EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 491 



heavy soils necessitate the use of a heavier type of horses than is usually 

 found on the sandy districts of Michigan. 



Dairying is important to the area. Throughout Wayne county and along 

 the lake in Monroe county the larger farms are devoted principally to dairy- 

 ing. In other sections this type of farming is secondary although many 

 farmers keep from five to seven cows. 



The general methods of farming that are followed are somewhat different 

 from those practiced in other parts of Michigan, the systems used being 

 practically the same as are employed in the corn belt districts of Ohio, Indiana 

 and Illinois. Grains are threshed mainly from the shock in the field and corn 

 for grain is husked from the standing stalk. Hay is stored in large barns, 

 very little being stacked outside. Modern machinery is used in practically 

 all branches of farming, the heavy land necessitating the best grades of farm 

 machinery obtainable. The value of the farm buildings and their upkeep 

 is generally directly proportional to the value of the land on which they are 

 located. The farms of the heavy land districts are as well equipped in this 

 respect as any in the United States; large stock and hay barns with well 

 constructed silos are common, and the residences on this land for the most 

 part are well constructed and supplied with modern farm home conveniences. 

 The farm buildings and their state of repair on the sandy areas, as a rule, are 

 not so commendable. 



Commercial Fertilizers. A large amount of fertilizer is used throughout 

 this entire area, complete fertilizers varying in composition being preferred 

 by the farmers. In the sugar beet districts fertilizers with high potash 

 content are in demand while in the grain growang districts phosphorus 

 receives more emphasis. Local dealers in towns of Monroe and Lenawee 

 counties handle from three to twelve car loads of fertilizer per year. In the 

 northern half of the area the consumption is less because of greater amounts 

 of available manure. Fertilizers are applied mainly to the wheat and corn 

 crops, the amount applied varying from 100 to 400 pounds per acre with an 

 average application of 175 pounds. Practically all of the fertilizer is dis- 

 tributed by means of drills with fertilizer attachments. Acid phosphate has 

 been used in only a few cases but has given excellent results where employed. 

 V.ery little lime has been used in this area. The sandy soils which have 

 received an application have given good results while the heavy soils do not 

 seem to respond to it. Different forms of kme are used but the ground 

 limestone is the most popular, from 500 to 1,000 pounds per acre being used. 



Barnyard Manure. Because of the large amount of live stock fattened in 

 this area barnyard manure is produced in large quantities. Unfortunately 

 the greater part of it is carelessly handled, large piles being exposed to the 

 weather for long periods of time. Practically all of the manure is distributed 

 by means of manure spreaders. Autumn applications are common on the 

 undrained heavy soil since it is practically impossible to spread the manure 

 in early spring. 



The Size of the Farms Varies. In the grain and livestock farming districts 

 the acreage approximates eighty acres. Nearer Detroit and Toledo, Ohio, 

 farms are quite small averaging approximately eight acres. About 75 per 

 cent of the farms on heavy land and 90 per cent of those on sandy soil are 

 operated by the owners. Near Detroit a different condition prevails since the 

 farms are owned largely by city men. 



