PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 261 



Pr. "Ward con(l(Miins any system of pruninj^ that necessitates much hand 

 labor in cultivating the ground, or that does not admit the free passage of 

 liorse and cart through the orchard to gather the fruit. 



Dr. Sylvester says that dwarf pear orchards are not a failure in Western 

 New York, nor are winter pears. He particularly recomn^ends the " Ben r re 

 Gris D'lliver Novcau." We assure our readers tliat all that name belongs 

 to one pear. 



Rats — An Effective Trap. 



Mr. William McKelby, Mansfield, Ohio, says: "I set a barrel with some 

 bran or meal in tlse bottom, and let the rats work at that for a few nights 

 until they all find it otit and become accustomed to climb in and out, then 

 remove that barrel and put one in its place that has been used for soft 

 soap, the sides and bottom being covered. Set a dish of bran in the bar- 

 rel, and let the rats come again and they will stay. I caught fifteen that 

 v\'ay." 



Grafting Grapevines, 



Mr. James Hartley, Alliance, Ohio, says he is successful in grafting 

 grape vines in tlie roots, both by split and splice grafting, but never above 

 ground. Time, after hard freezing is over. 



Cabbage Culture. 



Mr. Htjrace Thayer, Blackstone, Mass., says: Always grow your seed 

 from , whole heads, not stumps. Do not use hog manure. We have a 

 variety of cabbage, which we have grown extensively for some years past, 

 which we consider far superior to any and all kinds in use among farmers 

 and gardeners; very uniform iu heading — large, firm heads, free from 

 €tump foot. We have distributed hundreds of packages in years past, 

 which invariably have given the best of satisfaction. If any member of 

 the Club would be disposed to give it a trial, we will willingly forward a 

 package in season for planting." 



Corn Harvester Wanted, 



Mr, Joseph Dysart, Lodi, Tama county, Iowa, says: "Our great war;t 

 here is a corn harvester. With the aid of Brown's or Elder's corn planter 

 a man and a b()y 1-5 years of age can i)lant in good season on the prairie 

 soil of Iowa 50 acres of corn; by using Stafford's, Waterman's or any of a 

 half score of sulky cultivators everywhere exposed for sale, either can cul- 

 tivate it properly. But where is the corresponding machinery to aid iu 

 saving this crop in autumn? The inventor of such a labor saving machine 

 would wake and find himself more famous than Whitney, McCormick or 

 Manny," 



Sheep Marks. 



Mr. Aaron Smith, Pottersville, N. H., sends specimens of the invention of 

 C II. Dana, West Lebanon, N. H., for marking sheep, by inserting flat 

 metal rings in the ears, upon which numbers are stamped to corrosi^ond 

 U'ith the same in a register, ' 



