Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 175 



Mr. Solon Robinson added that this subject had been beiore the 

 Club a great many times, had been totally exhausted, and the con- 

 clusion was that the horse hair is the only cure. 



The Chairman. — It is true that we have considered this question 

 before, but wives now are raising chickens who at the time were 

 chicks, and we must repeat these things. I have tried this remedy 

 myself as the only sure one, but the first year I made the mistake 

 of putting the horse hair down the wrong passage. It is in the 

 windpipe where the worms are. 



Mr. William Lawton. — A quill with the feathers clipped off and 

 the large end inserted first will answer. 



MANURING COKN IN THE HELL. 



Mr. James Bundy, Otego, Otsego county, N. Y., wrote to the 

 Club thus, which was read by the Chairman: 



"About manuring Indian corn in the hill, lately discussed at the 

 Club, S. E. Todd says it is a good plan. Mr. Meeker says no. 

 Mr. Todd is right. Mr. Meeker seems to be unconscious of the 

 good efiects of the fertilizing matter on the surrounding soil, not 

 only up and down but horizontally. The fact is, manure prepares 

 the soil to invite lateral roots as well as to feed them. The result 

 is, more corn and better quality of grain. And, if pumpkin seeds 

 be planted with the corn, there will be enough more to pay for the 

 extra labor of applying the fertilizer in the hill. A hired man is 

 not likely to do it well, unless the proprietor takes a row by his 

 side and looks to him. 



" The best manure is from the hog pen; the second best from the 

 hennery; the third best from the horse stable. When mauiu-e is 

 applied in the hill it should always be covered slightly with soil, 

 so that no manure will be in contact with the seed, or directly 

 under the growing plants." 



Mr. S. Edwards Todd said farmers can carry fertilizing matter 

 to the young plants much better than the roots can extend through 

 poor soil when the manure is deposited. If soil be in a poor state 

 of fertility, and the ground be marked off in check rows for 

 example, with the manure spread broadcast, much of it is liable to 

 be deposited two feet or more from the hills. Consequently, the 

 "young plants must work their way through all that distance in the 

 poor soil before the spongioles can find much plant food. But if 

 the manure be deposited near the hill, it gives the young plant a 

 luxuriant start in the early part of the growmg season. 



