FAKMERS' INSTITUTES. 157 



Mr. Carpenter. — No, sir. I said that the cog-wheels should be so constructed 

 as not to require uuguents, 



Mr. Hayne. — I understood you to say there was no friction on the teeth of 

 the wheels. Don't they have to pass each otlier? 



Mr. Cari^enter. — If the cogs of two wheels Avork properly together there is no 

 slipping or sliding to cause friction. The cogs merely push against each other, 

 and about all the wear there is upon these cogs conies from tlie vibration of the 

 machine. 



QUESTION BOX. 



Ques. — Does not the clearing away of forests and the drainage of swamp lands 

 tend to lessen the amount of rain-fall? 



Dr. Kedzie. — Lam satisfied that forest growth has a marked influence npon 

 rain-fall. It may not make any difference in the amount of rain-fall during the 

 whole year, but it has a great influence, so far as my observation extends, in the 

 distribution of the rain throughout the year. Where a country is denuded of 

 forest trees it is thought to be more subject to frequent drouths. The question 

 asked has aroused a corps of able observers, and George P. Marsh has written a 

 very valuable work on this subject, entitled ''Man and Nature," published by 

 Wiley & Son, New York. The price is $3, and it is worth ten times that 

 amount to any farmer in the State. In this book yon will find a mass of infor- 

 mation bearing upon this subject. 



Ques.^ — I have several times found cut-worms with maggots on them. What 

 were they? 



Prof. Cook. — They Avere evidently the parasites of Avhich I spoke last evening. 

 When the cut-worm comes forth from the ground, tlie little fly Avhich lays the 

 egg for this maggot is ready to attack it. When the eggs of the little fly hatch 

 out these maggots prey upon the worm, and literally eat it up alive. 



Ques. — Do the farmers present disapprove of the use of the combined reapers 

 and mowers, especially on small farms? 



Mr. Curry. — I call for a vote on this question. 



J. K. Hendryx. — Before using the combined machine, I would advise farm- 

 ers to club together and buy tAvo machines. 



J. J. Woodman, — If it is merely a question as to the merits of single or com- 

 bined machines, then probably the farmers Avill say single machines are prefer- 

 able ; but if the question of economy as Avell as use be taken into consideration, 

 then, certainly the combined machine will get a majority of votes. Few 

 farmers in Van Buren county can indulge in the luxury of two machines. I 

 have used the combined machine for the past fifteen years Avith the utmost 

 success. 



K. C. Cai^penter. — It is getting to be the custom in the eastern part of this 

 State and in portions of Ohio and Ncav York to use single machines instead of 

 the combined, and I knoAV in some instances Avhere combined machines Avere 

 formerly in use they haA'C been discarded for the moAver, and the reaping is 

 done Avith the cradle. 



Mr. Hendryx. — Has Mr. Woodman used both kinds of machines? 



Mr. Woodman. — Perhaps not practically. I Avould much prefer singlo 

 machines if the question of economy did not come into consideration, but on 

 these 40 and 80 acre farms I don't want to see anything Avhich Avill look as. 

 if we recommend that the combined machines should be discarded. 



J. K. Hendryx. — If I could not buy tAVo machines, I Avould induce my neigh- 

 bors to unite Avitli me before I Avould iise the combined machine. 



