XX TALKS OX MANURES. 



vhen turned under make manure fcr the succeeding crops. 

 But weeds among the growing crop are evil, and only an evil. 

 Thorough plowing is the remedy, accompanied by drainage 

 where needed. 



We have an immense number of farms on which there are 

 both good and poor land. In such cases we must adopt a com- 

 bined system. We must grow large crops on the rich land end 

 use them, at least in part, to make manure for the poorer por- 

 tions of the farm. Drainage and good tillage will convert 

 much of our low, rlluvial lands into a perfect mine of wealth. 

 And much of our high, rolling land consists of strong loam, 

 abounding in plant food. Such land requires little more than 

 thorough tillage, with perhaps two hundred pounds of super- 

 phosphate per acre, to enable it to produce good grain crops. 



After all is said and done, farming is a business that requires 

 not merely science, but industry, economy, and common sense. 

 The real basis of success is faith, accompanied with good works. 

 I cannot illustrate this better than by alluding to one of my 

 neighbors, a strong, healthy, intelligent, observing and enter- 

 prising German, who commenced life as a farm laborer, and is 

 to-day wortii at least one hundred thousand dollars, that he 

 has made, not by the advance of suburban property, b'^.t by 

 farming, pure and simple. He first rented a farm, and then 

 bought it, and in a few years he bought another farm adjoin- 

 ing the first one, and would to-day buy another if he found one 

 that suited him. He has faith in farming. Some people think 

 he " runs his land," and, in fact, such is the case. He keeps 

 good teams, and good plows, and good harrows, and good 

 rollers, and good cultivators, and good grade Shorthorn cows. 

 He acts as though he believed, as Sir John B. Lawes says, that 

 " the soil is a mine," out of which he digs money He runs 

 his land for all it is worth. He raises wheat, barley, oats, corn, 

 potatoes, and hay, and when he can get a good price for his 

 timothy hay, he draws it to market and sells it. Thorough til- 

 lage is the basis of his success. He is now using phosphates 

 for wheat, and will probably increase his herd of cows and 

 make more manure. He has great faith in manure, but acts 

 as though h? had still greater faith in good plowing, early 

 sowing, and thorough cultivation. 



