498 Tr A XS ACTIONS OF THE A Jf Eli WAN ISSTITUTE. 



can be raised per acre on prairie land in Illinois? Is it a profitable 

 crop either there or here in the east ? What preparation of the soil 

 and what is the best manner of cultivation ? 



Mr. A. B. Crandell. — Some weeks ago wlien traveling np the Con- 

 necticut valley, I paid special attention to this crop. They raise it 

 largely about Northampton, Iladley, Hatfield and other of those 

 river towns. I could not learn that it differs much from Indian corn 

 in the preparation of the soil or cultivation. The chief advantage 

 they derive from broom corn, is tlie regular work it gives in winter. 

 There it is raised with tobacco and demands excellent land. Those 

 two crops will so occupy the bands in cold weather that the farmer 

 can aflford to hire by the year. In this way he gets better labor and 

 more of it at moderate rates. As a general calculation, four hills 

 will furnish enough to make a broom that will sell for twenty cents. 

 Thus five cents may be made from each hill by adding the cost of 

 broomstick, twine and labor. The seed will pay for planting, tend- 

 ing and harvesting. 



Smut in Wheat. 



Mr. Arch. Rhenez, Warren, Pa. — I have been in the habit of raising 

 "wheat on my own account, in this and the old country, for upwards 

 of sixty years, and for at least fifty of these years never had any 

 €mut. I give you my preventive for the public good. My opinion 

 is that the cause is a fungus, that must be killed, and blue vitriol or 

 sulphate of copper is the cure. Have some vessel that will liold 

 your seed, and take four ounces of vitriol to each bushel of wheat ; 

 •dissolve in hot water, then fill into your vessel as much cold water 

 as you think will float your quantity of seed, add your dissolved. 

 Titriol, then put your wheat in gradually, and skim off any refuse ; 

 ^hen done, allow the whole to stand for two hours, and then drain 

 off the water by a faucet at the bottom. Do this in the evening, and 

 your seed is perfectly dry and ready to sow in the morning, by hand 

 or machine. No lime or anything else is necessary, and if properly 

 "done I will insure the crop for a small premium. 



W. II. Town, Onondaga, Michigan. — I will give a little of my 

 •experience in wJieat growing from smutty seed, or seed infected by 

 smut. About twenty-five years ago we were damaged a good deal 

 [by smut in our wheat, and the ditficulty of obtaining seed free from 

 smut was very great. Years after we continued to be troubled more 

 or less in our vicinity, until an Englishman settled there and gave us 

 ^ remedy, which wjis to take about the bulk of a pint of unslaked 



