10S Bureau of Fakmees' Institutes. 



be practiced, it may be kept in pretty good subjection. Prof. 

 Jones of Vermont, says that the application of half a ton of salt 

 to an acre, if put in when the weeds are very dry and hot, will 

 kill it out. 



Question. — Is it profitable to keep a cow after she reaches the 

 age of 10 years? 



Mr. Smith. — It would all hinge on the cow. If she is a good 

 one, keep her as long as she is good for anything for the dairy. 



Question. — Should farmers encourage reading-rooms or 

 libraries as the means of educating their sons and daughters? 



A Farmer. — It may be done, I suppose, and no doubt would 

 benefit the farmer's boys and girls; but I hardly think it ever will 

 be accomplished. 



Question. — How can we kill out wild mustard? 



Mr. Converse. — Where a rotation of crops can be followed, 

 there is no trouble in killing it out. We plant corn on a clover 

 sod, then use the weeder very thoroughly. It kills it out. If 

 you have oats and peas that have mustard in them, use the smooth- 

 ing harrow first, then follow with the weeder. It w r on't hurt the 

 crop. If you have a boy, horse and weeder, keep all three going 

 till the mustard has disappeared. Beside killing weeds, it con- 

 serves moisture which the crop needs, but which the mustard will 

 take in part. 



A Fanner. — I should like to ask Mr. Converse what he would 

 do with land used exclusively for hay crops? 



Answer. — That is another question. I should not follow that 

 system, as my observation is that the man who grows hay mostly 

 and sells it, soon becomes a poor man. Such has been the case 

 up in Jefferson county. 



Question. — Have you ever raised any soja beans, and if so, with 

 what success \ 



Mr. Smith. — ■ We grew some last year, but did not get as good re- 

 sults as from the cow peas. We put those with the corn into the 

 silo. 



Mr. Chamberlain exhibited a sample of cow peas on the vines, 

 which were large, strong and green. 



Mr. Rice.- — ■ The variety is known as Clay. There is another 

 variety known as the Whippoorwill, which, he thought, was better. 



Mr. ( Ihamberlain. — I grew them to plow under for the purpose 

 of getting humus into the soil. I had some plants that were nine 

 feet long, last season. I do not consider it advisable to grow 

 them for ensilage, as they are too expensive to harvest. 



