168 MASON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



a raised floor in the driveway. I have my corn sheller, which 

 shells for a number of my neighbors, making at least $500 

 every Winter with it. The granary has a farmer's carpenter 

 shop up stairs. I have no pasture, consequently I feed our 

 cows in the barnyard. The water is very good, and a good 

 quality of coal lies near the surface. 



When the Winter will permit I cut my corn stalks with a 

 stalk cutter using a single row cutter, as it does better work, 

 and is easier on the teams. I turn the stalks under before 

 Spring, and give the land another plowing. I have found that 

 a system of thorough cultivation will yield big profits, but 

 skinning a farm will ruin it. In the preparation of the ground 

 for corn I plow with a three-horse plow. I never use gang- 

 plows, as I have found them a failure, making too hard work 

 for the teams. 



PLANKING THE LAND. 



The land is then well rolled, but a better plan is to take 

 three twelve feet planks, two by eight, lay them weatherboard 

 fashion, bolt them together, put a good stout span of mules at 

 each end, and drag the freshly plowed ground. This puts the 

 land in the best possible condition. I then harrow it thoroughly, 

 roll it with a light roller and mark it off. I use a planter with 

 a good sized boy to drop the corn. I do not use a check row 

 planter, as I am of the opinion that it does not put the seed 

 into the ground deep enough. 



I plant the corn whenever I have ten acres in order, and 

 by this plan the crop is put in without any delays. 



In cultivating the corn I go slow, and am careful not to 

 cover it, nor to run too close to the stalks ; otherwise the side 

 roots will be injured, preventing a good sturdy growth. I 

 plant every year a little oats, followed by wheat. I rent all 

 the land I need for cutting grass. The rent of this land is 

 one-third in the stack and it pays me better than to cut my 

 own land, which is not suitable for hay, 



CHICKENS. 



My chickens are the Plymouth Rocks, and they are healthy, 



