PROCEEDmGS OF THE FARMERS' ClUB. 533 



worked in they will injure the solidity of the pipe. In laying, take 

 a scantling of the proper size, five or six feet long, round the upper 

 surface and put a handle on the upper side; lay this in the bottom 

 of the ditch, and put fine earth around it, and pound the earth 

 down with a maul, thus making a smooth mold for the bottom of 

 the pipe. Put the mortar into this mold from a trough of suitaljle 

 size, the same length as the molding scantling; work a rod into 

 this mortar, and then cover it M'ith more mortar from a trough of 

 smaller size, smoothing the top with a trowel. The rod should be 

 in two pieces, joined by leather, in the shape of a hose, the forward 

 piece to be a little longer than the molding scantling and the latter 

 part a foot or more long. The rod should be drawn out as far as 

 this leather joint, and then the forward part . turned up out of the 

 way. The latter part remains in the pipe until it is finished. At 

 the end of the rod an egg-shaped piece of wood should be fastened, 

 so that the bore of the pipe will be smooth. 



Mr. George Geddes. — The great difficulty in putting down these 

 pipes is to prevent their falling in when the dirt is put on. When 

 once laid, the}'^ are cheap and everlasting. It takes about one 

 bushel of cement to two of sand for each rod of pipe. 



Mr. Lawrence Van Wyck. — If the cement contains any quick- 

 lime, it will expand and fall to pieces in a few hours after it is set. 



Mr. Fuller. — This is, probably, what was the matter with Del- 

 monico's wall.' 



FLAX CULTURE. 



Mr. W. J. Perry, Centre White Creek, Washington county, 

 N. Y. — Flax is a profitable crop, but requires a large amount of 

 severe and dirty labor. In this part of the State, Irishmen do most 

 of the work, and there are many of them who have become the 

 owners of farms through its cultivation. I will try to give an idea 

 of the process of producing it, wishing to be understood that no 

 written description will answer the purpose of actual experience, 

 that being the sine qua non of success. Flax is usually sown on 

 corn hills any time from the middle of April to the same time in 

 May, the ground being plowed and harrowed before sowing, and 

 harrowed once afterward. The amount of seed sown is from 

 twenty-eight to thirty-six quarts per acre. Plaster or wood ashes 

 help its growth, if sown soon after it is out of the ground. Xo 

 more attention is required till it is fit to pull; when it turns yellow, 

 the bolls harden and the leaves wither, and it falls to the ground. 

 It should be pulled before the stalk begins to harden or dry. Xow, 



