230 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



sider clover "head and shoulders" above all the rest. In 

 breeding hogs, strict adherence to a well defined system, and 

 a reasonable amount of attention to all details, combined with 

 good judgment, will insure success. 



TOP DKESSING. 



There is nothing upon the farm that requires more care 

 and judgment than the application of fertilizers. The barnyard 

 and other decaying vegetation constitute our greater supply, 

 while every thing else should be carefully saved. 



Experience has satisfied me, that top-dressing newly seeded 

 land, as a rule, is the best that can be done, especially if the 

 land be seeded with clover. One good top dressing will largely 

 increase the production of hay or pasture for several years, and 

 will put the soil in excellent condition for corn, or wheat, or 

 any other grain. A good crop enriches the farmer; a poor crop 

 impoverishes him. It is just as easy , to realize an average of 

 si:5ty bushels of corn, twenty-five of wheat, or forty of barley, 

 which is only a moderate estimate, as to only raise half that 

 quantity, as many of our farmers are doing. If your land is 

 naturally poor, or is exhausted by any means whatever, the 

 first, and only thing, that will make you a successful farmer, 

 is to 



GIVE IT FERTILITY AND VIGOR 



and then keep the land in that condition, no matter at what 

 cost. 



WATCH YOUR LANDS, 



and if any spot shows signs of weakness or exhaustion, fertilize 

 it immediately, from your barnyard, or with compost, or clover. 

 Better that your land should be in clover three-fourths of the 

 time, than to raise one poor crop of grain from it. Whatever 

 kind of seed you sow, always be sure that it be healtliy and 

 vigorous. This is an important matter, and should never be 

 neglected. It is estimated that the corn crop during the year 

 1879 in Kane county alone, from planting poor seed, was defi- 

 cient over 200,000 bushels. This at forty cents a bushel, would 



