766 PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA. 



liead. I first used a Cotswold buck, which gave me large 

 bodies but light fleeces. I do not think he was a number one 

 sheep. I then used a Merino buck which sheared seventeen 

 pounds. This cross gave me good frames and good fleeces, and 

 I am well pleased with the result, but shall use the best Cots- 

 wold I can get next year. 



NOT MUCH STOCK. 



I keep a few cows and some young stock, but pasture is too 

 expensive to make it profitable raising beef for market. 



HOGS. 



I consider the Berkshire and China hogs the best breeds 

 for our market. The Berkshires are restless, while the Chinas 

 are quiet. Both breeds do well with plenty to eat and good 

 care. I like to see a clean stable, and I dislike to see a filthy 

 hog-pen. I grind some of my corn for fattening hogs, and all 

 my feed for cows and ewes suckling lambs. I use the Chal- 

 lenge feedr mill, run by horse power. It takes no longer to 

 grind it ^myself than it does to carry it to mill and back, 

 and then I save the toll, which is quite an item. Then I 

 use my power for cutting straw, shelling corn, and sawing 

 wood. 



FEEDING. 



I feed all my straw in racks and mangers, and what is not 

 eaten is thrown into the yards. Sheep and cattle are yarded 

 on it during the Summer. I haul it out in the Fall and spread 

 from the wagon and plow under for a Spring crop, or, if needed, 

 put on Winter wheat at time of sowing. I used to haul and 

 unload in heaps, making four to six of each load, and then 

 spread them at the time of plowing, but have learned a better 

 way. 



DRAINING. 



I have had some experience in draining; having at least 

 thirty acres of marsh on my farm, which, when I bought it, 

 was considered worthless land. It laid to commons, and 

 was so soft and miry that I was frequently obliged to pull cat- 

 tle out of the mire and float them out to dry land. I was 



