158 STATE BOAKD OF AGEICULTURE. 



When the vote was taken there was a pretty decided majority for tlie use of 

 combined machines in Van Buren county. 



Ques. — Whicli is the most desirable ; a summer fallow kept clear from grass 

 and weeds, with frequent stirring and exposure to the summer sun, or to allow 

 it to grow up to grass and weeds and then plow under? 



Dr. Kedzie. — It depends very much on the nature of the soil. To answer the 

 question properly, however, you must bring up questions which would furnish 

 material for half a dozen institutes. A clay soil which is sufficiently supplied 

 with vegetable matter would be benefited by clean cultivation, while the same 

 kind of management on a sandy soil might be injurious. 



Ques. — What is the best method of catching, killing, and preserving worms, 

 bugs, and insects? 



Prof. Cook. — That is a pretty long subject for five minutes, and better be 

 postjioned until there is time for a full lecture upon the subject. 



Ques. — How late should ruta-bagas be cultivated? 



J. E. Hendryx. — I would recommend cultivation as long as you can get 

 through without injuring tlie tojDS. When your cultivator begins to break off 

 the toj)s then quit. 



Ques. — Does spontaneous combustion ever take place? 



Dr. Kedzie. — My answer to that is that spontaneous combustion does fre- 

 quently take place. In some substances oxidation is very rapid, and the heat 

 becomes so excessive that fire ensues. Cotton rags soaked with linseed oil are 

 often the source of spontaneous combustion. 



Ques. — What is tlie difference between theoretical and practical agriculture? 



Dr. Kedzie. — The office of tlie agricultural chemist is to explain the facts 

 which the practical farmer finds out. 



Ques. — Would the application of ashes to mucky soils improve them for grass, 

 cereals, or vegetables? 



Dr. Kedzie. — Ashes would be one of the very best things you could apply to 

 your land, and if you have plenty of ' ashes and muck there is no limit to the 

 capacity of your farm. 



Qaes. — Are jjlants indebted for any of their growth to any substance secured 

 from the air? 



Dr. Kedzie. — The plant derives a large portion of its carbon from the carbonic 

 acid of the air. 



Ques. — What is tlie comparative value of roots, beets and turnips of the dif- 

 ferent varieties, for feeding stock, as compared with corn? 



Mr. Lyle. — In feeding stock for the market I prefer corn and ruta-bagas, 

 wnth plenty of good hay. I have been in the feeding business 21 years. In 

 handling cattle, when the pastures begin to get short in the fall I begin to use 

 my corn, ruta-bagas, and hay, and in three months from the pastures I can gen- 

 erally have my steers good beef. 



J. J. Woodman. — Have you ever tested the comparative value of ruta-bagas 

 and corn for feeding sheep and cattle? 



Mr. Lyle. — I frequently, when feeding corn so heavy, feed ruta-bagas three 

 or four times in a week. Too much corn makes them feverish. 



J. K. Hendryx. — How many bushels of ruta-bagas do you consider equal to a 

 bushel of corn for fattening purposes? 



Mr. Lyle. — I should think about four bushels of ruta-bagas to one of corn. 



Mr. Hayden. — I never have had much experience in feeding stock, and do 

 not speak from my own knowledge ; but I recollect of seeing a statement in the 



