g4ti FURNAS COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



AN ORCHARD. 



West of the dwelling are five acres in an orchard of 

 peaches, apples, plums, cherries, and pears. South of the 

 house plat is a strip set in small fruit, as grapes, currants, 

 gooseberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. The 

 ground lying near my dwelling is set in evergreens, such as 

 native cedar, and silver-leaved pine from the Black Hills coun- 

 try, which are in good condition. A wind-break planted to 

 timber extends the whole length of the orchard and house plat 

 on the north side. I have planted black walnut, cottonwood, 

 ash, box elder, burr oak, hickory, coffee bean, English willow, 

 and honey locust. 



The soil is of such a nature that it is easily worked, being 

 prairie, and not inclined to be wet, but withstanding extremes 

 in the weather as well as any soil in the world. 



* MEADOWS. 



Meadows are as yet Nature's own, and yield hay of superior 

 quality. All I have to do is to take the mowing machine and 

 hay-rake about the first of September, and put the hay in the 

 rick in sufficient quantities for supplying the wants of my 

 stock. The climate has a peculiar way of curing grass with- 

 out cutting, and makes good grazing all Fall and Winter for 

 stock. 



GRAIN. 



The cost of raising grain may be set down at the lowest 

 figures, except where it might grow without much labor. 



I sow the seed broadcast on the ground early, then with a 

 good stirring plow and team turn it under, plowing as deep as 

 I would were I cultivating corn. This puts the grain in nice 

 drill rows. I harrow well, and the work of seeding is done 

 with a large per cent, of labor saved, and an increased yield of 

 from one-third to one-half more than any ordinary shallow 

 surface cultivation. It is easy to calculate the cost. Putting 

 the grain into the shock, besides the board of team and hands, 



