126 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



it is possible to do by hand. The band is then applied and the cord 

 loosened. A man can put up twice as many stooks in a day with this 

 implement, and do it more than twice as well as he could without. 



Kentucky Blue Grass. 



Mr. T. G. Donaldrary, Scroggsfield, Ohio, wants to know when to sow 

 and in what soil to sow Kentucky blue grass. He also wants to know how 

 much seed it will yield per acre and whether it will pay to grow blue grass 

 for hay or pasture. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — ^Sow in February or March upon land well pre- 

 pared in autumn, upon limestone clay soil. As to the quantity of seed, no 

 one here can answer. Whether it will pay, is answered in every drove of 

 fat bullocks that leaves Kentucky for an Eastern market. 



How TO Spoil Meadows. 



Mr. Allen asks the following question: "Will meadows keep up where 

 the hay is taken off and no manure returned, if not fed oflF spring nor fall? 

 If not, what is the cheapest and best mode of manuring, if too far off to 

 draw barnyard manure? 



" Will Peruvian guano, so far off, pay, the expenses are so much for 

 transporting by railroad?" 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — The answer to this is most decided, that there is 

 BO better way to spoil a meadow; and the best and cheapest mode of 

 manuring it is to keep the cattle off. On some land plaster will pay, and 

 where hay is as valuable as it is near New York, it does pay to use Peru- 

 vian guano. In Chautauqua county, we think it would pay to buy wood 

 ashes. If you have a muck bed, it will pay to dig and pile that until it is 

 decayed, and use that for a top dressing. So much depends upon locality 

 and other circumstances, that it is impossible to give specific directions to 

 suit such a case as this. 



Dr. Trimble. — I never saw but one place out of Kentucky where blue 

 grass did equally well, and that is upon the Brandywine Hills, Chester 

 county, Penn. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — It does equally well in several places in Ohio. It 

 will do well in any place where there is limestone clay. 



Mr. R. H. Williams. — It does well in Putnam county, N. Y., upon land 

 which is so hilly and rocky that it cannot be plowed. I think it would do 

 well in nearly all of Western New York, if farmers would allow it to get 

 well rooted. The trouble is, where all the land is arable they are disposed 

 to turn over the sod by the time it gets well set. 



Location of Vineyards. 



The Secretary read an invitation from Mr. Younglove for the Club to 

 visit the Pleasant Valley Wine Company's vineyards, in Steuben county, 

 New York. 



Mr. R. H. Williams observed that he believed this company had the best 

 location in the State for vineyards; that they are eminently successful in 

 growing the Catawba grape. 



