The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-11-30

considering that board or rail fences have
to be rebuilt as often as every ten yean, and
that stone fences never decay, you can
readily figure out which are the cheapest
where stone are abundant. And yet many
farmers let their stones remain upon tn
surface Of their titled ground, and waste
their strength and wear out their ploughs
in moving them about, when little extra
labor would convert them into the most
duralle fences. Again. stones are valuable
for blind bitches; and all wet lands pay
we'll for draining. Tn fact they arc worth
very little without drains; and the expense
Of making them is trifling compared with
tho profit they bring the farmer.
MANY moro stone ought TO he used in
huilling barn cellars and basements.--
There is no part Of the barn that brings a
better return for the money apd labor ia
vested than stone Easements and cellars
It is tho experience OF every farmer, who
has tried tho experiment, that animals
winter better, and with less fodder, which
arc warmly stabbed and sheltered, than
those which are exposed. In fact il is out
of the question to raise, with any success,
our improved breeds Of cattle, horses, hogs
and sheep without comfortable stables.
Again, stone are being used To con-
siderable extent in building farm houses. I
need not inform you that they make tho
warmest house in winter, and coolest in sum-
mer. Those who have used them say that
where stone are abundant they are as cheap
rs wood. And, considering what 10 saved in
painting, much cheaper in tho long rum
Laid up in courses they are not only hand
some, but present permanent and sub
stantial appearance. like the looks Of
the stone farm house. and wish there were
moro Of them in the county. They look
as though their owners wero permanently
settled for life. and not as though they
were staying till thev could sell out. Those
who contemplate building, and have stony
farms, would do we'll to examine the stone
houses Of Milton p Herring, Of Litchfeld,
Lewis Emery, Of Hillsdalc, and s. Roberts
and B. B. Willctts, of Cambria. There
are doubtless many Others which have not
como under observation.
Another great hinderanco to farming in
Hillsdale County is the stumps which cover
our newly cleared fields
Thisisan age Of progress. Wecannot wait
for the stumps to rot out before we intro
duce the labor saving machines. One Of the
greatest inventions showing The triumphs
made by mind over matter, is the invention
Of the machine called the Stump Fuller.
With this machine in field, that has been
chopped three or four years, about one hun
dred stumps can be pulled in one day. The
machine costs about $3.50. One machine
wonld supply the wants Of large neigh
borhood II threo or four farmers would
s>.,,h;~o, ;t -s,A ..~. tn n~rnnsive IN those
wanting TO use it, Mr.. Sinclair Of Fay
cite, and Geo. w. Underwood, Of Hills.
dale, each own machine that is doing
good service. Those wanting to see what
Stump Pullcrs can do, would do well to
examine the fields Of Underwood, and
compare those cleared Of stumps with those
where they stumps remain.
One great reason why so many farr crs
get light crops is that they plough light,
and only skim over tho surface, seldom
ploughng over six inches deep. The best
land will soon become exhausted with this
kind Of tillagc.
'Plough deep while tluggards sleep,
AMI y0u will have corn to sell and to keep"
is a homely but true saying.
l shall not in this address go into an
analysis Of tho soil, nor the theory Of deep
ploughing. Ono ounce Of experience is
worth pound Of theory.
A few years ago | visited farm which
had been run down by shallow ploughiug
and unskil(ul farming. The cultivated
fields were covered with sorrcl, and grass
aud clover as nearly run out. The own
or got discouraged and traded it of TO a
man Of energy un1 perseverance This
summer visited the iarm again, and wit.
messed the most wonderful and gratifying
change. The barns woro crammel full Of
hay, the meadows looked green, and tho
second growth was rich and luxuiiant. l
saw upon the place one Of the best fields
OF com / have Seen in this county The
owner explained to me that he had put on
two heavy yoke Of catt'e, and sometimes
horse on tho lead, and ploughed evel y
cultivated field from 10 to>l4 inches deep,
once, that he had drawn all the manure OF
Quo year upon a ten acre field, and that
he had used some plaster. Ho had 10y
that means converted barren farm into
ono of the most productive farms in the
county. Que good deep ploughing will
last number of years, after that light
ploughing will do.
Land, in order to produce bountiful
crops, must be occasionally ploughed to
tho depth of IA inches or more, and the
deeper the better, provided it is thorough
ly pulveIized.
But in order to plough deep VIC must
have large oxen and large horses, and this
leads mo to say few words in behalf Of
Indian corn. l am partial to corn. II
produces moro and better muscle and fat,
than any other kind of food. 1t is out OF
the question to raise large cattle and horses
without an abundance Of corn. II is the
most useful, and, think, one Of the most
profitable crops the farmer can raise. The
weevi, the fly, and the rust those pest;
Of wheat, do not destroy it. With an or
dinary season, and good tillagc, wo are
sure Of a fair crop. 1t has not been known
to fail since l have been in Michigan, al.
though premature frosts have injured it tc