The Question Box. 95 



Mr. Gould. — No, sir. The only thing to do with such a 

 piece of ground is to put in a plow and turn it upside down; then 

 fit it well before putting in the seed. 



Question. — What is the best and cheapest way to renovate a 

 worn-out or run-down f arm ? 



Mr. Witter. — No doubt you have farms which have been 

 kept up by keeping up the supply of humus in the soil. This 

 vegetable matter must be supplied in order that moisture may be 

 held. That is the first necessity. The original soil had this 

 humus. Long-continued cultivation and the neglect to replace 

 .the humus have caused the land to become " run down." Barn 

 manure, when all is saved and applied, or the turning under of 

 green crops, will furnish this humus. The clovers are the best 

 for that purpose. Rye is also sown for that purpose, but it must 

 be plowed under before it becomes hard and woody. It takes 

 about 340 pounds of moisture to perfect one pound of weed, and 

 nearly 500 pounds of water to perfect one pound of oat straw and 

 grain, so it is readily seen how important it is to secure and hold 

 moisture. If rye is allowed to grow too large, it will be readily 

 seen that it will take moisture, which cannot be restored that 

 season. I prefer clover for plowing under, for the purpose of 

 restoring humus. 



Question. — Mention the cheapest and best way to get rid of 

 cedar stumps. 



No one present could answer the question fully. Mr. Good- 

 rich said that he and others had just bought 24,000 acres of land, 

 covered with stumps, and he wanted to get information. No one 

 could give it, however. 



Question. — Is there any government bulletin for distribution 

 to applicants? 



Mr. Kice. — Write to the Department of Agriculture at Wash- 

 ington for their bulletins, which are free. You will get the in- 

 formation you ask. The Department also issues a volume 

 known as the " Agricultural Record," containing much needed 

 information; but it costs $1 a year. 



Question. — Should we breed thoroughbred stock only ? 



Mr. Woodward. — That will all depend on the man. No scrub 

 man ought to be entrusted with thoroughbred stock. Let the 

 breeders handle that class. If you want a sire or dam, buy of 

 the breeders. For myself, I much prefer a cross-bred lamb to 

 a thoroughbred, and I think, all in all, good cross-bred cows as 



