New Mineral Manure for Clover. Read December 9th, 1806. Having been shewn by Dr Woodhouse a small quantity of a mineral substance, which had been brought for his examination from New Jersey, by Josiah Reeve, of Evesham, I wrote to the latter and requested all the information in his power to give, on the subject of the qualities of the substance, and received the following anJ. MEASE. swer. Rancocas Creek, 11th mo. 20th, 1806. Respected Friend, I received thy letter dated the 18th of June last, and should have answered it sooner, but wished to take some time to make further observations, as well as to gain information from my neighbours and from some others at a distance. The black sulphuric substance by us called marle, is found in great abundance through most parts of the country, in a north east and south west direction, from the head waters of Crosswick's Creek, in Burlington County, along on the upper part of nearly all the creeks from thence to the southern part of Gloucester county; we find it in the banks of the streams, and in most places at the bottom of many of our wells, and it often spoils the water. On my farm, and through our neighbourhood, it abounds near the surface in the meadows, and generally in the banks or hill sides, about from 4 to 6 feet below the surface; the depth I cannot from experience say much about, but from the observations of others, find it varies from 6 to 15 feet and more. I have at thy request, brought with me to the city, for thy use, a box of it, of which I wish thee or thy friends to make a chemical analysis. The result of my own, and my neighbour's experience is, that for grass lands, about ten two horse loads to the acre, laid on the surface in the autumn, is better, if the next season prove moist, than double the quantity of any other manure, and will last longer; changing in two years rough bound meadow into almost clear white and red clover: but the last dry summer it did very little good. I am in the practice of mixing in my barn yard, or in the compost heap, the marle with the dung, two loads of the former with one of the latter, and always find when put on my fallow, that it is as good, or better than the same quantity of dung alone, and much better for the clover that follows, but in its crude or raw state, does not do on grain, the first year, except for indian corn, which some say it helps, by laying it on the tops of the hills in the spring. I put some, in my manure for my garden, and found it made the clover grow among vegetables, so spontaneously, that we have had much trouble to destroy it ever since. From thy friend JOSIAH REEVE. At my request, Dr. Seybert analyzed the substance sent by Mr. Reeve, and found it to be a ferruginous clay. J. M. Expences and Profits of a Dairy. By Algernon Roberts. Read April 14th, 1807. [Mr. Roberts having been requested by the Agricultural Society of Merion and Blockly townships Philadelphia County, to favour them with a statement of the expences and profits of his dairy, presented the following account. It was afterwards presented by Mr. Roberts, to the Agricultural Society of Philadelphia. As the quantity of land which sustained his cows, was not mentioned, the Society requested information on that head, and received in consequence, the letter subjoined to the following paper.] Agreeably to the request of the Society, I lay before them, an account of the butter, I sold from a dairy of twenty cows, during eight years viz: from 1st January 1796 to 31st December 1803. The weight amounted to 27835 pounds, being an annual average of 3479 pounds, or 173 pounds to each cow per year. Cash received for butter sold from 20 cows in 8 years, Consumed in family the milk of 3 ditto, 20 calves at $ 4 each, $ 8276 19 1506 320 816 640 11558 19 7748 8)3810 19 476 20 cows at 30 dollars each is $ 600 at In the above estimate, I suppose all the sustenance of the pigs to proceed from the dairy, as any other food their dams had, is supposed not to exceed the amount of pigs used by the family, and of those sold alive: it is likewise supposed that one half the food of the other swine, consisted of the offal of the dairy. The calves were sold on the spot. The item of the family milk is founded on a supposition, that it would take three cows to give milk to a family of ten persons, a considerable proportion of which are children. It is also to be remarked, that in the autumn months of part of the years included in the calculation, there were some persons added to the family, in consequence of the epidemic fever, prevalent in the city of Philadelphia, and who caused a diminution in the quantity of butter sold. It is difficult to estimate the expences. The interest is founded upon a supposition that each cow costs thirty dollars; and the winter keep is set down as equal to her full value. The dairy is supposed to be managed by a man and woman, who are thought fully equal to the : task, and their wages as stated, a full reward. The marketing is supposed to be done by the man, who is allowed eight cents, each time for expences, exclusive of horse standing at the city stable, ferriage and turnpike toll. Nothing is allowed for the bull, except his summer pasture, as it must be bad management, if he does not sell in the autumn, for more than he cost in the spring; his manure also is to be taken into consideration. The allowance for replacing dairy cattle is thought to be trifling, as they are most frequently sold, with proper management, when turned off for grazing, for more than their prime cost; their manure is supposed equivalent to their summer pasture. The neat profit then is $ 3810 19 for eight years; this sum divided by eight gives $ 476 27 cents; which being again divided by 20, (the number of cows,) will give the average per head, viz. twenty three dollars, and eighty one cents. Sir, Blockley, April 20th, 1807. My farm consists of about two hundred and eighty acres, thirty of which are wood land, and ten of natural meadow and homestead inclosures; consequently there remain about two hundred and forty acres of ara. ble land; which are divided into thirteen inclosures of unequal sizes: my general mode of cultivation, is two succeeding summer crops, first indian corn, and secondly oats, the stubble of which is ploughed and sown with winter grain; the succeeding spring, the land is sown with clover, orchard grass, and timothy seed. Several of the inclosures are so pestered with garlick, as to se |