eighteen months old; I feed a few busnels of corn meal some four weeks before killing time; my hogs weighed from three to 460 pounds this year; I fatted six spring pigs this year, they weighed from 200 to 250 pounds each; I fed only 20 bushels of corn meal to the whole lot.

31. Made no experiments on root crops to show the relative value for feeding stock.

FRUIT.

32. I have about 140 apple trees, 120 grafted fruit, 20 natural fruit-Russett, Greening, Spitzenburgh, Gilliflower, Pound Sweet, Roxbury Russet. My apple trees are very old; the most of them have been set out from forty to fifty years; they bear very well yet the most of them.

33. Six Egg Plum trees, four do Green Gage, two Early Bell Pear trees. Egg Plums the best, I have frequently sold six dollars worth from one tree.

34. My trees have not been troubled with any insect.

35. I trim my trees once every other year, about the time of blossoming; keep the young shoots, or suckers trimmed off every year.

36. I have not tried any experiments this year.

FENCES, BUILDINGS, &c.

37. One barn 52 feet by 44; lintel on two sides, used for stowing hay and stabling cattle and horses. One barn 64 feet by 30, used for the same purpose. My barns are one hundred rods apart. My farm was formerly owned by two individuals.

38. My new fence is constructed of cedar and butternut posts, four holes morticed in each post, bars of hemlock. I have two hundred rods post and board fence, all in good condition; cost forty-five cents per rod when I have the boards and posts to buy I have not made any wire fence.

39. My farming operations are not guided by any accurate weighing or measuring, as I understand the question. I farm it for the good of the soil and large profits.

40. I keep farm accounts; I can state the annual expense in

improving my farm, and the income from it, so as to strike an accurate balance of the debt and credit at the end of the year.

I think the practice of keeping farm accounts would conduce very much to careful farming, and in the end would improve our system and better our fortune.

Albert G. Ford, in account current with his Farm.

Wintering stock in 1850-51-75 tons hay, $6.00 per ton,. 450 00

Expense of wintering hogs in 1850-51,....

20 bushels corn fed to hogs and pigs this fall,...

8 50

10 00

11 galls. maple molases soid last spring at $1.00 pr. gal. 145 bushels oats raised this year and on hand,

60 bushels corn raised and on hand,.

....

195 barrels of winter apples, sold,.............

85 tons hay cut this season, at $6.00 per ton,.... Seven new swarms of bees,.

$11 00

44 95

30 00

One quarter of beef,

4 93

....

Committee.

Statement of Mr. Ford, verified as required by the rules of the

Society.

H. TEN EYCK FOSTER, Lakeland,

WILLIAM KELLY, Rhinebeck,

DRAINING.

B. P. JOHNSON, J. M. SHERWOOD, J. STANTON GOULD, COMMITTEE.

The Committee to whom was referred the articles on draining, most respectfully report, that there were submitted to them for examination, statements from Mr. John Johnston, of Seneca co., Hon. T. G. Yeomans, of Wayne, and Mr. D. Hess, of Madison county. The first two reports named, give the details of their operations, the expenses attending upon the drainage, and contain information of value to our farmers, and which will doubtless lead to further improvements. It would have added to the usefulness of these reports, if more particular statements had been given in regard to the value of the land, and the increased quantity and quality of the crops on the drained land as compared with the yield of the lands when undrained. The statements should contain when practicable, the amount of three or four crops before draining, when in cultivation, and an equal number after, as this would clearly show the advantages resulting from the drainage. Mr. Johnston has done this to some extent, but Mr. Yeomans having but just completed his, has not been enabled, to do it. Such a statement in detail would form an acceptable present to our agriculturists.

The statement of Mr. Hess is deficient in the details required to render his report of value. The Committee recommend to the. Executive committee to award to John Johnston, Seneca, the first pre

mium, Silver cup, of the value of $30, and to Hon. Theron G. Yeomans, of Wayne, second premium, Silver cup, value of $20.

The importance of this subject to our farmers, will warrant the Committee in some remarks on the subject generally. That all wet soils should, where practicable, be thoroughly drained, so as to prepare them for cultivation to advantage, can not be questioned. From whatever source the moisture arises, whether from surface water, or from springs beneath the surface, the necessity exists for its removal. That this can be done at a reasonable expense, ordinarily, is shown by the reports which have been made; and although to some, the expenditure of from thirty to forty cents per rod may appear large, yet where on land, as in the case of Mr. Johnston, where previous to drainage, he had not been able to raise a remunerating crop, the first year succeeding, he raised 83 bushels of corn per acre, and the land has since continued equally remunerative, it must be obvious that this was an expenditure which sound economy justified.

Care is necessary in averaging the depth of drains and their distance so as to secure thorough freeing of the land from moisture; but a little experience very soon enables the farmer to determine this. As in all the operations of the farm, there should be judgment used, and such a depth of the main drains as well as dis

tances of the connecting ones, as will accomplish the object with the most economical expenditure should be secured.

An interesting account of drainage upon the farm of Sir John P. Boileau, Bart., a corresponding member of our Society, in England, having been presented us, as it is appropriate to the subject before us, we give it entire.

DRAINAGE OF HETHEL WOOD FARM.

To Mr. PUSEY: Dear Sir-In compliance with your request, I have much pleasure in forwarding to you the statement of the facts connected with the drainage of Hethel Wood estate; the details I will at once proceed to give as briefly as possible. This