PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 273 



the interest of their cost while lying- idle would be nearly equal to the cost 

 of converting them into soluble phosphate. 



How TO Manage Old Grape Vines. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — A lady residing at Castleton, Vt., wishes to know 

 what course she shall pursue with an old grape vine. She says: 



" I find a thrifty old vine here that has probably never seen a knife. It 

 bears a ver}'- few good grapes — grows all over an old arbor. I would like 

 to know how to treat it." 



Mr. Andrew S. Fuller. — The only way is to make it over into a new vine, 

 such as I have already described. I would cut away a mass of the old 

 wood, saving some young, healthy shoots, and from these grow arms and 

 canes upon the same system I have recommended for young vines. The 

 only way to do with such an old vine is to remodel it and bring it into as 

 good shape as possible, and then continue it upon the renewal system. 



Poultry. 



Mr. Wm. C. Perry, of Bedford, L. I., says: 



" I keep twenty-five hens; about half of them pick the feathers off each 

 other and eat them. I have had a fine Spanish rooster picked nearly 

 clean. My hen house is thirteen feet long, six feet wide, seven feet high; 

 hen yard, forty by eight feet. I feed them well, and give fresh meat everj' 

 week. They are lively, healthy and lay well. How shall I stop thin 

 feather war ? " 



Dr. Trimble. — Supply them with a little bone dust. 



Dr. Bliss. — If the gentleman would let his fowls out they would soon find 

 what they wanted. 



Prof. Mapes. — That is not what Mr. Perry wishes to do. He wants to 

 supply something to the fowls when fastened up. I think if he gives them 

 a supply of bone dust he will find it is the material they require. They 

 should have a box of dry wood ashes to roll in, as they are often affected 

 with lice, which causes them to be constantly picking each other. 



Hardy Plants for Vermont. 



•Mr. Solon Ptobinson. — A lady correspondent wants to know if any of the 

 Club know of a good place to get ornamental plants and seeds adapted to 

 our high latitude — the middle of Vermont. Most of the plants wo 

 order do not live well through our cold winter, or do much in the short 

 summer. 



Mr. Fuller. — There are many shrubs that would be hardy there, I think — 

 such as Wigelias, Japonicas, Lilacs, Syringas, part of the Spireas, and 

 others. Peonias and Japan lilies are hardy, and tulips and several other 

 bulbous plants. I will make a proposition to that lady. I will select 25 

 plants, which I think would be hardy at her place, and send them to her 

 without charge, if she will cultivate them and report their progress two or 

 three years to this Club. It will give us information as to what are hardy 

 and what are not. 



TAii. Inst.1 18 



