522 CLAYTON COUNTY, IOWA. 



my family, and do not think it advisable to raise more than 

 this. Wiieu tlie seasons are favorable, I have all the apples, 

 ' o-rapes, gooseberries, currants and other small fruits I need. I 

 do not give them any extra care. I simply keep them clean 

 and trimmed, so that they v/ill bear as well as possible, and 

 let them go at that. 



POULTRY. 



I do not raise turkeys, geese, and ducks, as I deem them 

 unprofitable, except for home use. I keep enough chickens 

 to consume the screenings and grain that get scattered about 

 the barn, granary, etc. In Summer I do not pay much at- 

 tention to them, except to the young chickens. These I keep 

 in coops, and feed until they are large enough to take care of 

 themselves. In Winter I have a Avarm place for them to go 

 into, and I feed them when the weather is bad. I have at 

 present a cross between the dark Brahma and the common 

 fowl, wliich I think is good, for they are very good layers, are 

 . of medium size, and excellent for the table. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 

 My buildings are not large, commodious, or of the most 

 approved pattern, but I am making them so as fast as I can. I 

 have buildings and sheds for every thing, and always make it a 

 point to have all implements cleaned and housed as soon as I 

 am through using them. I always have a year's wood ahead 

 seasoning, and fill my woodhousc with dry wood every Fall 

 before cold weather begins. I have good wells of water near 

 both house and barn, eas}^ of access, and so arranged that I 

 can water every thing easily and rapidly. My farm is not of 

 the very best, or in the most desirable position, but I can make 

 a good comfortable living from it, and from two to four hun- 

 dred dollars a year besides. Some say that farming does not 

 pay. I have to my own satisfaction proved it otherwise, and 

 believe every farm can be made to pay a reasonable profit with 

 proper care and attention. 



LAND. 



The land in this region is partly prairie and partly timber. 



