E. A. Riehl.—Character of soil, varied; surface broken, as the bluffs on the Mississippi river usually are. Soil rather sandy than otherwise, though in spots it is clayey. Part is bottom land. Natural growth, timber-hickory, oak, sassafras, mulberry, ash, sumac, red-bud, etc.

J. Balsiger.—The surface soil is a black or brown loam, consisting of humus more or less mixed with clay and some little sand; this layer is of unequal depth, in some places in the lower parts of the farm two feet and more, and on the higher parts less deep. The subsoil is a red, and in some places a white or gray clay. The natural growth is timber, although Looking Glass Prairie is not far off, consists of oaks-white, black, overcup, burr, spanish, red, laurel, black-jack, post-oakhickory, black-walnut, honey-locust, sycamore, red and white elm, mulberry, wild cherry, crab-apple, cottonwood, wild plum, red-bud, sassafras, white ash, willow, hackberry, liquid amber, red maple, persimmon, white thorn, hazel and grape vine. J. Y. Bothwell.-Surface soil, dark gray from 8 to 10 inches deep; subsoil, yellow clay. Mostly prairie; some brush land brought into cultivation; growth on brush land consists of pin oak, cherry, mulberry and elm; hazel and blackberry under growth.

T. Engelmann. -My farm is situated on an elevation near the southern end of Looking Glass Prairie. The slopes of the elevation were originally covered with forest, and are so yet, to a small extent. The prairie, which stretched from the foot of the elevation north and south for many miles, has entirely disappeared, and has made room for large fields; not one square foot of original prairie is to be found within many miles. The slopes of the elevation were overgrown with a great variety of trees and plants; principal among which were hazel, blackberries, sumac, sassafras, wild grapes, plums, persimmons and wild cherry, also several varieties of oak and elm. The surface soil is a dark mould, from 10 to 20 inches deep. The subsoil on the slopes of the hill is heavy red clay, sparsely mixed with sand. In what formerly was prairie the subsoil is gray clay, well mixed with sand.

J. Barber-The soil is a dark loam, somewhat sandy, and about 12 inches in depth. The subsoil is a hard clay and greatly inclined to wash. Natural growth, what is usually found on the prairies of cur State.

J. Warder. The principal geological formation in our section is a very heavy body of sand-stone, with occasional changes to limestone. The face of the country is roughly broken, the slopes are steep and rocky, with precipitous cliffs near the streams. The tillable soil is mostly confined to the ridges, which may be compared to small plains or table-lands. These are in many places level and beautiful. The soil is light brown in color, slightly sandy and warm. At a depth of some inches it becomes more loamy, and at a greater depth is underlaid with yellow clay or loam, and below that sand and gravel. These lands have a perfect surface drainage. They may be plowed very soon after a rain, or they may be cultivated early in the spring. They are well adapted to sustaining severe drouths. This is owing, I think, to the fact that the plant roots reach that deep, moist substratum which underlies the surface soil.

That this deep, open and moist substratum does exist, is proven by the magnificent growth of timber, mostly of deep-rooting species, as follows: Yellow poplar, black walnut, white oak, black oak, hickory, sugar maple, black gum, hazel, etc.

The labor of clearing has been immense, and much good timber has been wasted by girdling trees and leaving them for time to do its work. These stand in the

fields from five to ten years, are ploughed around and hoed around, their great roots stretching out on all sides, proving a great draw on time and temper, yet there they stand-those giants of the forest-stretching out their naked arms in a solemn, threatening manner, till some boisterous day they come down with a terrible crash. It is clear then that in this region we will not need many reapers and mowers, at least for some time to come. Wheat we do not consider a paying crop; however, the most of farmers raise for home consumption, with some surplus. Corn is our great staple; next to that, tobacco. Cotton was planted extensively during the war, but is now almost given up. I have also raised oats, rye and buckwheat, with different degrees of success. Our soil seems to be more peculiarly adapted to the culture of fruit, and also of vegetables-those of a bulbous nature in particular— as sweet potatoes, onions, beets and turnips. This is owing to the warm, sandy soil, with the open and moist substrata, to which is ascribed, as before mentioned, the growth of deep-rooted forest trees. This physical constitution of the soil causes that adaptation for the vigorous growth not only of fruit, but for all other species of trees.

3. Number of acres 'n your farm: number in cultivation: number in woodland or wild pasture: division of fields: rotation of crops?

E. Moss,-120 acres.

G. Chaffee.-160 acres; 60 to 80 in corn and oats annually; remainder in pastures and meadow; sow oats after corn.

M. A. McConnell.-690 acres; 500 in cultivation; 100 in openings, all grown up. White clover in pasture, and has been for 30 years. Farm is divided into fields of from 25 to 40 acres, except where cattle run,

Asa Baley-40 acres in four fields; two years in grain, two in grass. First after grass is corn; second crop is small grain with grass seed.

H. Pierce.-16 acres in cultivation (Nurseryman); corn, sorghum, or potatoes for first crop, followed by barley. Usually corn is planted for a number of years, and then wheat to seed down with.

J. Tefft-242 acres, all under fence; only about 15 under the plow; woodland and wild pasture, 100 acres.

J. Schoenleber.-160 acres ; 96 acres under cultivation; 50 acres timothy meadow; the remainder wild prairie and slough grass. Farm is equally divided by fence; 15 acres enclosed for pasture, horses and cows; 40 acres in clover and timothy, for hogs; 6 acres for orchard and vineyard.

C. E. Barney.-160 acres.

V. Aldrich-160 acres; 120 acres under cultivation; 40 in woods pasture. Divided into o fields. Rotation of crops, wheat, corn, sometimes rye or oats, and then Small grain never does as well the second year on the same field, or after a crop of corn, as it does the first.

corn.

A. Rankin.-Farm of 80 acres; plow land 61 acres; pasture 13 acres; orchard and vineyard 16 acres. Sow clover with wheat and oats, and plow it under the next spring for corn. Sow timothy and clover for meadow and pasture; cut it two or three years, and plow under for wheat or corn. Plow in September with second crop on.

G. W. Minier.-I have 160 acres; enough for any man; wouldn't have any more. All in cultivation except the woodland, which is in pasture. My farm is divided

into seven fields; this does not include house and barn lots. No one can possibly farm to profit and keep his land in good tilth, without a rotation of crops; and by rotation of crops is not meant what politicians mean by rotation of office, i. e. a rolling out of one office into another; but so adapting the various crops that the land shall either have rest, or so as to foster and restore the elements which the former crop had taken from the soil,

J. Robinson. The number of acres in my home farm is 130 acres. I have under cultivation, by plow, forty acres; in meadow, timothy and red clover, 25 acres; in timothy and blue grass pasture, 10 acres; in apple orchard, 40 acres; in peach or chard, 12 acres; in small fruits, vegetable garden, ornamental trees and house yard, My farm is divided in fields, as follows: two under plow, one in meadow, two in pasture, one in orchard, and one house, garden and ornamental trees.

3 acres.

J. R. Tull.-There are 320 acres in my farm; 135 in cultivation, the balance in timber or woods pasture. The farming land is fenced into six fields, the largest of which contains 35 acres. My crops have been mostly corn; some wheat, oats and buckwheat.

T. Gregg.-Number of acres, 10.

A. C. Hammond.-Number of acres in farm, 150; 50 devoted to horticulture; 50 to grass; 30 to grain, and twenty to woodland.

H. Sodowsky.-I have two farms, containing together 960 acres, in eighteen divisions.

W. M. Allen-240 acres 190 acres under cultivation.

woodland; 50 acres prairie and timber lying together; Land is divided into five fields, besides orchards, etc. Rotation, corn on wheat stubble, wheat on corn, oats stubble or clover.

S. P. Boardman. -My farm proper (not including my timber land, which is separated from it) consists of about 950 acres, of which 640 acres are in tame grass-pasture and meadow—and the remainder under cultivation. I am, however, sowing 160 acres of this latter amount to tame grass, at the time of this writing. My farm is divided into one field of 310, one of 160, one of 150, two of about 120 acres each, and four small fields of from 30 acres to 5 each, used for feed lots. I expect to divide into two fields of equal dimensions, my 310-acre field, which will make as many sub-divisions as I care about, in my present business.

My rotation of crops, in so far as I may be said to have one on a farm which has been made" from the prairie in ten years, may be called this: to raise not to exceed five crops of grain—of which four shall be corn-on any piece of land, until it is laid down to grass; the grass to be mown a few years, pastured a few more, and then to be broken up for corn.

G. W. Vaughan.—520 acres; 400 in cultivation; 40 in wild pasture, and 80 in wild grass. Part of my lands are divided into 40, 80 and 160 acre lots, and the rest in a large inclosure. This is a common practice among farmers here, yet its only recommendation is that it permits the farmer to make his inside fences of hedge. I generally put my land in corn for a few years, then in oats and then in wheat, breaking up the stubble after each crop is taken off; then I put in corn again.

S. Butler.-Farm of 80 acres; 40 acres in cultivation, and 40 acres in wild pasture. Each 40 is in one field. I have also 40 acres timber, distant one mile and a half.

W. F. Bliss.-320 acres in farm; 175 in cultivation; 40 in wild prairie pasture. To be divided into 8 forty-acre fields, with the following rotation of crops, only partially tried: 1st, wheat; 2d, corn; 3d, oats; 4th, meadow; 5th, meadow; 6th, meadow; 7th, pasture; 8th, pasture; 9th, wheat; 10th, corn; 11th, oats; 12th, meadow; etc.

D. Gove. My farm contains 650 acres, 570 of which is in the prairie, and in cultivation; 80 acres in timber, which I am having fenced for pasture. The prairie part of the farm is divided into five fields, besides the orchard and timber belts, feed lots, etc. The buildings are very near the centre of the farm, and the arrangement of the fields are such that I can turn stock from the feed lots directly into any one of them, or from one field to another, with convenience. My practice has been not to grow more than two crops of wheat or corn, and only one of oats, without a change; but when in grass I let it lie longer; and especially if it is pastured, as it seems to improve every year as the turf becomes stronger.

J. G Swann-225 acres; in cultivation, 175; woodland pasture, 50 acres. Five fields. Corn, wheat and clover,

E. A. Reihl.-155 acres; about 40 in cultivation.

J. Balsiger.—My farm consists of 160 acres; half of which are under cultivation; the balance in timber land. The rotation, although not always regularly followed, is: corn, oats, wheat, and timothy or clover. I cultivate the first three crops till I think the land needs rest, and then put in the grass for several years. About onethird of my cultivated land is timothy or clover.

J. Y. Bothwell.-Farm of 400 acres; 375 of which is in cultivation; 200 acres timber. Farm divided into 8 fields. Most of the improvements made since 1851.

T. Engelmann. My farm embraces 380 acres; 300 acres of which are in cultivation; about 60 in woodland are used as a wild pasture. There is no permanent division of fields, and no rotation in crops. All suitable land is put in wheat, and many fields have yielded ten or more crops of wheat in succession, without any perceptible deterioration in fertility. Corn is raised only for home consumption.

J. Barber.—I have 100 acres, 60 of which are in fruit, the remainder in pasture, meadow, etc.

4. When was your farm first put in cultivation: kind of crops taken off: to what extent does the soil seem exhausted by cultivation: have you used manures, and if so with what results: your experience in deep plowing and its effect on soil and crops: best plows or other implements for breaking up ground?

E. Moss.-1852. Wheat, oats, corn, barley, etc. Soil is strong; have used manure to good effect; consider it valuable. Deep plowing is beneficial.

G. Chaffee.-About 1845.

M. A. McConnell.-Came on the farm in 1887. Have raised all kinds of crops. My farm is as good as when I came on it. I have always used manure and plaster with the best of results. Deep plowing is essential and cannot be dispensed with on a farm.

Asa Baley.-Farm has been under cultivation nine years. Wheat is the principa} crop. I have been on the place five years, and have pursued the two years' rotation course, as I have done for thirty years. Under this treatment land will increase in productiveness at the rate of 100 per cent. in fifteen years, if all is done in the best manner the hay and straw all returned to the land in the form of manure. So far as my observation goes, land will be reduced 100 per cent. if seven crops of wheat are grown in succession. I consider it of great importance to the farm to keep so

much stock on the farm as will consume all the pasture, hay and straw that is grown on the farm.

H. Pierce.—In cultivation two years in potatoes, corn, beans and garden vegetables. Deep plowing is by all means the best. Fields partially subsoiled will show up to the last furrow. We use the Moline plow of Candie, Swan & Co., with subsoil attachment, when we go below 10 inches in depth. Use three cornered or butterfly harrow.

J. Tefft.—In 1842. Corn was the crop mostly raised. The scil does not appear to be exhausted, as it is well manured every year. No experience in deep plowing. Manure pays well for labor.

S. Reynolds.-The farm was first put under cultivation in 1845. The principal crops taken off have been corn, wheat and oats. The first crops were much better than they have been of late years. Have tried deep plowing with poor success. Have used annually manure made from 200 sheep, 20 or 30 horned cattle, 10 or 12 horses, and about 25 hogs, with marked success.

J. Schoenleber.-Farm put in cultivation in 1856. Crops mostly corn, some wheat and oats, once rye and barley. Wheat and oats are not as profitable crops as corn; wheat yields best on new ground; corn does just as well grown on land used before for small grains. I only raise wheat and oats sufficient for home consumption. Corn does not do as well in a dry season. I use the manure produced in stable and yard; on rolling land the result is a double yield of corn. By top-dressing the grass I also procure a double yield. I prefer deep plowing, either in a wet or dry season.

C. E. Barney. Have sometimes made the mistake of plowing too deep, turning up cold and unproductive dirt 12 to 14 inches deep; do not think any soil would be injured by disturbing the subsoil, if not turned up. In naming manure in order of excellence-sheep, hog, cattle, horse. My experience is that horses and colts make the least return, in value to the soil, for the amount of grass they consume. I consider manure most valuable when used as a top dressing; in September for big grass next year, and big corn the second year.

V. Aldrich.-Farm first put in cultivation in 1846, except 40 acres southwest quarter, which was in cultivation when I came here in 1844, and had been several years before. The first crops, for six or eight years, were corn; then wheat, oats, and rye; sometimes rye two or three years in succession, with good results. Rye seems to exhaust the soil least of any small grain. The soil is becoming gradually exhausted, so that now we do not get over three-fourths the amount of grain per acre we did at first.

I have always saved all my manure from yarding stock nights, constantly through the winter season, and feeding in the yard. In so doing, I make from 100 to 150 loads manure annually, which I generally cart out in the fall; October is the best month. The fall rains soak the strength out of it and carry it into the ground, making it more productive of good results than when applied in the spring, and more especially on meadow land. The hay crop can be nearly doubled by using about 20 loads to the acre. If applied too abundantly the grass will lodge or fall down before time to cut. The same effect is produced on small grain. But for corn no one need to fear; it will grow strong and produce in proportion to the quantity of manure. Even the best black prairie soil is wonderfully benefited by manuring for corn crop. I have never practiced deep plowing any more than can be done with a single furrow, I always plow my land as deep as a good team can do it, by taking