EARLY SOWING — GOOD TOOLS. 231 



amount to $80,000. At the same rate throughout the State of 

 Illinois (and we have good reason to believe that in many 

 counties the deficit was much greater), we have the enormous 

 loss, b}'- sheer negligence, in the corn crop alone, of over 

 $8,000,000, and yet the mass of our farmers will not learn 

 wisdom. 



EARLY SOWING 



is also very important and early as well as thorough cultivation, 

 and early harvest is equally so. From my long experience I 

 will only add that all the work upon the farm ought to be 

 done well, early and intelligently. 



NO FARMER CAN SUCCEED UNLESS HE HAS GOOD TOOLS, 



good teams, good help, good stock, good land, and above all 

 good management. 



In this prairie land nature has done her part ; if the hus- 

 bandman does his as well, success is certain. Let farmers, 

 then, learn to blame the culture, not the soil. When the crop 

 is raised and secured, the next important question is, Avhat is 

 best to do with it? If the crop is sold in the markets and 

 nothing returned to replenish the exhausted land that produced 

 it, a cruel robbery is committed, and the first step towards the 

 impoverishment of the farm and its owner has been taken. If 

 it be converted on the farm, into stock, beef, pork, wool, mut- 

 ton, and dairy products, the yield of a generous and munificent 

 soil will in a measure be repaid. While the demands of com- 

 merce and the equality of the markets require the sale of large 

 quantities of produce, it is important that every farmer employ 

 as much as possible of it for feed at home. But if it be sold, 

 something else must be used to repay the soil. 



STOCK. 



The breeds of stock raised should be selected with the 

 greatest care, and then continual improvement towards its 

 highest excellence should be the constant object of the farmer. 

 It costs no more to raise a good animal than one with but little, 

 or no value ; while the former enriches, ennobles and dignifies, 



