432 BnnKAr ok Fakmeus' Institutes. 



Does model farming pay in Allegrany county? 



Mr. Cook. — I don't know why "model farmin};" will not pay just 

 as well in Allegany county as elsewhere. It certainly does pay 

 in other counties, and judging from appearances in some locali- 

 ties, it does in Allegany county. 



Does it pay the farmers to keep up good line fences? 



Mr. Cook. — Line fences are necessary, so are other fences in 

 some instances, but the old rail fences, whether on a line or 

 somewhere else, are nuisances. It were better to take them down, 

 dig out the bushes, plow the land, crop it a year or two, then 

 build a wire fence. The old rail fence is a back number. 



I have plenty of stone, and wish to underdrain a piece of wet land. 

 Shall I use the stone or tile? 



Mr. Ward I should put the stone into a wall and use tiles. It 

 costs just as much to much the ditch for one as for the other, and 

 just as much to cover it. Tile will last many years, while a stone 

 drain will fail in a few years. I do not believe that any man can 

 lay any quality or variety of stone in a ditch that will last very 

 long. They soon clog up, and often rats get into them and make 

 mischief. I know tile drains that I helped to lay when I was a 

 boy, that are just as good as when laid. Ordinary drain tile may 

 be bought cheaply and will last, when well laid, four generations; 

 but do not make the mistake of getting too small tiles. Have 

 them large enough. The depth to lay them will depend on the 

 grade and the soil. We have laid them only twelve inches below 

 the surface; but, as a rule, the tiles ought to be laid below the 

 frost line. The distance apart will also depend on the condition 

 of the land. The more water there is present, the closer should 

 the ditches be; and, if very wet, it will be best to lay the tiles on 

 boards. 



Would you seed after winter wheat or some spring crop? 

 Mr. Ward. — Ninety-nine one-hundredths of our seeding is done 

 on winter wheat in the spring. 



