STOCK RAISING. 251 



as for wheat. I plant fifty to sixty acres of corn, plowing no 

 deeper than for wheat (about three inches) ; harrow thor- 

 oughly, and. use the same kind of pulverizer just before plant- 

 ing. I use check rower on planter; harrow just before corn 

 comes through the ground. As soon as it is well up, I go 

 through with a two-horse, iron-beam cultivator. I cultivate 

 often enough to keep clear of weeds, and late in season. 



STOCK RAISING. 



Horses — I keep six horses, and raise usually two colts, aiming 

 to breed from the roadster class. I prefer horses of about 

 twelve hundred pounds weight. I feed but little grain to 

 horses when not working, but keep them well sheltered, giving 

 them free access to stalk fields during winter. 



Cattle — I keep thorough-bred cattle (Durhams) for breed- 

 ing, let the calves that I want for breeding stock, run with the 

 cows until six months old, but calves that I want for feeders I 

 keep away from the cows and raise by hand. I usually milk 

 from six to eight cows. The cows are brought into the cattle 

 barn and fastened by the neck with a chain previous to milk- 

 ing ; here they remain until morning, and if weather is stormy, 

 they remain here during the day, except a short time they are 

 let out to get water. I feed milch cows bran and meal ; feed 

 also hay or straw for roughness, when they are not allowed to 

 go out in the pasture. 



Hoffs — I keep from fifteen to twenty brood sows, of the 

 Poland China stock, aiming to have pigs come early in the 

 Spring — not later than April. I feed stock hogs only enough 

 grain to keep them in a thriving condition. I commence fat- 

 tening Spring pigs the first of October. 



Sheep — I keep one hundred ewes, cross breed from Cots- 

 wold to Lincolnshire, which gives bigger sheep and finer wool, 

 the wool selling for from one to two cents more per pound. 

 I feed ewes oats and hay ; the sheep for market are fed corn. 

 The increase in sheep each year is marketed the next. 



Chickens — I keep two hundred chickens, preferring the 

 light Brahmas and Dorkincrs crossed. I have house and lot 



