SEGMENT: FARMING METHODS, LIVESTOCK, & CHANGES IN FARM BUSINESS
Walter Culver>UIS Collection C-G>UIS Collection C-G, Segment 8
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- FARMING METHODS
- Started a new farm with his wife and still used a two-horse walking plow. Then used a three-horse riding plow, and later used a four-horse gang plow with two plows. Could plow 25-30 acres per day. Fertilizer was available after he was married. Bought fertilizer where it was mixed. Used lime and liquid fertilizer. Fertilizer has only been used for about 15 years. Before fertilizer they plowed clover and corn stalks under the soil and spread manure from cows.
- LIVESTOCK
- After marriage they had dairy cows, hogs, and 8-10 horses. Had three-horse teams. Broke own colts to work. Describes breaking colts to work and to lead. Took a week or more to break a colt. Remembers horses being scared of automobiles and streetcar lines, and describes a colt who had "sleeping sickness" and died.
- CHANGES IN FARM BUSINESS
- Used to farm both livestock and grain on 150 acres combined. When they married it was enough to provide a living, but now it is not enough because of the cost of machinery, taxes, fertilizer, seed, and transit.
