The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-29
Ohio Pattern Farm.

Ep.Omof FARMER.-I propose 20 give
the readers of the Farmer a short account
Of the manner in which John Leroy man.
ages his pattern farm.
His farm lies in the broad State of Ohio,
and contains just one hundred and twenty
acres-one hundred Of which are cleared
and under cultivation, and twenty acres
are wood land. The hundred acres he
has divided off into nine fields, of eleven
acres each. When he came into possess
sion Of his farm, twenty five years since,
it was but in poor condition; but by good
management he has now got il under
high state of cultivation. One lot he has
planted in fruit trees-consisting Of ap-
pies, peaches, pears, cherries, &C., which,
by cultivation now that the trees are grown.
he makes average him one thousand dol
lars per annum;i ;indeed it often yields much
more than that amount, in addition to
furnishing summer range for his hogs.
He usually has one field planted in corn,
which he says averages him eight hum
dred and eighty bushels of corn-with
which he feeds his horses, cattle and
sheep, and has sufficient lett to make three
thousand pounds of pork. which is worth
hundred and twenty dollars more. He
puts up his corn and husks it early, and
hauls The fodder to the barn and cuts it
with his horse power cutting box, and
salts it away in his hay bins; thus making
the eleven acres OF fodder of as much
value as twenty-five tons Of hay; and he
thinks that even his horses do better on it
than on hay.
He raises one field Of wheat, and il is
wheat. He has had as high as fifty BUSH
els per acre, or five hundred and fifty
bushels on eleven acres; and he says that
for the last ten years his wheat crops
have averaged thirty five bushels per acre!
| This at one dollar bushel would be
worth three hundred and eighty-fve dol
lars per annum.
He usually plows but one other field,
which he sows partly in oats. and plants
partly in potatoes, &c. Five acres in
potatoes yield on an average fifteen hum
dred bushels, which he WHOLESALERS at some
forty cents per bushel-making six hun
dred dollars Six acres in oats yield three
hundred and sixty bushels.
He mows two fields from which he cuts
forty-four tons of good hay, and alter
of clover seed. He has cut as much as
six bushels Of seed per acre, and frequent
| ly cuts four. bushels. His clover seed
brings him from three to four hundred
dollars.
He pastures three fields. upon which
he can keep sixteen horses and cattle,
and about two hundred and twenty sheep
and their lambs. making about three hun.
dred in ALL. These sheep being of a
good stock. average four pounds Of wool
per fleece, worth fifty cents per pound
aud upwards. In addition. he usually
purchases two hundred sheep in the fall.
| to help to eat his hay, corn, and corn
fodder, which also average four pounds
per Aeece-making five hundred feeces
of wool, al four pounds each. two thou
sand pounds OF wool, worth at least one
thousand dollars. He sells the sheep
after shearing for as much as they cost
him in the fall; and also sells some eighty
sheep from his own flock, for about two or
three hundred dollars.
He generally has one or two good hor.
ses, and one or two cattle for sale, which,
being Of the best stock, readily commend
/ from two TO three hundred dollars.
Thus it will be seen that he leeds most
of his produce on his farm. and thus
makes very large quantity of manure,
and by using lime freely and gypsum. he
is enabled 10 keep his farm constantly
improving in quality. Thus. it will be
seen that his sales amount to some four
thousand dollars per annum.
He keeps good implements. and keeps
every thing in good order on his farm
| aud has for his motto-"Whatevsr is
worth doing, is worth doing we'll" Ye'
one thousand dollars are amply sufficient
to pay for all his labor, with boarding
and purchase lime, gypsum. &c. and
keep his implements in good repair. Thus
he realizes q net prof; Of about three
thousand dollars per annum. whilst some
OF his ..make shifts neighbors scarcely
make living, although their farms few
years since were just as good as his was
Respectfully.