3g4 STAFFORD COUNTY, KANSAS. 



though the same may be said in regard to feeding pumpkins, 

 peas, and the different roots ; but nothing will pay better, when 

 we come to count the skeletons of the horses that have died 

 prematurely from being fed continually on corn and hay. 

 Thousands die when they should have really but reached their 

 prime of life, and tens of thousands more are stiffened, dis- 

 eased, and rendered almost worthless. Corn is good when fed 

 in connection with plenty of roots and green forage. It should 

 always be soaked at least twenty-four hours, as this destroys 

 much of its fiery nature. Now for some of my methods. 



CORN. 



For corn, I plow my ground in the Fall (if it can possi- 

 bly be done), from seven to ten inches deep, leaving the 

 ground rather rough. In the Spring, say the first of April 

 here in Kansas, I run my granger harrow or drag over it, 

 smoothing it down perfectly level. I then plant in rows four 

 feet apart each way, and cultivate three or four times with cul- 

 tivator, la3dng it by before the tassel appears. If, after the 

 tassel appears, the hot, dry winds set in, and every thing indi- 

 cates a protracted drouth, I muster all the old ground or com- 

 mon two-horse stirring plows I can find (the ordinary one-horse 

 bar plow will do if one has plenty of them), hitch a large, 

 heavy horse to each, and bank up a regular sweet potato ridge 

 to each row of corn. This extra coat of dirt acts as a mulch 

 and protection to the roots and brace roots, and corn treated 

 this way will remain green and ear well in this State, while 

 that which has been cultivated perfectly level, will fire and 

 perish. I raised an average corn crop, of excellent quality, in 

 1874, when all my neighbors failed. How this would work in 

 other States I am unable to say. My harrow or clod crusher, 

 mentioned above, is made after the following manner: Take 

 three 4x4 scantling six feet long, slope off the front ends like 

 the runners of a sled, then begin at the rear end and nail on 

 common fence plank seven feet long, lapping them one and a 

 half inches after the manner of siding a house ; bore a hole 

 in the center timber and attach a clevis ; then spike on an up- 



