434 WASHINGTON COUNTY, IOWA. 



the slouo-hs or ravines. These lakes cover from half an acre to 

 two acres, and some of the deepest soon become stocked with 

 native fish. Such lakes are a great source of comfort to the 

 stock in hot weather, and furnish them with good water for 

 drink. As a water supply for stock, however, I depend mostly 

 on a deep well and windmill for Winter, with a good tank and 

 return pipe, and allow the mill to run most of the time. The 

 stock are thus supplied with water as warm as Spring 

 water. 



BLOODED STOCK. 



I have a passion for blooded stock of all kinds, and usually 

 raise enough to eat all the hay, grass and grain that I can raise 

 on the farm. At the present time I have sixty-four head of 

 Short-Horn and high grade cattle. Among them is the noted 

 old bull Consul, 13,711, bred by J. O. Sheldon, Geneva, New 

 York (former owner of the famous N. Y. Mills herd). This 

 bull stood for several years at the head of the herd of Sliort- 

 Horns Qwned by the Java Agricultural College. My principal 

 objects is to raise cattle for beef, and not to sell fine stock, 

 though I sell a few calves each year. My intention now is to 

 increase my herd to about eighty. I can then turn off a car 

 load each year of first class cattle for beef. To me this would 

 be more satisfaction than to buy my fattening stock, though 

 perhaps such a plan requires more skill and care. 



HORSES. 



So far I have found less profit in horses, though I have 

 given them much attention, and have some very good ones on 

 the farm. Of the drausfht stock I have colts from such sires 

 as the imported Percheron, " Diligence," and the noted prize 

 winner Norman, " Dieppic," both imported from France by 

 Dillon, of Illinois. I also have colts from that most noted of 

 Scotch Clydes, " Donald Dinnie," now owned by Robert Hol- 

 loway, of Monmouth, 111. The original stock of these colts 

 on the dam's side was a pair of English draught mares weigh- 

 ing eighteen hundred pounds each, and having good style and 



