28 WARREN COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



in a good state of cultivation, without the tedious process of 

 manuring. The pasture is generally fed close, yet it affords an 

 abundance of feed. The grass on the thirty acres of meadow 

 is usually cut at the proper time, not at either of the two ex- 

 tremes in vogue in regard to early and late mowing. 



THE PROPER TIME TO CUT CLOVER AND TIMOTHY 



(at least for me) is when it matures, but not so as to 

 destroy its nutritious elements by permitting it to remain uncut 

 until the seed is so ripe that it will drop off in handling, while 

 in the process of putting it away for future use. The hay 

 secured from the above thirty acres is usually put under cover, 

 and about the 1st of September stock are turned on the after- 

 grass and generally fed close. This is the treatment my pas- 

 ture and meadow lands receive. 



In growing a corn crop, the most important elements for 

 success are rich soil and proper culture. These can be had by 

 seeding down in the above grasses, and in plowing a portion of 

 the sod land every year for corn. After the corn is planted, 

 harrowing,' rolling, and continual plowing gives an abundant 

 yield. Xhis is my mode of raising corn, and the result is satis- 

 factory .v 



HIGH GRADE DURHAMS. 



There are usually kept on the farm from forty to fifty head 

 of high grade Durham cattle, of different ages. Of this num- 

 ber, one car-load of steers are fed for market every year, and 

 sold during the months of December or January. From calves 

 they are well cared for, and about the first of September, after 

 they are two years old, they are selected and fed grain until 

 they are fat (which usually takes about three or four months), 

 and then shipped to Chicago. This is the only system of feed- 

 ing, of late, that I can find any profit in. 



COWS SOLD ON WARRANTY. 



Three or four cows are sold every year on a warranty ; 

 that is, if not satisfactory in every particular, to be returned 

 within four days from the day of sale. The well developed 

 heifers three years old, with their first calf, are handled with 



