270 JACK60:s COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



P. E. MICHAELS, 



POPLAR RIDGE, JACKSON COUNTY. 



Qommon Sense Applied to Farming — Wheat — Oorn — Care 

 of Horses and Cattle — Crood Living. 



WHEAT. 



In raising wheat I break my ground twice ; the first time 

 as soon as possible after the wheat has been taken off, the 

 second time just before I wish to sow my wheat, harrowing 

 once or twice after each plowing. I think the best time at 

 which to sow wheat in this part of the State is the last week 

 of September or the first two weeks of October. By sowing 

 earlier we are too apt to have the wheat injured by the Hessian 

 fly, grasshopper, etc. I thresh out of the shock, but where the 

 crops are small it does not pay to do this and let the rest of 

 the neighbors stack. 



CORN. 



V 



I find, by experimenting, that I can raise more corn, and 

 of a better quality, by thinning it to two stalks in the hill. It is 

 best in this part of the State to plant so as to plow the corn 

 both ways. 



I also find that I can raise more early potatoes, of a better 

 quality and with less work, by planting and covering with 

 straw ; putting the straw about ten inches thick. Late pota- 

 toes do better, in this locality, when planted the last of June 

 or the first of July. The peach blow is the best late potato 

 I can find. 



STOCK. 



With reference to stock I aim to keep horses in a good 

 condition, and free from colic, bots, etc. To do this I place 

 salt and ashes in their feed-boxes every week, and feed and 

 water them regularly. I am careful to have good water. A 

 horse is very much like a person. You can starve him to drink 

 any kind of water, but I treat my horse as I would wish to be 



