Il'S Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



Question. — Is South. Carolina rock good for barley ? If so, 

 how much per acre ? 



Prof. Cavanaugh. — I do not believe that South Carolina rock 

 is needed an}" more for barley than for other grain crops. 



Question. — What is the best fertilizer for spring wheat ? 



Mr. Litchard. — On heavy, damp soil, stable manure lias no 

 equal for this purpose. And right here let me say, I believe, 

 even in a dairy region, it would pay the fanners to give more 

 attention to wheat raising; for on every farm may be found more 

 or less land suited to its growth, and the stable manure is fur- 

 nished by your herds. In fact, I believe it would be greatly to 

 your interest to give more attention to mixed farming. We are 

 living in what may be said to be an age of specialties, yet I believe 

 farmers make a mistake when they confine themselves entirely to a 

 single line of farming. First, it is bad for the land. In any local- 

 ity where only some specialty is followed, the soil almost univer- 

 sally becomes poorer; second, it is bad for the pocket. I find that, 

 with me, mixed farming is more profitable, and this has been, I 

 believe,' the general experience of those who have given it a trial. 

 Finally, it is bad for the mind. There is too much tendency 

 among all classes to think along only a single line. In any depart- 

 ment in life, the old adage, " Variety is the very spice of life," 

 may be well applied and is as applicable to the life of the farmer 

 as any other class. It is the men of thought, of push and of 

 variety that help us along. 



Question. — What brand of fertilizer is best to use on clay or 

 hardpan soils ? 



Mr. Smith. — The " Barn Brand." As a rule, the lack in clay 

 land is vegetable matter. There may lie a plenty of fertilizer in 

 the soil, but it is locked up. The humus has gone out, so that 

 moisture is not held. Unless there is moisture, which cannot be 

 present without vegetable matter, plants cannot feed. It is use- 

 less to apply commercial fertilizers unless there is moisture to 

 make the plant food in them available. The sowing of some 

 form of catch crop, like clover, rape or rye, with the barn manure, 

 will furnish humus. Our best farmers are sowing some cover 

 crop, to be plowed under the next spring. 



Question. — What is the best fertilizer for vines? 



Mr. Rice. — What variety of vines? If tomato, nitrate of soda 

 or stable manure is good. But neither might apply to others. 

 Every plant has two growths, one a reproductive, the other a fruit- 

 ful one. Both should be considered. Studv the soil and the 



