323 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



vest of 1881. Another, the various crops and sales of wool, beef, pork, and 

 mutton coming in at different times of the year, brings in money as needed — 

 a very important matter to the farmer who docs not have a bank account to 

 go to for his running expenses. 



On many farms a certain rotation of crops seems better for keeping up the 

 fertility of the farm, than to continue it in one or two special crops. Few 

 soils will produce the same crops, or the same class of crops, year after year, 

 and give the best yields, although some crops will do better than others grown 

 in this way — and the degree of cultivation has much to do with it — and give 

 better results. Yet, it is a well known fact that soil does tire, so to speak, of, 

 the same crop continued annually, and a steady decrease in yield will be gen- 

 erally noted. 



On most farms there is a necessity for raising a certain amount of the 

 several varieties of grain and hay, both as food for teams and other stock, as 

 well as to afford an opportunity to break up and re-seed grass lands. The suc- 

 cessful farmer, after providing for his teams and stock, has a surplus of hay, 

 scraw, and the different kinds of grain to dispose of; but to sell from his farm 

 would be selling his farm by piece-meals, but wishes to convert the same 

 into manure by machinery as one means of maintaining the fertility of his 

 soil and turning it into ready cash. And here comes in the beauties of mixed 

 farming, as he always has a portion of the machinery on his farm in surplus 

 matured fat cattle, sheep, and hogs, and through them will sell the surplus for 

 double it would bring him in market. Grain growing and stock raising seem 

 to be twin sisters, and go hand in hand, and lead to prosperity. You have 

 only to look around you to your successful farmers and ask them how they 

 have succeeded so well in educating their sons and daughters, erecting such 

 fine farm buildings, and adding from year to year to their domains. Their ready 

 answer will be, we have combined the two. With a wise system of rotation of 

 crops, a liberal supply of clover and timothy seed, the manure from his farm, 

 and from 50 to 100 pounds of gypsum per acre, you need have no fear of 

 your soil deteriorating. Adopt no theoretic mode of farming unless founded 

 upon personal experience. 



And now, brother farmers, if we adopt the system of mixed husbandry, it 

 is very important we start right in the kinds of stock we keep on our farms. 



HORSES. 



What kind shall we keep and breed? I hear your response. Give me size, 

 style, bone and muscle, and a good walking gait, and weighing from 1,200 to 

 1,400 pounds, and with three of such horses before a plow you can bid 

 defiance to our extremes of weather, and such a horse will always command 

 an extra price in market. Leave the running and trotting horse to the ama- 

 teur horseman, who has money and time to throw away. 



CATTLE. 



I approach this part of my subject with temerity, as there are so many noble 

 breeds of cattle to choose from ; all have their friends and admirers. I think 

 for the average farmer public opinion is in favor of the thoroughbred. Dur- 

 ham or high grades are the most profitable for milk and beef. 



SHEEP. 



I will now claim your attention to that source of all profit, and a thing of 

 beauty on the farm, the sheep. I might eulogize the sheep, speak of his 



