402 Tl^AXSACTIOXS OF THE AMERICAN LXSTITVTE. 



woody substance. The dust of tiiuotliy blossoms cannot be a tithe of 

 the quantity mixed with hay by the use of the horse-rake. 



Mr. W. S. Carpenter. — There can be no doubt that it is much the 

 best to cut grass when in blossom. It not only makes better hay, 

 but it exhausts the soil much less. 



Prof. J. A. Whitney. — That is in accordance with correct theory. 

 The growth of seeds takes much more phosphoric acid from the soil 

 than herbage does. Cut grass when in bloom, and you will have the 

 best quality of hay, without taking the manurial substance from the 

 soil that will be needed for the next grain or seed crop. 



Sowing Plaster on Clover. 



Mr. Joseph Heighton, Kent, Portage county, Ohio. — " Last spring 

 I had three and one-half acres of land ; the soil was sandy and 

 gravelly ; the piece had been cropped about thirty-three years, sowed 

 only twice to clover, which was mowed and taken off, and had no 

 manure applied all this time ; and the land was bare, save here and 

 there a mullen stalk, or creeping blackberry vine. I sowed it to rye 

 in the fall, and clover the next spring, the 1st of March, when the 

 snow M^as on. When the clover was about three inches high, last 

 spring, I applied one bushel of plaster on the three acres, leaving the 

 half acre without any plaster. The result was, I had three acres of 

 as good clover as I ever sawgrowing, really beautiful to look upon ; 

 but the half acre that had no plaster was poor enough, and any one 

 can see the exact line where I finished sowing the plaster, when they 

 are twenty-five, yes, thirty rods away from it. Now, I would ask the 

 Club whether it would be best to plow it, the clover, under, about 

 the 1st of June, or take one more crop oif first, and plow the second 

 .crop under, and sow to wheat in the fall ? " 



Mr, J. B. Lyman. — Our Portage county friend will not be wrong, 

 if he takes two crops t)f clover before he turns under for wheat; but 

 the more approved course is to wait till the following spring, and 

 turn the clover when it is hoof high, and put corn, on it. Corn 

 requires sod more than wheat does. 



now TO Make Shingles Last. 

 Mr- George O. Smith, Springfield Centre, Otsego county, IS. T.— 

 In reading the proceedings of the Farmers' Clubj I noticed discus- 

 sions on tlie different processes of preserving timber. Can you give 

 me any process that will make sawed cedar shingles last longer, and 



