FROM GENESEE COUNTY. BY F. H. RANKIN, OF FLINT, SECRETARY OF THE GENESEE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. At the last meeting [this communication is dated Dec. 13, 1864,] of the Executive Committee of the Genesee Co. Agricultural Society, your circular "To the Farmers of Michigan was under consideration, and answers to most of your questions were agreed upon, as follows. The replies may be regarded as relating generally to the county at large, rather than to any particular locality of the county. The replies might be modified in some instances, if their application were confined to particular townships. On some of the queries, the Committee did not possess the information requisite to enable them to answer correctly: 1. Cultivation commenced here about 40 years ago; has been general about 28 years. Soil-mixture of clay, sand and gravel; dry and well drained; most of it wood-land-oak, maple, beech, pine on the streams. 2. The principal crops are: Wheat, average yield per acre 15 bu., decrease from insects and open winters, one-fourth; corn, average yield per acre 40 bu., increase by cultivation one-fourth; oats, average yield per acre 40 bu., increase by cultivation one-fourth; potatoes, average yield per acre 100 bu., decrease from rot one-fourth; hay, average yield per acre 11 ton, increase by cultivation one-fourth. Of white wheat, Soule's is most productive. Canada Club failed. Of red wheat, the Velvet Mediterranean is best. On clay soil white wheat has a tendency to turn red. 3. Wheat costs to raise, $1 a bushel; corn 40 cts.; potatoes 30 cts.; oats 30 cts. The corn crop is most profitable; next hay. A large proportion of the crops is consumed on the farm; of wheat, about one-half is sold; of other crops, about one-fourth. 4. All kinds of fruit suited to the climate of Michigan, are cultivated here. Apples are the most profitable. Fruits are generally more profitable than any other crops. Apples have averaged 50 cts. a bushel; sell for the home market. 5. Root crops are considerably cultivated. The principal kinds are the ruta baga and carrot the former for cattle and sheep, the latter for horse-feed. They are considered profitable and useful crops, and the climate and soil of the county are well adapted to raising them. 6. Cattle are considered the most profitable farm stock. 8. Beef from grade cattle, can be made cheaper than any other meat. 9. The annual yield of butter per cow, is 125 lbs.; of cheese, 250 lbs. 10. The cost of butter may be put at 15 cts. per lb.; of cheese, 10 cts. Cheese is not made on the "factory system." 11. For beef, the short-horn or Durham, crossed with " native," is preferred. For the dairy, grade. Stock has been much improved by the introduction of Durham blood; principally from New York. 12. Of horses, Morgans and Black Hawks are preferred, both for farm work and traveling. Horses 16 hands high, of 1,100 to 1,200 lbs. weight, are preferred in both cases. The breed of horses has been much improved by the introduction of Morgans. 13. The sheep kept are Spanish Merino, principally. The average weight of fleeces is 41 lbs. washed; prices 30 cts. to $1 per lb. Sheep are not fattened for market. The introduction of Spanish blood, from Vermont and New York, has much improved the sheep previously in the county. 14. The most profitable swine are a cross of Byfield and Suffolk. They are killed at from 9 months to 18 months old; average weight 250 lbs. 15. We have mowing and reaping machines, thrashing machines, and a general variety of labor-saving implements; saving one-half the manual labor. 16. We have the Buckeye, Cayuga Chief, Kirby, &c., and combined reapers and mowers. 17. Corn-planters, grain-drills, and broadcast sowing machines, are all used here with the very best results. 18. The revolving horse-rake is the only kind here used. 19. Horse-pitchforks are used almost universally, with a sawing of more than half the manual labor. 20. Hay-tedders are not used. 22. Manures are chiefly applied to the corn crop. 23. Plaster is used considerably. 24. Wood-land has advanced in value 100 per cent. in the last five years. 25. In clearing land the timber is usually burned up in log heaps. 26. The wages to farm laborers are $1.50 a day; $20 a month. In former years the average was $12 a month. 27. Experiments have been made in underdraining clay soils, mainly with wood and brush. The drains cost about 25 cts. per rod, resulting in very great benefit to crops. 28. As improvements, fences are most needed; and for the advancement of the agricultural interest, the dissemination of agricultural papers would be useful. FROM GENESEE COUNTY. BY SILAS D. HALSEY, OF GRAND BLANC. 1. The soil in this section has been cultivated about 28 years. It is mostly clay; is chiefly what is called oak openings, with some wet prairies, or as we call them, marshes. The kinds of timber are black-walnut, white-walnut, white, black and redoak, basswood, hard and soft-maple, elm, and indeed all the varieties found in our North-Western States. 2. The principal crops are wheat, oats, corn, barley, hay, &c. The average of wheat per acre, for the whole time the land has been cultivated, would be about 15 bushels. Oak openings, when first broken, and until they are tilled well and manured, do not produce large crops of wheat, but the yield increases as the soil becomes mixed and manured. Corn yields from 40 to 100 bushels ears to the acre, according as the soil is adapted to it. Hard clay we consider unfit to plant corn on. Sandy, loamy, Oats do well on or gravely soil produces the best crops of corn. almost any kind of soil, and will yield from 30 to 50 bushels per acre, according to the richness of the land and manner of cultivation. Barley has been raised to some extent in our section, but requires well cultivated and rich land to make a good crop, and the state of weather and time of seeding must be considered. Hay goes about 11⁄2 tons to the acre, as an average crop. We have found the Soule's wheat to be as productive as any variety we can sow, and it brings the most in market. However, the red wheat stands the ravages of the midge better than any kind we have tried. 3. The prices of different kinds of grain have varied very much. Wheat, for instance, has sold from 50 cts. to $2.50 per bushel; oats from 10 cts. to 75 cts. per bushel; corn from 25 to $1 25 per bushel; barley from 371⁄2 cts. to $1; buckwheat from 50 cts. to $1. The relative cost of putting in crops is, wheat $4 per acre; oats $3; corn $5; barely $3; buckwheat $3. Wheat is considered the most profitable, and it is the most largely raised for market. All other crops are raised for sale, and but a small proportion of the grain raised is consumed as feed. Oats and corn are almost the only crops used for feeding animals. 4. Formerly all kinds of fruit were raised in our section; but latterly we have nothing but apples, cherries, currants, and a few pears. The curculio in the plum, the hard winter and late frost on our peaches and grapes, the blight on our pears, has rendered them almost or quite worthless. Indeed apples are not as perfect as they were 20 years ago. the fruit crop I consider greater than those on any other crop. the farmer can raise. Apples will sell at from 75 cts. to $1.25 per bu. at Flint, or at the orchard. Fruit has not been raised here as yet for any western market, as Milwaukee or Chicago. The profits of 5. Root crops were raised when the country was new, because a large amount of roots could be raised at little cost on new land, and they, or something in the shape of grain were required to give heart to marsh hay, which was all the fodder used for cattle, then. But the raising of roots has been discontinued, and corn and oats, as feed, have taken their places. Ruta baga was the only root raised to much extent. We have tried the mangel wurzel, sugar-beet, &c., but the care and trouble to keep them through our hard winters, has led to raising grain,which is not attended with so much trouble, 6. Sheep we consider the most profitable animals on the farm. Some of our farmers, however, fatten cattle and hogs for market, and are well remunerated. 7. The price of beef has varied from 2 to 6 cts. per lb.; pork from 3 to 8 cts.; mutton from 3 to 5 cts; butter from 8 to 50 cts; cheese from 8 to 16 cts. 8. I should think that mutton could be produced at the least cost of any meat. 9. The average annual yield of butter per cow is about 150 pounds. 10. It costs 12 cts. a pound to make good butter, and perhaps cheese can be made for 8 cts. Cheese is not made in sufficient quantities to warrant the outlay attending the factory system. 11. The most profitable cattle for beef are the Durhams. The grades (common and Durham cross) are generally the best milkers, as far as my experience goes, although some of the full-blood Durhams are first-rate milkers. Oxen of the common blood, I think, are the best for working. The Durham cattle have been introduced here, but as a general thing, the farmers think they will not pay, and they are not patronized as a general thing. The Durhams introduced here were obtained of the Livingston County Stock Association, in Western New York. 12. The grade horse-Black Hawk or Morgan crossed with the large common or English mares-make the horses best adapted to the farm, and the Black Hawk, as pure as he can got, the best for light business on the road. The Black Hawk and other Morgans have been introduced here to some |