236 



later culture should be shallow, ani the roots of the corn shoulJ cot be disturbed after it 

 begins to tassel." 



If we can stimulate fanners g-eneraliy to piit fo: ththe requisite effort to largely increase 

 the average yield of corn, a benefit will bo secured to themselves and the nation at large, 

 and where many do obtain such creditably large crops, many more can do the same by 

 reasonable care and work. And it may be safely said that, next to deep plowing and sub- 

 soiling, no one thins: enters more efficiently and largely into the e'ements of success in corn- 

 growing than the liberal application of alkalies, such as wood-ashes, lime, salt, and the like, 

 in connection with plentiful supplies of stable and hog manures. 



Care iu the selection of seed is of prime importance, and this should be done, before the 

 crop is harvested, by going through the field and Helectipg the largest, earliest ears from 

 such stalks as have two or more ears on them, for such prolific seed is quite sure to repeat 

 itself in producing its like. In obtaining over 100 bushels per acre myself, I pursued this 

 course, and no stalk had less than two ears. 



D. S. CURTISS. 



California prospects. — Col. W. W. Hollister, of Califoruia, one of 

 tlie foremost farmers of liis country and time, writes as follows, under 

 date of Santa Barbara, May 24, 1875 : 



As to California, generally, there will be no great trouble from drought. The rains were 

 copious enough, but did not coiue opportunely. Unusual cold weather prevailed over the 

 State, excepting here at Santa Barbara, where there was not enough frost to kill my pota- 

 toes. The crops will not be a failure by any means, though in places short and in places 

 none at all. The greatest hardship will be in grazing. Men will have to resort to expedi- 

 ents to get stock through. Some will go to the mountains, some will get grazing from the 

 grain-fields and straw from the thrasliing-machine ; all will be utilized, and I guess there 

 will not be serious loss. Some herds of sheep have already gone to Arizona, and more will 

 follo\7. I wish there was only a chance for our boys to go to New Mexico and be sure of 

 protection. » * * Lompoc [one of the new settlements] is getting on well; there will be 

 some fine crops, mostly of late kinds — beans, potatoes, and corn. The grass, as everybody 

 knew it would be, is tine. While other flock-masters will find some hardships, our fine old 

 Lompoc and San Julian ranchos are glorious in abundant pasture. We will carry all of our 

 stock [about 50,000 head of sheep] as easy as usual. 



My crops here are better than I have ever had since I came to the place. I think I will 

 get four or five thousand centals of barley and a good fair crop of wheat, all of which is 

 volunteer. My corn and potatoes look fine. I have cured and housed three hundred tons 

 of hay, and the almonds are bearing as much as I want to see on trees at their age. [Almonds 

 number 2-5,000 trees.] My little lemou-trees are some of them full of fruit. That is quick 

 work— two and three years from the bad — better than I expected. When you come to see 

 me I will make you leinuuade from the trees, and talk you to sleep under the shadow of 

 th^ir foliage. * » ■- 



There ought to be a grand effort to help Scott with the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in 

 the next Congress. * * * \yg ^re suflering more from high-priced labor than from 

 drought or any other cause. The cost of production must be lessened, so that living will be 

 less expensive. The reduction of price for labor must first be made on the farm; that is the 

 beginning'place; then all other labor can come down in proportion. * '* No farm can survive 

 $25 per month here, or $15 in the East. If the farm goes, here or there, all goes. Many 

 immigrants come here and^ instead of going to work at what business justifies, demand B^W 

 and .SlO per month. If thej^ don't get that, they scold the country and go back — if they 

 can. We have got to go back to old prices and all men go to work. Work I work ! work ! 

 there is no other way to live. 



In a previous letter Colonel Hollister thus sums up bis ideas on the 

 labor questioQ : 



Labor, intelligently applied, is sure to add to the wealth of the State. The great thing to 

 be feared is idleness. If people do not work they must be poor. If they consent to be 

 poor they become demoralized. Poverty and crime go together. If you want a country 

 moral make it prosperous. Stimulate enterprise by just laws, and there is no such thing as 

 failure. * " It is not railroads that are doing the harm ; it is general idleness — laziness — a de- 

 sire to live by our wits and not by work. Labor is the problem for our solution now. God 

 send that we solve it soon and all go to work with a will i 



The economy of feeding meal to dairy-cows. — 1\h\ Linus W. 

 Miller, of Stockton. X.Y., has forsome yearspast been experimenting with 

 corn-meal as feed for his dairy-cows, and his success has been so satis- 

 factory that he gave the result of his experiments iu au address deliv- 

 ered before the American Dairyjneu's Association on the 14ih day of 



