236 STATE BOAED OF AGKICULTUKE. 



L. B. Pliillips, Allegan. — Would you tidvise muck to bo left entirely exjiosed 

 to the storms, or put under cover? 



Dr. Kedzie. — That depends on ch'cumstances. If it is where it will be washed 

 severely it ought to be protected. At the Agricultural College the muck com- 

 post heap is in the open yard. 



Levi Loomis, Ganges. — What would you advise in regard to the use of marl. 

 Would you burn it? 



Dr. Kedzie. — It is according to what you Avant to do with it. If you wish to 

 secure its caustic effects it would be better to change it into quick-lime by burn- 

 ing ; but if you wish simj^ly to neutralize the acid properties of the soil, it will 

 do just as well without being burned. 



Jonathan Butler, Otsego. — Would this marl be good to use as a top dressing 

 on wheat? 



Dr. Kedzie. — I should incorporate it with the soil hi good heavy doses. To 

 sow it as you do plaster it would have very little effect. 



DISCUSSION AT ADRIAN. 



Horace Bradish. — Which is the most valuable : to compost muck with manure, 

 load for load, or the clear muck after it has been exposed to the action of the 

 frost? 



Dr. Kedzie. — The compost manure would be the most valuable, because you 

 would secure a more active state of fermentation, and nearly all of the ammonia 

 would be saved. 



C. A. Jewell. — Is the advantage of composting with manure sufficient to jiay 

 for hauling muck a considerable distance? 



Dr. Kedzie. — That depends upon how far you have to haul it. If the dis- 

 tance is great, it woidd pay better to draw it out and leave it in small heaps, so 

 that it will be thoroughly frozen during the winter. Mr. Gully, the farmer at 

 the college, claims that this powdered muck, used as a top-dressing on meadows, 

 will materially increase the yield of hay. 



Burton Kent. — What benefit does muck receive combined with lime? 



Dr. Kedzie. — The lime destroys the acid properties. 



Dr. Owen. — Won't ashes have the same effect? 



Dr. Kedzie. — Yes ; even leached ashes would have a similar effect. 



Dr. Owen. — What would be the effect of muck and ashes as compared with 

 muck and barn-yard manure? 



Dr. Kedzie. — It is a pretty difficult task to make a comparison of the two 

 mixtures. 



A TALK CONCEKNING LIGHTNING-RODS FOK FAEM BUILDINGS, GIVEN 



IN THE FAEMERS' INSTITUTES AT ALLEGAN, DECATUR, 



ADRIAN, AND COLDWATER. 



BY R. C. KEDZIE. 



There are a few simple rules by wliich we may safely judge business men. 

 Por example, when a man is exceedingly anxious to sell an article, we may safely 

 conclude, either that the thing has little value in itself, or that the person offer- 

 ing it for sale makes large profits by its sale. Would it be unjust to judge the 

 agents for patent rights of every class, sewing-machine men, and lightning-rod 



