234 



THIRD ANNUAL SESSIONS 



his gun still loaded. It seems that he got lost and his wanderings did 

 not improve his temper. It is needless to say that each victim meant 

 a new lantern. 



Putting Down the Well. 



"The ploughing went along finely, but the well did not. Uncle 

 Charley located a good spot for a well with his 'water witch.' He very 

 obligingly located it on the line, assuring me of water at forty feet 

 After sixty feet the first digger gave up in despair, and we hired a man 

 to put a well in with an engine at $1.15 per foot. That well isn't a 

 very pleasant remembrance. We went doAvn 2S5 feet for water, and 

 then neither man not beast would drink it on compulsion. I have had 

 all I want of 'water witches.' We decided to dig a well sensibly and, 

 luck or sense, gave us a well this time at eight feet, but almost half a 

 mile from the house, located where two draws came together. 



Soil Treatment — Seeding. 



"After ploughing, we harrowed before planting. Most of our seed 

 was Swadley, although we put in some White Australian and some Yel- 

 low Den. We put in 270 acres of corn, rows three feet and four inches 

 apart, stalks about a foot apart; ten acres of hubbard squash and ten 

 acres of ice cream water melons. Taking everything into consideration, 

 I think that the Yellow D«nt is the best yielder. We have to get a pick 

 axe to harvest the White Australian. Before putting the seed in we 

 mixed it with coal tar. 



Protection from Prairie Dogs. 



"In a box we put about 60 pounds of corn, mixed it thoroughly with 

 a cup of coal tar in a quart of hot water. Of course, the tar and 

 water did not mix, but the hot water softened and warmed the tar so 

 that it spread better. The mixture must be stirred thoroughly with a 

 shovel. If a small quantity of sand is mixed with it the seed can be 

 used in the seeder without inconvenience. 



"This will prevent gophers and prairie dogs from bothering the 

 seed. After it was planted, we used poisoned wheat to good advantage. 

 T suggested this to a neighbor who was losing his crop by these dry 

 land pests. He replied, 'Well, they must have something to eat, and it 

 seems as if there is always something to bother whatever I do.' I was 

 not so thoughtful of the gopher. I got my corn, but the dogs got his. 

 We planted about seven pounds to the acre. We harrowed it three 

 times after planting, the first time crosswise, first turning the teeth 

 backward. The last time we harrowed the corn was up four or five 

 inches and the men complained that the harrow was tearing out the 

 corn. We told them to look forward, not backward, and they would get 

 along all right. We cultivated three times, the last time the com was 

 up so high that we had to put nose bags on the horses. 



