagation. 35th. What is the usual quantity of land sowed with flax-seed ? How is it manured and cultivated ? What is the medium produce of flax and seed in quantity and value ? The quantity of land sown, is generally from half an acre to an acre. It is sometimes sown 4^ aftcT Indian corn without manure, and after pota» toes ; if the land \v2.s new, so much the better, be>- cause free from weeds. In general the land is highly manured, and in"-the spring, at sowing, or before, some spread leaehed ashes. Most persons plough it three or four times ; from five to six pecks of seed are sown ; from one hundred and fif- ty to three hundred pounds of iiax is the produce* Seed is stated at four,six, seven, eight bushels. 36. How much labor iL; employed on a quarter of an acre of flax •, before it comes to the spinner,and and including the preparing the seed for market I There are but few answers to this question. It is stated by our correspondent in Brckiyn, at nine ; t^T the Middlesex Society of Hiabandmen, fourteen, and by the Sturbridgc Society, at ten day's labor of a man. 37. In what articks consists the surplus of the farmer, which is sold or exchanged for other arti- cles ? In Brooklyn^ pork, beef, muttouj butter, cheese, hay, corn, l)arley, cider, apples, fruit of all kinds, and vegetables. To these are added in Middlesex^ in some instances, bops. In Worcester., St urb ridge, he. potash, horses and mules. In Barnstable, onions, Iiax, flax-seed, and rye. 38//^. How many loads of manure are colledled, (estimating, thirty bushels to a load) from the cat- tle in the barn yard, of a micdium farm, in a year ;, specifying the number and kinds of cattle kept on the same farm, and the manner in which they are kept, relative to confinement or ranging abroad I h\ Brooklyn, Mr,. Goddard, says, about sixty ; stock as before upon a Iiundrcd acre farm. Col. G. says, about fifty or sixty loads may be collected in a year, from twelve cattle, two horses, four ox» en, kept to hay seven months, six cows the same time, and y.irded in the night during pasture time* 4<5 II mud from ponds, ditches, and marshes is carried mto the yard, it will increase the manure ten loads ; will keep it from drying and blowing away, and will save the stale of the cattle. The Middlesex So- ciety say thirty loads, the stock as in answer to ques- tion 26th. The Stiirbridgc Society, fifty loads on a medium farm ; stock as before. From horned cattle, Mr. Kent, of Newbury, says, are collected about two loads each in the winter, and half as much in the fummer, if they are yarded ; from horses, four loads each, if kept up in the stable ? 39th. What quantity of manure Is made in the hog-pen, specifying the number of swine fatted ; the kind and quantity of food consumed j and the weight of flesh produced ? In Brooklyn, one answer is, about four or five load to three swine, fed on corn, at the rate of about ten bushels each ; swine produce two hun- dred and fifty or three hundred weiglit. Middk- stx sav, three loads to two ho5:s ; Sturbridzc two loads to four ; witli which agrees Mr. K. of New- bury. For these four swine, are used twenty-four bushels of corn, thirty of oats, fifty of potatoes ; weight, nine hundred and sixty pounds. But all agree that the quantity depends on care to throw into the pen at proper times, straw, -leaves, weeds, stover, he. 4<0th. What meth-ods are used to enlarcre the quantity, improve the quality, or prevent the waste of manure, made in the barn-yard or hog- pen ; and especially to save the stale of the cattle ? Most of the answers speak of the neglect on this subject ; though there is a gradual increase of at- tention to it. In the different parts of Worcester^ County, the correspondents say, they are in the hab- it of bringing into barn-yards, mud, vveeds, ashes^ J>->amj making the yards in a dishing form.-tr- 44 These substances the farmer sometimes ploughs and mixes with the dung of the cattle, perhaps half a dozen times in the course of the summer, and "which some think preferable to shovelling it into, heaps, as it is less expensive, and the substance be- ing kept light imbibes the dews. Black mud from the salt marsh, and from the bottom of the ditches is introduced ; and in Barnstable, says Mr. M. they bring in dust-stuff, or the sweepings of the salt-mar- shes. The Middlesex Husbandmen say, that many open vaults or cellars under their stalls and stables, or dig vaults at one end of their barn yard, and colled in them, and particularly into hog-yards a variety of substances convertible into manure. The rooting- and travellinor of the swine have an exceU lent effect. 41 J-/. Is the manure and tillage exclusively ap- plied to the best parts of each farm ? In general this is the case, but not universally, and by some it is believed to be profitable totally to neglect the poor land rather than the good in the least degree. 42d. In what manner, and for what purposes is manure used, except those indicated in the forego- ing inquiries ? It is spread on mowing lands often, with very good effect ; and it is laid around the roots of fruit trees. 43^. What other manures are used besides those created by the stock, and what are their merits compared to these ? .The dust and soil collected by the high-way, and substances collected from marfhes, ditches, ponds, &c. and leached ashes. In the neighbour-' hood of the sea, rock-weed, which is carried direft- ly into the field, or rotted first in the barn-yard. It does well either way. A farmer, in Worcester, kas raised his Indian corn successfully, by putting one 4^ large shovel full of meadow-mud diredly over the corn, when it is dropped. The mud, before it is used, should be exposed during one season to the frost. 44//6. Is limestone found in your vicinity ? And is it used as a manure ? It is found in some places in quarries in plenty ; but being a dear article, it is not much used as a manure. AiSth. Is buckweat cultivated for the food it yields ? Or is it used to cleanse the soil from weeds, to fertelize and enrich it ; or for any other purpose ? In Brooklyn^ it is said not to be cultivated. In Worcester and Essex Counties it is partially cultivat- ed, not for cleansing the soil from weeds, (though it is known to have this effecl) so much as for food, being given to swine, barn-door fowls, pigeons, &c. None of the correspondents express an opin- ion that it fertilizes the soil, but several think it impoverishes it. 46/Z?. In what manner are new lands brought un- der cultivation? Is it cuftomary to plant orchards in the new settlements ? Our respondent from Marlborough^ says, "Not by aU-devouring flame, which consumes the soil, and brings on a lasting coat of moss. The wood and brush being removed, a short plough, the chip of which is not more than eighteen inches long, is in* troduced and effeclually works its way among the stumps, roots, and stones." In new sctttlements, the trees are felled in June, or earlier; the limbs cut so that they may lie close to the ground, and the under-brush cut down to the ground. In the latter part of August or September, the field is set on fire ; what the fire leaves is cut so as to be placed in heaps and burned. The land is then sown with winter grain and grass seeds, or left till May, when the fire is suffered to run over it again, and it is plant- ed with corn, which will not require any hilUng up. 46 Grcliards on new land do exceedingly well, espe- cially if it be stoney. Though some think th at within 1 few years after it is cleared, they do bet- ter than to be set immediately. It is very custom- ary now among settlers of new lands, though not universal, to lose no time before they plant nurse- ries and orchards. 4:1th. How is land cleared which bushes and un- derbrush have over-run, since the trees were carri- ed off or burned ? Generally by movv^ng two or three times in the summer with a stub scythe, and sometimes by set- ting on fire, and breaking up with a strong' team^ and carrying on barn-dust, &c. 4S//?. What is done with swamps, or swampy lands ? In many instances nothing, but in others they are drained or ditched j the wood and brush dug Kp, street-sand or loam carried on, and then grass- seed sown and they make excellent meadow. 49//j. Is the growth of wood for timber and fu- el equivalent to the consumption in your own vi- cinity ? If not, what measures are taken to provide against the inconvenience of future scarcity ? The respondents in Worcester County state the growth of wood to be nearly or quite equal to the consumption, and not diminishing. In the neigh- bourhood of Boston^ and at Ncxvbury^ it is supposed not equal, and no adequate measures are taken to provide against future scarcity. The same account is given by the Middlesex Society. 50th. Are wood-lots generally fenced, or left open for cattle to range in without restraint ? In get- ting your wood for fuel, do you pick the oldest trees or do you cut clear ? Which method is best cal- culated to increase the value of your wood land ? The respondents from Brooklyn., say, that wood- lots are generally fenced ; elsewhere they are saic| .47 to be generally left open, though it is agreed they ought to be fenced. On the manner of cutting, there are different opinions and practices. One ar^ swer from Brooklyn^ is, that in old wood-lots, they pick the decayed wood ; in young, cut clear. In Barnstable, it is said, they generally cut clear, as the wood will commonly be replaced in twenty- live or thirty years by a new growth. It is said, that " Shoots seldom spring from the stump of an old tree, and a broad vacancy is left where it is sha- ded. The growth from a young stump is so rapid, that a wood-lot fliould be cut in course, then a for- est of young trees will follow the axe." The Mid- sex Society, say, " Some say, if you have forty acres of wood-land, cut clear. One acre in a year will furnish you with fuel. It is less labor to collect your wood from one small spot than to range for it to all parts of the plot. Thus you will be forty years going through ; and the acre first cleared, will be grown when you want it." To this it is objected, that the cutting wood clean is ruinous of timber and fuel. The good perishes with the bad. A thrifty tree of twelve or eighteen inches diame- ter will increase in its quantity or weight by one year's growth, beyond that of a small sprout or tree in a ratio of more than five to one. In every wood-lot of considerable size, there will be in- jured and destroyed, as to their future growth an- nually, by winds, ice, worms, wood-peckers, and natural defects, nearly trees enough to support one fire, which ought to be taken off. To leave these. to perish, while you cut clean the young and thrif- ty trees is manifestly injurious^ 48 FROM THE farmer's MAGAZINE. Hints regarding Cattle : by 5/> John Sinclair, ^^r/. THE object that every intelligent farmer ought to have in view, who breeds and maintains domes- tic animals, is pro/it ; consequently he ought to find out, as Bakewell happily expressed it, " t/je best ma' chine for converting herbage^ and other food for ant' ma/s, into moneys For that purpose, it is necessary to ascertain the shape and nature of the animal, which makes the most profitable use of the food it eats : that, how- ever, must depend much on the price of the differ- ent articles which the animal produces. In discussing the important subject of cattle, it is proper, in the first place, to observe, that a dis- tinct breed of cattle may be formed, 1. In conse- quence of the soil of the country, and the vegeta- bles it produces ; 2. From the climate, which, in various respeAs, must affect the animals living un- der its influence ; 3. From a particular shape, size, or colour, becoming fashionable, and consequently in great demand ; 4. From the nature of the ani- mals that may be imported into it from other coun- ties ; and, 5. From the various crolTes which have been made among breeds in some respects distinct, and from which a new variety may arise. Of the Particulars ejfential in fonning a perfeSl Breed. 1 . Size. It is difficult to lay down any general rule for the size of cattle, as so much must depend on the nature of the pasture, and on the means which the grazier has for ultimately fattening them; nor has it yet been proved, by decisive and repeat- ed experiments, whether the large or the small sized pay best for the food they eat. The experiments ought to be made with similar breeds, but of dif- ferent sizes J and the particulars to ascertain, are, 49 whether It does not require a much greater quan- tity of food, 1 . to rear a great ox, than a small one ; 2. to feed him when working : and, 3. to fatten him afterwards. A large calf certainly re- quires more milk than a small one ; but if it pays as well for what it consumes, or grows in propor- tion to what it takes, there is no objection, on that account, on the score of profit ; nor if a large ox eats more, provided he works proportionally more than a small one. In regard to fattening, the ex- periments of Lord Egremont are rather favourable to the opinion, that fattening stock do not eat in proportion to their weight, but that a small ox, when kept in a stall, will eat proportionally more, without fattening, quicker than a large one. Without pronouncing decisively on a question so much contested, as whether large or small cattle ought to be preferred, (which will require, indeed, a great number of experiments finally to deter- mine) I shall endeavour shortly to su^ up the ar- guments made use of on either side. In favour of small or moderate sized cattle, it Is contended, 1. That a large animal requires, pro- portionally, more food than two smaller ones of the same weight. 2. That the meat of the large animal is not so fine grained, and consequently does not afford such delicate food. 3. That large animals are not so well calculated for general con- sumption as the moderate sized, particularly in hot weather. 4. That large animals poach pastures more than small ones. 5. That they are not so active, consequently not so fit for working. 6. That small cows, of the true dairy sort, give pro- portionally more milk than large ones. 7. That small oxen can be fattened with grass merely, whereas the large require to be stall-fed, the ex- pense of which exhausts the profit of the farmer. 8. That it is much easier to procure w:ell-shaped o and kindly-fc€ding stock of a small size, than of a large one. 9. That small sized cattle may be kept by many persons, who cannot afford either to pur- chase, or to maintain large ones. And, lastly, If any accident happens to a small sized animal, the loss is less material. In favour of the larsie sized, it is on the other hand contended, 1. That without debating, wheth- er, from their birth till they are slaughtered, the targe or the small ox eats most for its size, yet that, on the whale, the large one will ultimately pay the farmer as well for the food it eats. 2. That, though some large oxen are coarse grained,yetthat,where at- tention is paid to the breed, the lar^e ox is as deli- cate food as the small one. 3. That if the small sized are better calculated for the consumption of private famili'?s, of villages, or of small towns, yet that the large ox is fitter for the markets of large- towns, and in particular of the metropolis. 4. Even admittino; that the flesh of the small sized ox is bet- ter.when eaten fresh ; yet the meat of the large sized is unquestionably better calculated for salt- ing ; a most essential object in a maritime and commercial country ; for the thickest beef, as Cul- Icy jnstly remarks, (p. 47.) by retaining its juices when salted, is the best calculated for long voyageso J). That the hide of the large ox is of infinite con- sequence in various manufaclures. 6. That where the pastures are good, cattle will increase in size, •without any particular attention on the part of the breeder ; which proves that large cattle are the ' proper stock for such pastures. 7, That the art of fattening cattle by oil-cake, &c. having been much isriproved and extended, the advantage thereof 'would be lost, unless large oxen were bred, as small ' ones can be fattened merely with grass and turnipr». And, lastly. That large cattle are better calculated for working than sm:all ones, "two large ones being equal to four small ones, in the plough or the cart. 51 Such are the arguments geneially maxie use of pn both sides of the question ; from which it is evident, that much must depend upon pasture^ taste, markets, &c. But, on the whole, though the unthinking multitude may admire an enor- mous bullock, more resembling an elephant than an ox, yet the intelligent breeder (unless his pas- tures are of a nature peculiarly forcing) will nat- urally prefer a moderate size for the stock he rears ; or, perhaps, may adopt that plan of breeding, ac- cording to which, the males are large ajid strong, and the females of a small size, yet not unproduc- tive to the dairy. Shape. It is extremely desirable tp bring the shape of cattle to as much perfeclion as possible ; at the same time, profit and utility ought to be more attended to than mere beauty, wliich may please the eye, but will not fill the poeket, and which, depending much upon caDrice, must be often chan2:ijQQ:. As to the shape of cattle, however,, breeders- seem to concur, in regard to the fe^llowing particu- lars, to wit J 1. That the form ought to be compacr, so that no part of the animal should be dispropor- tioned to the other. 2. That the carcase should be deep. 3. Broad. And, 4= That the hes.d, the bones, and other parts of little value, should be as small as possible. Disposition. It is of great importance, to have a breed distinguished by a tame and docile disposi- tion, without, however, being deficient in spirit,. Such a breed is not so apt to injure fences, to break into other fields, &c. ; and, unquestionably, less food will rear, support, and fatten them. As tame- ness of disposition is much owing to the manner in which the animal is brought up, attention to inure ihem early to be familiar and dQcile, cannot be tG9 much recommended. 32 Easily maintained. It is well known, in the hu- man race, that some individuals eat a great deal, and never get fatter ; whilst others, with little food, grow immoderately corpulent. As the same takes place, in regard to cattle and to other ani- mals, it is evident how important it must be to as- certain the circumstances which produce a property so peculiarly valuable in them. Bakewell strongly insisted on the advantage of small bones for that purpose : and the celebrated John Hunter declarr ed, that small bones were generally attended with corpulence, in all the various subje<5ts he h^d an op-^ portunity of examining. It is probable, however, that a tendency to fatten arises from some peculiar circumstance in the internal structure of the body, of which, small bones is, in general, an indication ; and that it is only in this point of view that they ought to be considered essential ; for they often ■weigh as heavy, and consequently require as much nourishment as large ones. Small bones, like those of the blood horse, being compact and heavy : large bones, like thoseof the common dray, or cart-horse, being extremely porous, and, consequently, light, for their apparent bulk. Indeed, cattle ought not to be easily maintained, in point of quantity, but in remote and uncultivated distrifts, in regard to the quality also of the food they consume ; and it is cer- tain, that some particular animals will fatten as well on coarse fare, as others will do on the most lux- uriant. The farmer is indemnified for the expense of maintaining sheep, by the valuable manure it yields, and the fleece which it annually produces, which, when manufaftured, is the source of such profit to the community.* ♦ Both sheep and cattle arrive sooner at maturity, when they are fed in pucb a mancer as to keep them constantly in a growing state ; la that yf^y^ 5S Milk. The dairy is such an object, in many- parts of the kingdom, and it is so desirable to have a livinsf machine that can convert in abundance and perfedion, the food it eats, to so useful, so proiita- ble, and so essential an article as milk, that the breed, the moll distinguished for that property must al- ways be in request. Whether a particular breed ■ought to be kept up for that sole purpose, orwheth- €r it is preferable to have stock partly calculated for the butcher, and partly for the dairy, is a point well entitled to the most deliberate discassion. It is probable, that by great attention, a breed might be reared, the males of which misfht be well caicu- lated, in every respect for the shambles, and the fe- males of which, might, when young, produce abun- dant quantities of good milk, yet, when they reach- ed eight or nine years of age, might be easily fatten- ed. This would be the most valuable breed that could be propagated in any country. Quality of flesh. The quality of the flesh must certainly depend much upon age and sex, as old .cattle must have firmer flesh than young, and heifers must be finer grained than oxen. The ex- cellence of the meat, alio, must depend much upon ,the size of the animal, and the food on which it is fattened. On the whole, however, there is no bet- ter sign of good flesh, than when it is marbled, or the fat and lean nicely interwoven, and alternately mixed with each other. Some of the Scotish breeds, (the more northerly in particular) when properly fed, and when they arrive at a proper age, enjoy this quality in great perfection ; and hence, there cannot be either wholefomer food, or more delicious eating. The art of fattening animals, hovv'cver, is one that seems fit to be encouraged, as likely to pro- they make more progress in three years, than thcv usunl'y do in five, whea they are h;ilf starved diirinj^ i\\c winter, an.! their f:;rovvt;h cKeckci, whicli it Ccrtiiiil^ is, every wiiiter, iu the oidiaary way of rciriii^. Si mote useful knowledge ; and although, in the course of trying a number of experiments, some excesses may be committed, yet, on the whole, much advantage must be derived from them. On the Managejiient of Dung. IF we can bring the airs which arise from our dung hills into close contact with soil, we may re a- sonably suppose, that no inconsiderable portion of them will be retained by it. For this purpose, let a portion of surface soil, or any light earth, be strewed, as soon as may be, on the dung hill ; if the quantity thrown on be not too large, it will not check the putrefadion. After a time, let this soil be mixed with the dung ; or, if the fermenta- tion should not be a(ftive, let it be thrown oft', and heaped up beside it, and then another portion laid on the dung as at hrst : Thus, by degrees, we IhaU form the most valuable materials for compost ; and profit by those active principles, which are, in the present practice, inconsiderately wasted. Peat earth will answer better than any other, for this purpose, both as the lightest, and as it abounds in vegetable matter ; which, under this treatment, will be con- verted into a valuable manure. It is worth inquiring, how far it is necessary for dung to be in so advanced a stage of putrefaction before we use it. I have already observed, that, if it be ploughed into land before its fermentation is somewhat advanced, the process will be stopped ; but, when it has once pervaded the mass complete- ly, we may mingle it with the soil, without any such effect ; and I have the authority of one of our most intelligent and experienced farmers, for assert- ing, that the half rotted litter is best. 55 • I have only to add, that light earth is also very- valuable, to be mixed >\'ith dung, for the purpose of absorbing the moisture of the dunghill, that oth- €r\\'ise might be lost. The practice of mixing eartli with dung requires to be managed with a delicate hand, especially in form- ing a dung hill with materials that have not been previously subjected to fermentation. The mis- chief arising from driving carts upon dung liiils, by pressing and consolidating the mass, greatly retards, and, in some instances, almost en- tirely prevents fermentation. The same injury is done by mixing any considerable quantity of soil, withdung in an unfermented state, which by press- ing the straw and other matters into a small space, so effeftually excludes the air, that the dung, at the distance of several months, will be found in a state little different from what it was when put in- to the heap : after all, when it is, in common lan- guage, said to be rotten, it is, upon examination, found to be only decayed, and the produce in place of abounding with rich mucilaginous substances, which all well fermented dung does, is found to consist almost entirely of vegetable earth. There is, however, a mode of applying earth to dung hills, that is not only safe, but highly beneficial : It con- sists in coveriuGf the whole surface of the dun? hill lightly, either with common earth, or broken peat, every time the stables or fold yard are emptied ; a covering of that kind, not being heavy enough to press materially upon the mass, does not retard the fermentation, and has the great additional advan- tage of preventing the loss daily sustained about most farms by evaporation, and the dissipation of the greatest part of the 'valuable gasses generated during the process of fermentation, all of vhich are entangled and retained by the earth ; which by that means, not only acquires high fertilizing 56 powers, but renders the dung more valuable.-— When a proper system is followed of carrying out the manure from the stables and yard to the dung hill say once a-month, if it is spread equally over the whole, and a covering of the kind mentioned laid above it, a considerable addition may be made to the quantity of manure upon every farm yearly, not only without risk, but with very great advan- tage. Observatio7u on the Cultivation of Potatoes. HAVING long entertained an idea, that the for- mation ot apples upon potatoes was detrimental to the crop, by drawing away a large and valuable part of the nourishment from the roots ; I, this year, made an experiment, which, I think, goes a great way to solve, the question. Having planted some acres of different kinds, I had the flowers care- fully picked from several of the drills, as soon as they appeared ; leaving between every drill, so picked, a drill with the flowers untouched. In some cases, I al- lowed the flowers to expand, and even to make some progress towards setting ; in others, I suffer. ed the apples to form, and pulled them off when they were half grown. The following is the re- sult : In the drills, where the flowers were gathered as soon as they appeared, the crop was, in most instan- ces, nearly double what it was where the apples were allowed to come to maturitv. Where the flowers were allowed to waste themselves, the crop was less abundant ; and where the apples had made some progress, it was still less, though greatly bet- ter than where they had been left untouched. In short, from the time of tlie flowers appearing, and as forig as the leaves continued green, and the stems growing, there appeared an advantage, from gath* ering both the flowers and apples ; gradually di- minishing, however, as they approached the ultimate period of their growth. I remarked also, that the stems of the potatoes, in the drills where the flow- ers had been picked off, continued green and vig- orous, much longer than where they were siiffered to grow ; and also, where the apples were gather- ed at an early period. J, at the same time, made trials as to the efFecl: of cutting the haum, or shaw, as it is commonly called in Scotland, at different stag- es of its growth ; all of which I fou^d ruinous ; the deficiency of the crop being in exaft proportion to the eariiness of the cutting ; with this addition, that the potatoes were ill ripened, and of a very bad quality ; while those adjoining, where the haum liad been left, were excellent. I also made a care- ful trial as to the advantage of drawing up the ^arth to the stems ; which I find greatly superior to the practice followed by some, of only clearing away the weeds, without giving them any earth at all. In this last case, I found the crop not only less abundant, but a great part of the potatoes by be- ing so near the surface, were without a covering, and, by being exposed to the depredations of ver- min and the weather, quite spoiled. From trials, I also found, that no benefit arises from very early planting, especially of the late kinds ; as, however early they may be put into the ground, they do not vegetate till a certain period ; and, in the; mean time, are exposed to every injury arising from frosty or wet weather, which frequently hap- pens in the Spring. I, this year, planted some o^ the late kinds in the beginning of July ; and, a few days since, raised a crop from them, no way inferior to that obtained from those planted in Feb- ruary. While I mention this circupstatice, I thi;Us 5t. it of consequence to state, that all the difFcr&nt: Rinds, both of early and late potatoes, may be ren- dered, at least, a month earlier, by a very simple process, namely, that of putting them in a warm glace early in the Spring, allowing the shoots to grow an inch or two, and. afterwards plai^ting them out, leaving the top of the shoot nearly upon the surface. By this management, I have frequently had a good crop of potatoes, a month or five weeks earlier than I could have otherwise obtained it from. the same kinds,, ^^'ithout suck attention.