proceedings of the farmers' club. 199 



An Apple Tree Hedge. 



Mr. Lncl\C says: "The best live fence I have ever seen was an apple 

 tree hedge, I saw it at six years old. The farmer informed me wlien it 

 was about two feet high he begaa to shear it, to make it grow thicker, and 

 at the time I saw it, it would stop cattle, or a dog, if he cared to come out 

 with a wliole skin," 



How TO Utilize Coal Dust. 



A Welchnian sends the following suggestion for the utilization of coal 

 dust. He says that " when a boj^, living in South Wales, I remember that 

 the coal which was abundant in the neighborhood was very small — every 

 cartloavl containing nearly a qtsarter of dust. Tliis used to bt3 mixed -with 

 clay, and was moulded by hand into longish oval cakes, which, when dry, 

 were laid in rows upon the fire and gave intense heat, with plenty of dust. 

 It has occurred to me lately, having been much annoyed by the quantity of 

 coal dust in every scutlleful of coal, that this dust and very fine coal might be 

 mi:?od with the refuse of the petroleum and rosin refineries, and made into 

 small i-xjHs, which might make admirable kindling. A ball or two put on 

 a low fire would soon brighten it up, and the saving of this now useless 

 dust might be important." 



Do Turnips Exhaust the Soil? 



A correspondent in Nebraska sends the following question to the Club: 

 *' Wiiy do turnips, containing so large a percentage of water,, so completely 

 exhaust land, and yield so little manure in return?" 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — For one I answer this question by denying the 

 position in ioto. I do not believe that turnips exhaust the soil any more 

 than any other crop of equal weight taken from it. I do believe that a 

 crop of turnips plowed .under would add more to the fertility of the soil 

 than any other crop ever used for tliat purpose. 



Home-Made Hominy. 



Mr. C. S. Osgood, Coos, New Hampshire, says: " In preparing fully dried 

 corn I would cover it with boiling water and let it stand some fifteen min- 

 utes, or longer, if to be ground immediately. The object is to soften the 

 outside of the grain only, so that in the operation of grinding the stones 

 will rub and tear off the hull perfectly. Tlie coarse meal sifted out of 

 hominy makes first rate hot cakes if treated right. Now, friends, give this 

 gnbject a little attention, if you have not before, and I will warrant you it 

 will pay — pay in health, and in economy too. Have a good lot ground up, 

 spread and dry, and then put away for use the year round." 



Mr. says: "As wholesome and palatable nutriment may be obtained 

 from Indian corn more cheaply than from any otlier known source, let me 

 talk up the subject of its preparation a little. I'he greatest trouble about 

 corn is, that it requires a great deal of, or at least a great time in cooking, 

 in whatever shape we use it. And the coarser it is o-f course the longer 



