110 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[March, 
aspects, have also been found of great utility 
socially. They have given the people of the place 
a common cause in which to be interested, aDd for 
which they can work, and one which does not af- 
-ford an opportunity for disagreement. Pic-nics, 
lairs, tableaux, and other pleasant money-raising 
schemes are often resorted to as a means of increas¬ 
ing the funds of the association, and for having a 
good time. As it is always well to have some direct 
■object in view, let planting shade trees, and repair¬ 
ing the streets and sidewalks be the task to be en¬ 
tered upon at once. Let no lady who reads this 
look around and wonder who will begin the good 
work in her village. She is the one to begin. Let 
her interest her uext neighbor, and the association 
will have already started into being. 
Bemodelling Buildings.—Prizes for Plans. 
We have offered prizes for plans of houses, barns, 
etc., and published the same from year to year, 
until the American Agriculturist has become a 
recognized store house for builders, and for all 
seeking designs and estimates of material, labor, 
etc., required in the construction of houses, barns, 
aud all outbuildings. 
We shall now devote special attention to another 
feature of rural architecture—the remodelling of 
dwellings and other buildings. It must be assumed 
that a large majority of the farmers of the country 
are already^in possession of houses, barns, etc., 
either of their own construction or otherwise. 
These, in many cases, have been changed in their 
form, size, etc., and adapted to the growing needs 
of the owner. For example,—a barn, at first ill- 
planned, has been changed in details, with an addi¬ 
tion here and there, and now stands as a remod¬ 
elled and most convenient structure. 
The original of this barn may be found on many 
farms to-day, and the owner only needs the hints 
.and suggestions that can be given him through 
these columns, to be able to transform the incon¬ 
venient and homely building into one that is well 
adapted to his demands, and pleasing to the eye. 
In the same manner, an old house may have been 
made new, by a series of changes in both the in¬ 
terior and exterior, and the owner who has thus 
improved his dwelling should be pleased to give 
the benefit of his alterations to others similarly 
situated. The number of houses and barns now 
standing that can be improved with but little ex¬ 
pense is very large, and there is no better way to 
aid in this work than to show our readers what has 
been done in this direction. To this end, we offer 
the following prizes : For the most convenient re¬ 
modelled dwelling, with clearly drawn plans and 
full statement of details—first prize, $50.00 ; second 
prize, $25.00. For the best reconstructed barn— 
first prize, $50.00 ; second prize, $25.00. 
.Prizes for Plans of Barns and Other Farm 
Buildings. 
In response to prizes offered in the December 
American Agriculturist (page 527), we have received 
upwards of 300 plans and specifications of barns 
and out-buildings, distributed through the uine 
classes. The Awards are as follows : 
Class I.—Small Barns. First Prize to “ Ivanhoe” 
(John Morrison, Jr., Oban P. O., Ontario, Dominion 
of Canada).— Second P'ize to “Snaphook” (Arthur 
A. Wood, Slocumville, Washington Co., R. I.) 
Class II.—Barns over $1,000. First Prize to 
“Snaphook” (Arthur A. Wood, Slocumville, 
Washington Co., R 1.— Second P-ize to “BurrOak” 
(Edward Pratt, Hanover, Jackson Co., Mich.) 
Class III..—Cattle Barns. First Prize to “Painter ” 
(Carrollton, Saginaw Co., Mich.)— Second Prize to 
“Delaware Co. Dairyman ” (J. F. Wheat, Croton, 
Delaware Co., N. Y.) 
Class IV.—Sheep Barns. Fitst Prize to “Minne¬ 
sota” (Daniel Currie, Arendahl, Minn.)— Second 
Prize to “ Two Ridges” (D. M. Welday, Richmond, 
Jefferson Co., Ohio.) 
Class V.— Pigereries. First Prize to “ Broad-axe” 
(Eddie N. Pratt, Hanover, Jackson Co., Mich.) 
Second Prize to “Rosebud” (Charles H. Colburn, 
Manchester, N. H.) 
Class VI.—Poultry Houses. First Prize to “Poul¬ 
try Breeder ” (Charles H. Colburn, Manchester, 
N. H.)— Second Prize to “Poultry Breeder H ” (H. 
A. Kuhn, Atlanta, Ga.) 
Class VII.—Dairy Houses. First Prize to “ Guy 
Fester” (H. A. Hammond, Ticonderoga, N. Y.)— 
Second Prize, none worthy. 
Class VIII.—Root Houses. First Prize to “Flats” 
(Fred Grundy, Morrisonville, Christian Co., Ill.) 
Second Prize, to “Enterprize” (D. N. Long, Wil- 
liamsville, Erie Co., N. Y.) 
Class IX.—Miscellaneous. First Prize to “Broad- 
axe ” (Eddie N. Pratt, Hanover, Jackson Co., 
Mich.)— Second Prize to “Seneca” (L. D. Snook, 
Barrington, Yates Co., N. Y.) 
These prize plans, and many of great value, will 
appear in the American Agriculturist from month 
to month. 
Will Wheat Continue a Paying Crop? 
Many farmers, especially at the West, are now 
fearful that with the rapid extension of the culti¬ 
vated area in all the region between the Mississippi 
and the Rocky Mountains, in the North-west, Da¬ 
kota, Manitoba and other Canadian Provinces, 
and on the Pacific Coast, production will soon so 
far outstrip demand, that all farm products, and 
especially breadstuffs, will cease to pay the actual 
cost of raising. Some go so far as to predict that 
the Western and North-western Canadian wheat 
fields will soon supply the entire population of our 
Continent. This is an over-estimate, but the 
fears are not without some foundation. 
The consumption of wheat, where wheat bread is 
the staple food, ranges from four to five bushels 
per person, excluding infants. The present an¬ 
nual product of wheat in the United States averages 
about twice this amount for the entire population 
over three years of age. About half the surplus 
is used for 6eed, distillation, animal food, etc., 
leaving an annual surplus of about one-fourth of 
our entire crop. As the production increases more 
rapidly than the population, this surplus will aug¬ 
ment. Some estimate that within four or five 
years, a good wheat year will yield a surplus of at 
least two hundred and fifty to three hundred mill¬ 
ion bushels, or more. There is no doubt that such 
a crop would reduce prices far below the cost of 
production, if there should not be a foreign outlet. 
Indeed, were it not for this outlet, wheat would 
not be a paying crop now. 
But there is a cheerful side to this question. 
Comparing a present railway map of this country 
with one five years ago, we see a large increase in 
the black lines, extending continuously from the 
Atlantic to the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and 
beyond. Consolidations and filling-in links are 
adding to these trunk lines every year, and every 
fresh added line is of special interest to all West¬ 
ern farmers. Competition, great improvements in 
locomotives, freight cars, steel rails, etc., are rapid¬ 
ly reducing the cost of transportation, and wheat, 
flour, corn, and other grains, salted and dried 
meats, butter, cheese, etc., are carried almost as 
cheaply from the Mississippi to the Atlantic ports 
now as they were from Western New York, Ohio, 
and Michigan only a few years ago. These cheaper 
railway rates are already raising the question 
whether it will be worth while to enlarge or even 
maintain the great canal routes. New York has 
abolished tolls on the main water arteries, and it is 
even feared that with canal tolls free, the railways 
can still compete with any water transportation. 
Can Europe absorb our surplus at paying rates ? 
There is no more well established fact than that 
consumption is largely increased by every small 
decline in prices. At present, in London, white 
wheat is worth $1.30 to $1.40 per bushel—say $1.35 
—and at this price there is a greatly enlarged de¬ 
mand for consumption. The regular railway freight 
from Chicago to New York is now about 18 cents 
per bushel. Sea freight, New York to London, 
about 14 cents, or from Chicago to London, 32 
cents per bushel. Add 3 cents for handling, insur¬ 
ance, etc., and $1.35 in London corresponds to 
about $1.00 per bushel in Chicago, and about 85 
cents in Central Kansas, points on the Missouri 
River, and at a considerable distance north-west of 
St. Paul. But both railroad and ocean freights are 
often much lower, which has the effect of increas¬ 
ing the price of grain here, or of reducing the price 
abroad, and thus increasing the consumption ; or 
partly both of these effects. 
The point of the above is, that when wheat can 
be obtained in Chicago at 80 to 85 cents per bushel, 
it can be laid down in Europe at prices that will 
immensely increase consumption, and defy compe¬ 
tition from South-eastern Europe, India, Australia, 
etc. In the principal wheat regions of the West, 
the estimated cost of growing wheat, and deliver¬ 
ing it to near railway stations, is 40 to 45 cents per 
bushel. At points not too distant to allow it to be 
freighted to Chicago for 15 to 25 cents per bushel, 
it will long continue a paying crop, at least until 
the annual production shall have doubled or quad¬ 
rupled, and even then we believe Europe will be a 
ready customer for all we shall have to spare, with¬ 
out reducing prices here below remunerative rates 
Pedigree Plants—Pedigree Wheat. 
“ W. C.,” New Jersey. The “Pedigree Wheat,” 
advertised a few years ago, was a name given by 
the originator, a Mr. Hallett, of England, to a very 
fine variety of wheat; if he had called it “selected” 
instead of “pedigree wheat,” he would have bet¬ 
ter described the manner in which it was produced. 
By selecting the largest grains upon the largest 
heads, and sowing only such each year, a variety 
or strain was built up which retained its peculiari¬ 
ties as long as the same care was given to the 
selection of seeds. The pr nciple involved in this 
wheat, viz., “like produces like,” should be kept 
in mind by every one who raises seed for his own 
use, whether vegetables or flowers. Most persons 
recognize the importance of selection iu saving 
melon seed, but give little attention to it in vege¬ 
tables in general. If one meets with an unusually 
fine melon, one better than the average, he is quite 
sure to preserve the seeds from that for next year’s 
planting. As a general thing, of beans, peas and 
some other vegetables, we take the first pickings 
for the table and save the last of the crop for seed. 
This course, if followed, will as surely breed down 
a variety, as the other will breed it up. To most 
persons, Lima beaus 6how but few differences. 
The pods have, on the average, three beans in 
each, many have but two, while a few have four 
beans. In picking we allow the pods with four 
beans to remain and ripen for seed. By following 
this a few years, we established a strain in which 
this number of seeds was the rule, a matter of 
importance in the general yield and one that facili¬ 
tates both picking and shelling. The tomato is a 
fruit that quickly responds to care or neglect. The 
temptation to use the first ripened fruit is 6trong, 
but should be resisted, and the earliest fruits that 
are of perfect form should be allowed to become 
dead ripe and used for seed. Salsify is a vegetable 
that is increasing in popularity. It does not ap¬ 
pear to have formed varieties, that known as Black 
Salsify being another plant. The chief objection 
to salsify as a crop, is the &mall size of the roots. 
We have no doubt that it may be greatly improved 
in this respect, by high manuring and selecting the 
largest each year to be planted out as seed-bearers. 
Those who have given proper attention to seed 
corn are aware of the importance of selection, not 
only in the size of the ears, but iu the average 
number to the stalk, and consequent increase in 
the number of bushels to the acre. Call such veg¬ 
etables “ pedigree,” if desired, but see that seed is 
saved from none but the most perfect plants. 
See elsewhere New Premiums given for 
New Subscribers to the American Agriculturist. 
