172 Tbaxsactioxs of the American Institute. 



which to bud the pear, or a few quince bushes may be kept as 

 '* stools," beudiug do^^^l the branches and covering with earth, to 

 produce layers. A shoot of a thrifty grape vine may also be laid 

 in a shallow trench, early in spring, taldng last year's growth, and 

 after the new shoots have grown a few inches, bank in earth around 

 them, and by fall roots will be thrown out so that nearly every new 

 shoot can be taken for a plant. Pears are more troublesome — 

 except the dwarf on quince roots — but try what seeds can be col- 

 lected; also, take up the sprouts under old trees, and above all, 

 every wild tree of suitable size for grafting found in the hedges or 

 along fences. Set the small sprouts in rows, and bud or graft the 

 same as apples. Plums, where the curculio will let them gi'ow, can 

 be got up the same as cherries. If one has seeds of really good 

 ^cinds, plant in the fall, and let them grow up as natural fruits; 

 fc-ome good sorts will pretty certainly come from them. If a small 

 but select stock of trees can be procured from a nursery to graft 

 or bud from, so much the better. The raising of trees is not as 

 mysterious as some people would have us believe." 



FEED AND TREATMENT OF COWS. 



Mr. James L. Humphrey, New Bedford, Mass. — I raise corn for 

 market and soiling purposes, and design trying several kinds this 

 year to find the best, or that which is best adapted for both pur- 

 poses, having large sweet ears and small stalks. I tried spring 

 vetches for soiling last summer, and like them much. I sowed 

 them on ground which I had prepared for barley, and obtained a 

 large crop, which my cows relished highly. I fed it alternately 

 with sweet corn. I have found one difficulty always in feeding 

 largely on sweet corn; it has a tendency to induce garget; but as 

 I fed it last year,. I had no trouble in that direction. After clear- 

 ing the ground from the vetches, which it left very mellow, I 

 plowed and sowed to white winter wheat and grass seed, giving an 

 application of ashes at the last harrowing, and now my wheat looks 

 finely. I have never had trouble in raismg gooa wheat on rich 

 ground, early sown and fed oflf once during the fall. Have once 

 raised thirty-two bushels of Southern white wheat to the acre. 



One word more, in regard to a subject which has engaged your 

 attention in your discussions, and which is of interest to dairymen 

 generally. I mean caked bag in cows. I never have any trouble 

 in that direction, no matter how fat the cow may be at the time of 

 calving. I keep the best cows that I can get, and find it the most 



