746 HARDIN COUNTY. OHIO 



with plenty of straw for them to stand on while eating, and 

 lie on. In this way a great part of the urine will be absorbed 

 and retained by the straw. 



If the straw-stack is not all used up by Spring, tear it 

 down and let your cattle lie upon it at night during the Sum- 

 mer if possible. Every thing on the farm that will make 

 manure should be looked after for that purpose. Corn fodder 

 should be fed out in racks in the barn-yard. By this means a 

 large amount of valuable manure is made, with most of the 

 urine retained in it, as the cattle will keep on the stalks in 

 preference to going in the mud. I gather all the bones and 

 put them in the bottom of the ash leachery ; they do not injure 

 the lye for soap, but are dissolve, making rich fertilizers. All 

 the wood ashes should be saved and spread about the fruit 

 trees, especially the peach. Unleached ashes are rich in potash, 

 and valuable for fruit or potatoes. Leached ashes contain a 

 large amount of calcium, and are valuable food for crops of all 

 kihds. 



W. C. HAMPTON, 



MOUNT VICTORY, HARDIN COUNTY. 

 THE farmers' wood LOT. 



One of the most valuable adjuncts to the farm is the 

 farmers' wood lot, from which indispensable supplies can be 

 drawn for buildings, fences, and the wood-pile. In addition to 

 these important uses, it makes a good pasture and range for the 

 stock of the farm, and becomes an ornament to the latter, 

 especially when groups of well-bred cattle and other stock are 

 reposing beneath its grateful shade, protected from the Sum- 

 mer's midday sun, or the chilling blasts of Winter. 



Some persons say that the labor is too great to grow one, 

 but my experience has satisfied me that it is no more trouble 

 to raise a crop of trees than any other crop ; it is only a ques- 

 tion of time, and it will not be long before it will be con- 



