PRACTICAL PAPERS—MIXED HUSBANDRY. 
147 
than it was ten years ago; perhaps, indeed, not even so large, 
if we take into consideration the increased area of improved 
acres, it gives ns pleasure to be able to state that this lament¬ 
able state of things does not prevail in the vicinity of Fond 
du Lac, and that here, more especially on the upland, oak-open¬ 
ings surrounding the city to the east and south, the cultivation 
of the grasses, particularly of clover, is receiving constantly 
increased attention, greatly to the benefit of the farmer and of 
his land. Farmers in this section have begun to realize that 
one-sixth of their land in wheat every year is sufficient; and 
that one acre yielding 25 bushels of this cereal, returns them 
as much, nay more, actual net profit than three times that 
amount of land yielding 12 or 13 bushels per acre, even with¬ 
out taking into account the difference in the deterioration of 
the land. Let any doubter make the calculations, including 
interest on land, taxes, use of fences, plowing and cultivation, 
harvesting and difference in quantity of seed required, and he 
will be convinced. 
Our main idea in writing this article has been to show the 
farmers of Wisconsin that good profits and the retention or 
even the increase of fertility are not incompatible; that those 
farmers who yearly plow their lands for wheat and other 
grains, without giving them time to recuperate are ruining 
those lands for future production, and that, while doing this, 
they realize but meager returns ; that the most profitable, as 
well as least exhausting system of agriculture embraces many 
branches : dairying ; raising and feeding of stock; keeping con- 
stantly a large share of the land in grass; the raising, in proper 
proportions, of corn, wheat and the smaller grains; of root 
crops, such as can be successfully raised here ; the keeping of 
bees; a good orchard of such varieties of fruit as the dearly 
bought experience of the last thirty years has demonstrated to 
be reliable; also a garden well supplied with vegetables. This 
course affords to the farmer all the comforts to be derived di¬ 
rectly from his land, leaving far less necessities to be supplied 
by purchase, and in a measure insures him against a total fail¬ 
ure of crops. Grass may do well when wheat fails; corn and 
