PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 89 



cattle would eat the entire stalk, while of corn they would not. 

 It was cut when the seed was ripe and put up in bundles. There 

 was no other curing. He had been so well pleased with the 

 result of this experiment that he proposed this year to substitute 

 the sorghum for corn, for a soiling crop. It can be fed to horses, 

 mules and cattle. It is planted at the same time with corn. It 

 stools out, four to six from each seed ; and there is about three 

 times as much weight of fodder to the acre as can be raised of 

 corn. It is planted in hills, because it stools more than if planted 

 in drills. It is planted at a distance of four to four and a half 

 feet each way. 



Mr. Gale considered it worth three times as much as corn for 

 soiling, but was fearful that in tliis latitude, if planted late, so 

 as not to mature, it would be difficult to cure it. 



NEW SUBJECT. 



The question selected for the next week, was " Flowers and 

 strawberries."' Adjourned. 



June 11, 1861. 

 Dr. Trimble, of New Jersey, in the chair. 



GAPES IN CHICKENS. 



Mr. Robinson read an inquiry from Mr. Horace C. Wheeler, of 

 North Stonington, Conn., for a cure for the gapes in chickens. 

 He had taken great pains with their food and shelter, feeding 

 them upon coarse meal. He had tried the proposed remedy of 

 mixing pepper with their food, but without success. 



Mr. Doughty suggested that feeding with cracked corn seemed 

 to be a preventive ; perhaps by scouring the worms from their 

 throats. 



Mr. Carpenter said that the old method of feeding chickens 

 w^ith moistened Indian meal was the worst that could be adopted. 

 But even feeding with dry cracked corn was not a sure preventive. 



Mr. Doughty. — I give them the cracked corn as soon as they 

 are hatched, as coarse as they can eat it. 



Rev. Mr. Weaver explained the process by which chickens 

 troubled with the gapes can be cured ; by doubling a horsehair, 

 running it down their windpipes, and twisting it around until the 

 worms get entangled in it, when they can be pulled out, some- 

 times to the number of a dozen. 



