FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 193 



raising this crop in southern Michigan has been the green aphis, or plant 

 louse, which sometimes attacks the plant during prolonged dry weather, 

 and if not speedily checked by rains completely destroys the crop. No 

 remedy is known, and all that can be done is to commence pasturing at 

 once. 



DISCUSSION. 



Discussion was to have been led by Franklin Bamhart, but he being 

 absent, the discussion was made general. 



Q: What do you know about sacaline? 



Mr. Crozier: It is a native of an island near Japan, which has a very 

 moist climate. I have seen plants six to eight feet high. That is about 

 all I know, except that it is recommended as a plant adapted to dry 

 places. This is evidently a mistake, as it thrives best in cool, moist sea- 

 sons. I cannot say any good word for it, as I have not had much 

 experience with it myself. I cannot say that it is a fraud, because it 

 grows, and stock will eat it, but I do not think it is anything for you or 

 me to sow or plant for a forage crop. It certainly is not adapted for hay. 



Q : What about rye for hay ? 



Mr. Crozier: If you had not said "for hay," I should reply that it was 

 a good thing. It is good for pasture, but it is rather poor hay. 



Q : What about millet ? 



Mr. Crozier: It is an exhaustive crop, but makes good hay. 



Q: And sorghum? 



Mr. Crozier: It will stand dry weather better than com, but unless 

 you want it for that special purpose, and are pretty sure of a dry sea- 

 son, you can get a larger crop of better produce from Indian corn. 



Q: Eegardless of the ear of com, isn't sorghum better than the corn 

 stalk? 



Mr. Crozier: It is harder, and the stock do not like it as well; it is 

 coarser and tougher. 



Q: I would like your idea as to the way to proceed in seeding red 

 clover. 



Mr. Crozier: If I wanted to be sure, I should sow it as early in the 

 spring as possible, and p»ut no crop whatever with it. That is an extreme 

 measure and not often necessary. 



Q: Isn't that the case with all grasses? 



Mr. Crozier: I think so, so far as sowing them alone is concerned. 



Q: Can you tell us anything about lucerne? 



Mr. Crozier: That is the same as alfalfa. 



Q: Is there any difference between alfalfa and sweet clover? 



Mr. Crozier: Sweet clover lives only two years; alfalfa sometimes 

 twenty years. 



Q: What is comfrey? 



Mr. Crozier: It looks like burdock. Stock will eat it, but it is rather 

 coarse. 



Q: What is the result of spurry on sand? 



Mr Crozier: It will grow on sandy land, and where almost anything 

 else will not, but when land is so poor that you are obliged to grow 

 spurry, I wouldn't try to grow anything? 



