PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 303 



rod, blocking it np four or five inches above the stones; in the other rail 

 make the hole only half through, and place it on the rod ; nail on these rails 

 the pickets, to suit your own taste — three feet long does very well; now 

 plumb and straighten, and then fasten the rods by melted sulphur." 



Stacking Hay Preferable to Putting it in Barns. 



Mr. G. J. Locke writes from Danby Town Corners, Vt., that no better 

 nor brighter hay is seen than that put up in the following manner: First* 

 set up three poles from twelve to eighteen inches from each other, in the form of 

 a triangle. Upon the poles nail slats near enough together to keep the hay 

 from filling the space between the poles. Then build a platform round the 

 poles from eight to twelve inches from the ground, and as large as the botr 

 torn of the stack is wanted. When the stack is built as high as proper, 

 saw off the tops of the poles and cover them with hay from two to three 

 feet, to prevent the water from running down the chimney. I should hang 

 four poles over the top of the stack to keep the wind from blowing the hay 

 off. 



When to Cut Timber. 



Mr. -Locke recommended the last of August as the best season to cut 

 trees for timber or fuel. The sap dries and hardens in the wood, and it is 

 much heavier than when cut in winter, after seasoning. Always set fence 

 posts top end down. 



Plant Spring Grain. 



Mr. Locke urges farmers to put in all the grain this season that is possi- 

 ble. He says: " I fear the people of the free States will have to furnish 

 food for the people of the rebel States, or they will starve; and the great 

 question is, ' Can we do it and not starve ourselves?' There is nothing 

 like the usual quantity of coarse grain on hand, and who ever lives an- 

 other year will find beef short." All this is very true, but, with a scar- 

 city of laborers, how is it to be done, until we can end this war and liber- 

 ate a host of willing laborers. 



Minnesota Fruit-growing. 



Mr. Solon Eobinson — The Legislative Farmers' Club of Minnesota have 

 been discussing the question this winter whether apples can be successfully 

 grown in that State. The general conclusion appears to bo that, notwithstand- 

 ing all the losses of young trees that have occurred, to the discouragement of 

 many persons, they can be successfully grown if planted in sheltered situa- 

 tions, or if the young trees are protected with boards or some artificial 

 shelter. The following list of hardy sorts of apples for Minnesota, was 

 given by Mr. Lee, of Hudson: 



Red Astrachan, of Eussia, summer variety; Duchess of Oldenburg, of 

 Russia, fall variety; Tallman Sweet, of Rhode Island, winter variety; 

 Winter Pippin, of Vermont, winter variety; Red Canada, of New 

 England, winter variety; Bailey Sweet, of Western New York, 



