Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-29


more than thirty bushels TO the acre; that
over the whole Of the States the average is not
greater, and that the minimum is as low now
as fifteen bushels.
In my observations on Mr.. Marks farm near
Richmond, have suggested probable causes
and remedies Tor this apparent deficiency of
produce in the American wheat crops, The
objections do not altogether apply to Mr..
Sheaff's management, because with him | wit
messed the great rarity of mound of from 800
to 400 tons ofexcellent manure, 10 itself proof
of his superior practice; but have reason to
doubt whether even he allows bis land suf.
hciency of manure---that important article in
whea, husbandry- land whether also his wheat
crops might not be rendered more productive
BY an increase of the allowance of seed.
His crop Of Indian corn was 10 me an object
lot peculiar interests planted in rows in the usu-
al manner, the land on which il grows has
been kept clean as any garden, it raises to the
height OF eight or nine feet, and the hotter and
scorchlng the weather the more rapid the
growth, Friend Cope having Informed me that
he has watched and measured the progress of
the indian corn plants, and found on the very
hottest weather that they make shoots of three
and four inches in twenty four hours.
Indian corn ground into meal and mixed
with cut cloverhay, is used for stall feeding
cattle. aud understand with great efficiency
The cultivation of that corn supersedes here
the use of green crops as food for stock; but it
seems aqueston meriting the consideration of
the American farmers whether the culture of
turnips, and also Of potatoes more extensively
than is pTactsed-- of course, being stored
before winter-.-should not be adopted as facil.
iiatiug the means ofconver,ing strew into ma
nure.
Not having had experience of an American
winter may not presume to determine whether
stock may here be kept loose in yard com.
mnnlcaling with open sheds, and there sup
piled with turnips. or potatoes, or other green
food, and with plenty of fodder and litter ac
cording to what in Scotland is practised with
great advantage; but if this may be done, and
can see no lmpracllcabiliiy In IL, il is obvious
il would give the States farmer a command
of manure within his farm equal TO his occa
sons. AT all events, there should certainly
be no difficulty 10 tying up the whole Of his
young stock. or stock not put up for fattening,
IN close sheds, and there treating them in a
manner mentioned --ihus not only keeping them
much better than is consis,en, with the exist
ing cruel mode of treating them during winter,
but also making them, so TO speak manutac.
turers of much valuable manure.
Besides, should say the occasional use OF
turn ps or potatoes, or other secculent food
alternately with the meal of Indian corn and
cut cover-hay, would be beneficial in exciting
and keeping alive the appetite of the s,al-fed
cattle, and Of consequence acceleratng their
fattening.
Mr.. Sheaff is now in the midst ofhaivesiing
his hay, which in some of his fields consists
entirely Of clover, in others a mixture of clo-
yer and Timothy grass. which he tells me is
much priced as food for horses. should
think an admixture of rye-grass and some OF
the other approved hay grasses, would be found
still an improvement.
Between this country and ours the differ
ence of climate is very striking here in two
days after 1t is cut, the clover crop is in safe
state for being carried home and stored in the
barn; with US precariousness Of hay harvest,
not only 10 Scotland. but in the better climate
OF Eng land, is too we'll known; here no des-
crlption ofcrop grain OF hay, is ever stacksd;
all is atonce stored in large barns with US if
such practice were attempted, the buildings
10 all probability, would ve:y soon be burnt
down by the spontaneous combustion Of the
contained mass.
But although in the States, The climate ad-
mits of this mode of securing the crops in barns,
| should not approve Of il even there, as besides
various other advantages, it must create waste
and confusion in ihrashing, particularly where
thrashing mills are used, which however it is
surprising to see is but rarely the case in the
States, notwithstanding the complaint Of the
high price of labor.
The British farmer takes pride IN the array
of his rick-yard, the number and symetry and
arrangement of his corn stacks being signs of
his merit. and this matter Iiflng as itmay APP
pear. enters iBfuentially into that emulation
among farmers, 10 which much Of our advance
meni 10 agricultural science is owing.
But the rick yard is further of utility in en-
abling the farmer to keep an exact account
of the produce of each particular field on his
farm, so as 10 test the comparative fertility of
each; or the qualify aud value Of the seed with
which II was sown; or the efficiency Of differ
ent manures, or of distinct modes Of culture.
For these purposes he has a map of his
rick yard, on which the sites Of the stacks are
numbered, with reference to entries 10 his
farm-book OF every thing he desires to record
as 10 the origin, the contents. and the disposal
Of each stack. These are matters Of lmpor-
lance to a farmer who has any desire to knOo
,ohGt he is doing, but they are beyond the reach
of any one who bundles his crops higgledy-
diggledy in great barn.
do not conceive that there is anything IN
the climate of America to prevent the securing
Of either hay or corn crops IN stacks. An IN
speclon Of the rck-yard, Of any good farmer
ia England or Scotland. and more particularly
perhaps in Northumberland. Berwiekshire or
East Lorihisn, would be Sufficient to remove
every doubt Of the probability Of keeping
corn and hay To- stacks with perfect safety; and