Proceedings of the Farmers* Club. 639 



ings, and occasionally change to corn, buckwheat, &c., keeping feed 

 before them at all times. I give them fresh water every day, and at 

 all times have a supply of ashes, sand, lime, &c., for them to go to. 

 Occasionally give them fresh meat. I might add that, living in a 

 village, I am obliged to keep my hens shut up about half of the year, 

 as I do not allow them to trouble my own or my neighbors' gardens. 

 I have a small in closure, (about 10x20 feet) for them to run in, 



No. of hens 12 



Total effo-s, dozen 122 



Average price per dozen, 22^c §27 45 



Chickens and droppings sold and consumed 5 87 



8-33 32 

 Total cost of feed 14 25 



Showing a profit of $19 07 



Aldeenet Stock. 



Photographs of some of the choice cows in the famous herd of 

 Charles L, Sharpless, near Philadelphia, were presented to the club. 

 Dr, Isaac P, Trimble mentioned the superiority of these cattle, espe- 

 cially for butter dairies. 



Ashes. 



Mr, "W. A. Young, Cumberland county, Pa,, asked the following : 

 I wish to plant potatoes in a piece of new land ; it is a stiff blue grass 

 sod, and very heavy soil (limestone). Would coal ashes be of any 

 benefit to lighten it ? How many one-horse loads to the acre ? 



Mr. S. Edwards Todd. — A thousand. 



"Will a compost of hen droppings, coal ashes and plaster make a 

 good top-dressing for corn ? About what proportion of plaster should 

 be used ? 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — The top dressing, without the coal ashes, 

 would probably be as advantageous. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller. — Coal ashes are valuable, if put on a sandy soil, 

 but I consider on clay soil they are not worth drawing a mile. 



Mr. E. W. Ilolton. — I would use them on clayey soil for the pur- 

 pose of opening the soil. As a manure, I would not draw them half 

 a mile. 



Mr. Isaac P. Trimble. — The question has often been asked, " Are 

 coal ashes of any use?" This could only be proved by experiment. 

 I ask this man to try Mr. Todd's recommendation, and put it on at 



