374 MOKKIS COUNTY, KANSAS. 



horses, forty Short-Horns and grade cattle, besides hogs and 

 chickens. I herd my cattle on the range in Summer and feed 

 on the farm in Winter. When the farm lacks food to feed the 

 stock, I buy from adjoining farms. INIy place I farm in wheat. 

 I cut it with the McCormick self-binder, and shock it. When 

 drv I haul it to the cattle lot and thresh out or stack, and 

 thresh at the most convenient season. 



HORSE AND CATTLE YARDS. 



The first yard is for stock in stormy weather. It is sur- 

 rounded by buildings so as to protect them from the severe 

 storms. My horse, cow and pig stables are built around, with 

 doors facing the inner lot, so that the stock can run out in the 

 daytime and be stabled at night ; or at least a part of them can 

 have stables. Here in Kansas most of the dry cows and steers 

 are allowed to run out all the time, and will do well if they 

 have sheds for shelter and are protected with wind-breaks, and' 

 have plenty of corn fodder and hay. They will come out in 

 the Spring^'in good condition. Through the center are my 

 corn cribs^, which answer for a division of the corral, with a gate 

 in the center to pass through, or to let stock run from one side 

 to the other. If it is not desirable to have horses and cattle 

 together, the horses can be let out on one side and the cattle 

 on the other. My feed troughs are put alongside of the corn 

 crib to feed cattle. To the right of my plan is a lot fenced 

 with barbed wire, where all the small grain is hauled, to thresh, 

 so my cattle can have a good run to straw stacks in mild 

 weather, and in bad weather I house and feed with hay and 

 corn fodder, which I haul direst from the fields into the yards. 

 I also furnish water in Winter lot so they can have plenty at 

 all times. 



"WHEAT. 



The best way that I have found to farm wheat in Kansas, 

 is to plow my ground five or six inches deep in July or August, 

 in July if possible, as I am an advocate of early plowing. I 

 harrow three or four times to get the soil pulverized and packed. 



