tame grass, but little of it has had over four grain crops taken off previous to seeding. In so short a period of cultivation no exhaustion of the soil can be perceived; the only difference in the cultivation being that the fourth crop requires more attention and labor on account of weeds. On one field, at present in grass, I applied a hundred or more loads of stable manure, when it had been cropped but two years, and could discern but little difference in the corn on the manured or the unmanured portion. I don't wish to be understood as saying that our land is so rich as to need no manure, but that, for corn, ordinary quantities of manure scattered on our new prairie soils, will make not much perceptible difference. When manure is applied to grass lands-no matter how new the ground-and put on in the fall, or right after mowing, its good effects are as perceptible in the increased amount of hay the next year as in any country I ever saw.

About the only sample of deep plowing seen in Illinois is when a tame-grass sod is trench-plowed. Although it is more than double the labor of common plowing, yet it more than pays in the increase of the corn crop and the labor of tending it. For trench plowing, I prefer two teams rigged to separate plows, rather than the same teams attached to any trench plow which I have yet seen. I have seen two or three different makes of the Michigan double plow, but none with which I thought four horses could do the work as easily as when attached to two separate plows.

Allow me, right here, to express the opinion, that by stock-farming Central Illinois (further I know not) will grow richer and richer. By stock-farming I mean that the principal returns from a farm shall be the income derived from some sort of live stock. I mean, too, that all the manure which shall ever be applied to such farm, shall be the manure dropped on its pastures by the stock, and the collections about the stables and sheds. I have seen examples of the sort in the case of "sheep farms," in the last sixteen years, and I know that such are richer than the day the plow was first "stuck in them." Now, I have not altogether a western man's undoubting faith in western soils, but I read everything I can get hold of in regard to keeping up the fertility of the soil. In looking over my eastern-extreme eastern— agricultural papers, I find that almost the entire amount of their space is taken up with talking about manures, and much of it about made, commercial manares. I can't conceive of any circumstances whereby Illinois prairie soils-if properly managed― will ever require anything but grass seed (particularly clover seed) and the accumulations of our stables, barns and sheds. I keep constantly in mind, too, the fact, that the early (or even later) settlers of more eastern States might once have talked of their localities as I do of Illinois, but I bear in mind that they had not, as we have, the experience of some older country to show that no soil, however rich, is inexhaustible. What I say is this: The soil of Central Illinois-cropped by any stock sufficient to employ three-fourths or more of its acres in tame grass, (to be mowed or pastured) and the balance to not remain in cultivation over five years before being "laid down" to grass again-will never wear-out" as long as the world stands.

Take testimony of the oldest and best farmers in Central Illinois, and unless I am much mistaken they will all say "that there is no wear out to a stock farm in Central Illinois."

I don't wish to foolishly cry down the value of manures, or indorse the too common western notion that it is of no use to put manures on our lands. What I intend to say more strongly than anything else is, that western farmers-using the common sense and experience of three or four generations of more eastern farmers-need

not let their soils deteriorate the least bit, and, at the same time, it need cost them but little to "keep their lands up."

The State of Illinois will be a stock State for about ten years yet, after which time the sceptre will most probably depart from Judah When the time comes that

it pays better to sell the products of our soil in the raw state of so much grain, I think we will need the teachings of two or three Agricultural Colleges to keep up the fertility of our soil. So long, however, as it pays us to keep stock enough to eat up our grain and hay, so long we will need only common sense to enable us not to wear our farms out.

In the future (when it pays Illinois to sell grain) we shall then learn (like England, where land rents for as much as the cost in fee simple of the most of our western lands) that we must keep a certain amount of stock, "wille, nille."

G. Harding-My farm has been in cultivation 15 years, or part of it; and that portion of it sown to grass has not diminished but materially improved in productiveness, while that portion planted with different grains has shown material exhaustion. I renew the soil by sowing it down to different kinds of grasses for pasturing. I have used manures to great advantage and practice deep plowing under all circumstances. Plowing in the fall is always the best for all kinds of crops to be grown the next season. The two-horse plow I consider the best in all cases for breaking up ground to be tilled. In trench plowing I use two independent

teams and plows.

G. W. Vaughan.-Part of my farm was put in cultivation in 1848, part in 1855, part in 1860, 1861, 1864 and 1865. On the old part of the farm, corn, oats, wheat and grass have been taken off; from the newer lands corn has been taken. I can hardly say to what extent the soil is exhausted, since too much ground is undertaken by one hand, and consequently becomes poisoned by weeds, thereby lessening its vitality. I think if the ground were well tilled it would show no evidence of exhaustion for several years. I have never used stable or barn manure on my corn lands, but have applied it to meadows. I have practiced deep plowing but not subsoiling, though I am of opinion that it is very useful; I think ground should be subsoiled but once in 4 or 5 years. Had we a good shipping point near here, I would prefer deep plowing and tending in corn, then changing to small grains clover and timothy to recuperate the soil, which can be kept lively in this way quite as well as by sub-soiling. We find difficulty here in making meadows profitable, therefore the need of sub-soiling. I always plow deep for corn and have plowed both deep and shallow for small grains. I find, in deep plowing for corn and small grains, that the early growth of the plant is slower than in shallow plowing, but when once well set and fairly growing, its growth is faster. I know not why this is, but suppose that when the roots start to shoot downward they reach the hard surface in shallow plowing and get their set, and the top grows fast, sooner than if the roots were still growing downward in loose soil. From my experience in raising grain, I think deep plowing best for corn and early sown fall wheat, and shallow plowing for oats and late sown fall wheat, My reasons are these: corn planted in deep plowed soil grows slowly for a while, but the crop is generally double that of the shallow plowed soil, Wheat, when sown early in the fall, has time to get rooted and is harder to winter-kill when plowed deep, but if sown late does not seem to spread on the ground sufficiently. Oats generally grow too tall and rank anyway, and if the ground is plowed deep, they grow slowly for a while, then fast, and become so rank and late

that they fall down and spoil, when by shallow plowing they grow much faster at the start, then are checked in their growth, thereby histening their maturity. I have seen splendid crops of oats raised without plowing at all, just harrowed in, in the spring, on corn ground of the previous year. They ripened quicker than those sown on plowed land. Oats do not seem to need much root to make the stalk and head. For spring wheat, I think it immaterial whether the ground be plowed deep or shallow, as it should in all cases be plowed late in the previous fall, and the wheat harrowed in as early in the spring as is admissible. I have never been successful with spring wheat when breaking the ground in the spring. Much difference of opinion exists about deep plowing. Some contend that deep plowing once in three years and shallow plowing for two is better than deep plowing all the time, as that turns up the new soil every third year, and it is but little exhausted in the intervening time. I, however, prefer deep plowing all the time, and if the ground seems exhausted, to recuperate it with some kind of manure. Deep plowing exhau-ts the soil in the same proportion that shallow plowing does, I think. The effect of deep plowing is on the crop produced. We have tried but few kinds of breaking plows; I have used the Peoria and Rock river plows for breaking up ground and find them excellent. I do not know that the gang and subsoil plows have been used in the county. In common with my neighbors I prefer the improved Rock river, made at Grand Detour, Ill, to any I have tried.

S. Butler-Farm put in cultivation six years ago. wheat and buckwheat, broom corn and Hungarian corn.

The crops have been corn,
The crops in the consecu-

tive years have been equally good. Manure helps the soil fully one-third.

W F. Bliss.-Smith's cast steel plows, C pattern, answer a good purpose in breaking prairie.

D. Gove.-I improved my farm myself, commencing seven years ago; my crops have been wheat, corn, oats and the grasses. I cannot percieve that the soil is ex hausted in the least, in fact the wet spots seem to get better as they are drained and opened up to the sun and air; and on the thinner portions of the farm, I have spread all the manure that accumulates annually, mostly on the meadows, during the fall and winter, and the effect is very great and more than pays for hauling out the manure the first crop. I have always been in favor of deep plowing, and my experience every year more fully confirms me of both its immediate and lasting results. Deep plowing is the best for either wet or dry seasons. And the land after once being deeply and thoroughly plowed is ever after less liable to run together or to become baked, as is the case where shallow plowing is practised. My own practice is this: put three heavy horses abreast to a plow that turns about 13 or 14 inches, which I have had made to order, of a shape that will run deep and at the same time have a curve that will pulverize the soil as much as possible; and for corn the depth of furrow is governed by the strength and endurance of the team, but usually from 10 to 12 inches; then thoroughly harrow, and, if dry, roll and then plant, and, in addition to all other good results from deep plowing, the seeds of noxious weeds are buried so deeply that if they come up at all, it will not be until after the corn is ready to cultivate.

J. G. Swann-In 1835. Crops have been corn, wheat, clover and broom corn. Soil very little exhausted. Have u-ed manures with good results. Deep plowing always. Moline plows; for cultivation, double shovels.

E. A. Riehl.-Some in cultivation perhaps 20 or more years, some more recently. Crops, corn and wheat The old land seemed to be exhausted when I came in possession, 4 years ago, but deep plowing and turning under a crop of clover has made it as good as any new on the place; have used all the manure made on the premises with the usual satisfactory results. Deep plowing insures good crops. There are many good plows, and can not designate all; the Mellen plow, made at Alton, is as good as any and made of good material, the Peoria and Moline are also good, the Mapes is the best subsoil I have tried Prefer a double triangular harrow with 48 teeth, and, better than all harrows and rollers, the Cumberland clod crusher, cut and description in No. 7, Vol. 2, Farmers' Advertiser.

J. Balsiger.—Part of my farm has been put in cultivation, I believe, about 40 years ago, long before I came in this country; the rest I cleared myself or had it cleared, and broken from 7 to 10 years since. Before the land was mine, it was nearly all and every year planted in corn, no meadow; in consequence of this, in some rather steep places the good soil has been washed off by the rains, and these places need manure to produce crops. Where this was not the case the soil has not considerably lost of its former richness, especially the land which has been put in cultivation more recently. Deep plowing has a very good effect on the crops where the subsoil is not too near the surface or not of poor quality.

J. Y. Bothwell-Kind of crops raised, wheat, corn, oats and grass. Improvements made from 1851 to 1856. The soil seems but slightly exhausted, producing almost as much as at first Have used manures with the best results. I use a double sod plow for breaking up, made by John Gill, of Columbus, Ohio; work three large mules; plow ten inches deep, follow it with subsoil plow, the Rooster, made by G. C. Miller, Cincinnati, Ohio; use two mules to run it from 5 to 6 inches deep in the same furrow, with the best result to land and crops. In 1866 my wheat averaged 27 bushels to the acre, and sold for $2 per bushel; I could have had $3 by waiting tillpring. This township did not average 5 bushels per acre that year. the result was nearly as good, and my growing crop looks fine, notwithstanding last fall was so very dry. 1866 was when I commenced deep ploughing. land has been in cultivation the deeper it should be plowed,

Last year

The longer

T. Engelmann.-The first ground on my farm was broken in 1850, and the work o breaking up continued in the next following years; the land on the slopes of the elevation, being rich and dry, has since that time been in wheat from year to year; and the land in the flat prairie, being low and wet, has as regularly been in corn every year; manure has never been used, the soil showing no signs of exhaustion. Deep plowing has not been tried; the plows used for breaking ground are made by the blacksmiths of the neighborhood; plows manufactured at other places and brought here for sale are generally discarded, not because they are considered inferior, but because our blacksmiths can not or do not like to do the necessary sharpening and repairing properly.

G. C Eisenmeyer.-Deep tillage is always beneficial, hence the old adage, “Plow deep while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep." However, ground prepared for wheat should not be plowed deeper than the previous year. Wheat is of so fine a nature that when the unairyfied soil, in other words, soil that has never been exposed to the beneficial effects of air, rain, sun and dew, proves very injurious to the kernel or grain of the wheat, you will obtain plenty of straw but poor wheat. The common steel mould board plow, and the so-called gang plows,

made by Jacob Hage, of Shiloh, Ill., and another by parties in Monroe and Washington counties, are in general use here.

J. Barber.—I have 100 acres, 60 of which are in fruit, the remainder in pasture, meadow, etc. A small part of the farm has been in cultivation since 1850, mostly corn and oats for the first few years, and subsequently put in orchards. Has been exhausted but little. Have used all the manures made on the farm, with a considerable increase in the amount of products.

Find deep plowing not only beneficial to crops in seasonable years, but a great preventive of the evil effects of drouth; also find fall plowing better than spring. The best plows are made of steel. I use those made by John Deere, of Moline, Illinois.

5. GRASSES, CLOVERS, ETO.-What do you find most suitable varieties for pastures and meadows: mode of seeding and quantity sown per acre: largest and average yields of meadow lands: average number of live stock of different sorts pastured per acre: experience in top-dressing meadows, and its effects: stage of growth at which grasses, etc., are best cut for hay: implements preferred for hay-making?

E. Moss.-Clover and timothy; sow principally with wheat or rye, and in spring about 12 quarts of mixture per acre. Yield 1 to 2 tons. Top-dressing meadows is good.

G. Chaffee.-Clover and timothy. In seeding to grass have no established rule, but us not less than eight quarts of clover and four to eight of timothy per acre. In a few cases, have sown timothy in September upon oat stubble and harrowed it, then sowed the clover early in spring, and with success. More frequently I sow grass seed after oats, and give it a light harrowing and roll. Clover is a great renovater of the soil. Would mow one to three seasons, then plow. Cultivate not to exceed three crops without seeding, unless manured.

M. A. McConnell.-Clover, timothy and red top are the best varieties for pasture. My pasture, that has been used for 30 years, is the best I have, and affords the richest feed. Cattle want large range and plenty of water and shade trees. The under-brush is all taken out of my pasture.

Top-dressing is very fine for meadows but not for pasture. We always prefer to mow our grass just after the bloom falls. We use Manny and Kirby combined machines, and McCormick's mower. We have three machines, and they all work well. For getting up the hay we have Hollowworth's sulky horse rake-the best in all the land.

A. Baley.-Sow two parts timothy to one part clover, one peck to the acre.

H. Pierce.-Timothy for meadows; for pasture have plenty of prairie as yet. Three tons is the largest yield per acre-usually from 2 to 1 and 1. Timothy is best when the bloom is just about to fall off. Manny's reaper and mower is the principal cutting machine, although all have their representatives in the hands of different farmers. Revolving wooden horse rake is the leading article, yet others are used. J. Tefft.-Clover, timothy and red-top. Not much experience in feeding, as farm is rented on shares.

S. Reynolds.—I like timothy and red-top best for pasture, and also for hay; but usually sow clover and timothy together. The more clover the better for the land, and the less the better hay and pasture, except for hogs, and they do best on clover. I like my hay cut with a Buckeye; rake with the Ohio revolver. Have used the horse fork some, but prefer the Batchelder pitchfork.