302 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN* INSTITUTE. 



the true system for composting all manures, viz: combine and surround all 

 highly fermentable or chemically combustible matters with a sufficient 

 amount of neutral or unfermentable material to absorb the volatile qualities 

 and dilute all the elementary properties of the mass to a usable condition, 

 without waste, either by evaporation or excess of quantity, beyond the re^ 

 quired amount for nature's economical appropriation — otherwise composts 

 become both labor and manure wastes. 



Mr. Grecnleaf. — In the discussion of the value of manure, I would observe 

 that in the neighborhood of the Alps I saw, to me, a singular arrangement, 

 the manure pen was placed near the door of the dwellings of the peasanti'y; 

 into this pen was put every waste article — even the parings of an apple; 

 this was applied to the soil at the proper season, and I must say that every 

 portion of land was in a great state of fertility. After crossing into ano- 

 ther region, where no manure heap was made, everything seemed going 

 into decay. 



Instinct of Animals. 



A correspondent, in speaking of the muskrats providing winter quarters 

 for a severe winter, he says, although the winter has not generally proved 

 severe, yet the cold spell of January would probably have destroyed many 

 of them, if their instinct had not taught them to provide against it. The 

 more we observe the habits of animals the more we are struck with theentir© 

 fitness of each to its own sphere, and the wonderful instinct which most 

 animals have for self-preservation and comfort. It is a matter of history 

 that animals know and are sensibly affected by the changed atmospheric 

 conditions preceding storms and earthqiiakes, before any difference is per- 

 ceived by man. Gulls fly inland before a storm. In the country we have 

 a peripatetic barometer in the lord of the barnyard. Who ever knew him 

 to fly upon the fence on a rainy day, without seeing sunshine within an 

 hour or two ? So of most animals. They prepare in summer for winter, 

 and if there is a " special Providence" for man, may there not also be for 

 animals ? For " God and His mercies are over all." 



Sweet Corn for Green Fodder. 



Mr. Solon Robinson — In answer to this inquiry, I state that some of the 

 varieties of sugar-corn, which grow an abundance of stalks, are good sorts 

 to sow for green fodder. There is not, however, as great an increase of 

 Bweetness, over other sorts, in the stalks as in the grain. The greatest 

 advantage is that the stalks do not grow large, but may stand thick 

 upon the ground and thus give a great burden of fodder per acre. 



Cheap Fence Posts. 



Mr. E. Baker, Dunkirk, answers the inquiry from Michigan about fences 

 as follows: 



" Place stones about sixteen inches and upward in diameter in line, with 

 their upper edges in a horizontal line, throw up the dirt on each side with 

 plow and spade, level or a little higher than the stones; drill an inch hole 

 two inches deep; set in an iron rod two feet three inches long and ^ diam- 

 eter; provide two rails, one 2h 3 and the other BxZ inches, and of such 

 length as suits best; make an inch hole through the first, and slip it on th& 



