CONCRETE. Materials to i cubic yd. of concrete, (i.) Pro- 

 portions Lime or cement i ; sand, 2 ; clean shingle, 6. Require 

 Shingle, etc., 27 cubic ft.; sand, 9 cubic ft.; cement, etc., 3.51 bus.; 

 water, 25 gals. 



(2.) Proportions Lime or cement, i ; gravel or ballast con- 

 taining } part sand, 7 ; ballast, etc., 33 cubic ft. Require Lime or 

 cement, 3.67 bus.; water 30 gals. 



(3.) Proportions Portland cement, i ; gravel or ballast, 10. 

 Require Ballast, etc., 33 cubic ft.; lime or cement, 2.49 bus.; water, 

 30 gals. 



The proportions marked (i.) and (2.) are those usually adopted 

 in the best foundations. 



The concrete in Portland cement, marked (3.) is generally used 

 in rilling, and may be also used as foundations for light buildings. 



TAR CONCRKTK requires, per cubic yard, about 12 gals, of coal- 

 tar, and from 10 to 20 Ibs. of pitch, according to the thinness of the 

 tar. 



The size of the stone may vary from J to 2\ inches in diameter 

 according to the thickness or purpose for which the concrete is 

 intended. 



Portland cement varies in weight from 108 to 120 Ibs. per 

 bushel. Fineness and weight indicate good quality. 



A bushel of lime weighs 70 Ibs. 



CHANGE OF SEED. It is found that, if the farmer continually 

 uses seed of his own growing, his crops deteriorate in a few years, 

 while fresh seed, if judiciously selected, will yield good crops. A 

 change should always be made, if possible, from an earlier district 

 or a better soil. At the same time, much improvement may be made 

 by a more rigid selection of home seed. Major Hallet developed 

 his well-known varieties by careful selection of the best grains year 

 after year, without changing, and the same principle might be 

 applied by farmers to their ordinary crops. Select the best part of 

 the field when growing, let it ripen well, harvest carefully, and 

 afterwards dress the grain over two or three times with the 

 most suitable dressing machine, so only the very best grain be 

 retained. If this system is persevered in, a better crop will result 

 than from a perpetual change of seed. McConnelFs Agricultural 

 Note Book. 



CROSS FERTILIZATION. In order to produce a variety of plant 

 which shall combine the good characteristics of two separate kinds, 

 the system of cross breeding has been largely practised, especially 

 with wheat. On one of the selected parent plants the glumes are 

 opened and the anthers removed some time before the latter are 

 ripe. When the pollen is ripe for shedding in the other parent 

 plant, it is dusted over the feathery stigmas of the young germ in 

 the plant first operated on, the glumes closed, and the heads tied up 

 in muslin, to protect from birds, etc. The operation requires much 

 careful manipulation, and the delicate organs must not be exposed 



