THE IRRIGA TION A G E. 



317 



and of course are more difficult when 

 shipped a long distance. Planting the 

 nuts is therefore more practicable, espec- 

 ially to the amateur farmer. 



Seed may be obtained from eastern 

 growers at very reasonable rates and in 

 most sections ean be planted in the fall or 

 spring. Men who understand the germi- 

 nating of chestnuts pack the seed in wet 

 moss or chaff, so that the moisture will be 

 about the same as natural soil in a rainy 

 district. They should be shipped before 

 freezing, and may be planted in the fall if 

 the seed beds are sheltered. The new man 

 at seed planting will do well, however, to 

 plant some in the fall and retain some in a 

 dry, warm place, until "spring to plant 

 I 



or several in a bunch. A lone tree will 

 not be fruitful except in most extraordi- 

 nary cases, as several are necessary for 

 pollenation. If two year old trees are set 

 in a cluster and cared for as fruit trees 

 they will come into bearing in seven years 

 and pay large profits. 



JOEL SHOMAKER. 



A HINT FOR FARMERS. 

 The illustration below represents a con- 

 venient barn from which farmers who con- 

 template building may gain a few hints. 

 The barn was built about seven years ago 

 by a Kane County farmer named Ford, 

 now deceased, and occasioned a great deal 

 of wonder and admiration at the time 



again. If the soil is well plowed and pul- 

 verized to a good depth the nuts may be 

 planted in hills where trees are to stand, 

 otherwise planting in nursery rows till 

 two or three years old is advisable. 



A good plan is to plant chestnut seed in 

 drills leaving the rows six or eight feet, 

 apart, and after the young trees show 

 along the row, transplant the middle in 

 some thrifty shade trees. This is done to 

 protect the young chestnuts and cause 

 them to grow straight as in the native for- 

 est. The nuts may be planted a foot apart, 

 two in a place, about two inches deep, 

 covered with the top soil of vegetable 

 mold and well firmed with the foot. A 

 mulch of leaves, straw or grass is necessary 

 to retain moisture and keep from freez- 

 ing. Trees should be taken up carefully 

 and transplanted when young, in grove 



among the neighboring farmers. As may 

 be seen from the picture, the barn is cir- 

 cular in shape with a silo running from 

 top to bottom directly in the center of the 

 building, the top forming the cupola. The 

 ensilage is put in from above. 



The barn will accomodate 150 head of 

 cattle and 20 horses, the stalls for them 

 being on the first floor or half-basement. 

 Water pipes enter the building and supply 

 the stock with water. The door into which 

 the horse and carriage appear to be going 

 in the cut, may be called the main 

 floor. Here the hay, grain and rehicles 

 are kept; the hay and feed being let down 

 to the stock below. The ensilege, too is 

 taken out from below. The barn is very 

 conveniently arranged and a similar one 

 might be built on a smaller scale. An idea 

 of its size may be gained when we say tha 



