Topics In Season

Plow up the old briar and weed covered fence row and farm it for a year. Ten chances to one you don't need the fence, anyway. Rye for soiling should be cut at least twice. But be sure to make the first cutting before the heads appear. It is said the Germans cut it three or four times. If it is true that the place to look for anything is where it waa lost, then the crops in which the farmers lost their money in 1896 are the ones to grow in 1897. Don't lose heart from one season's failure ; nor even for two of them. Crimson clovev losses much of its valué as hay by cutting too late. It is at its best wlien in full bloom and before auy of the heads die. The cutting should begin at this time, and the last load should be gathered before any of the seed is ripe enough to fall. Tons and tons of hay are spoiled every year because the barn roof has not been repaired, the horse fork is not in workine order, and the mows are not ready, and everything has to be done or left undone on the morning of the day when the new erop is to be stored. A good stand of corn is an important point in securing a good erop, and a good stand can seldom be obtained when fertilizer is put in the hill or drill without mixing it with the soil. Any soluble complete fertilizer that is good for anything, will injure the tender rootlets of the young plant when it comes in contact with them. Corn smut cannot be prevented by any treatinent that may be given to the seed, for the spores or seeds of the fungus are in the soil. Sometimes, however, the spores may get on the seed when it is in the field or in the crib. In this case soak it twenty minutes in a solution of one pound of copper sulphate (blue vitriol) to a gallon of water. This will destroy the spores on the grain. The commercial value of any fertilizer ingrediënt is not always the true standard of its value on any particular erop. It is well known that the corn erop needs liberal supplies of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, but since corn grows through the whole hot season, when nitrification is most active in the soil, particularly when, as should always be the case, a sod is buried for the corn, the artificial application of nitrogen is. seldom profitable in this erop at its commercial valuation, while potash in some form is generally profitable, particularly on sandy soils near the sea coast, either Xorth or South. It is better to apply very early in spring, but 150 pounds of muríate of potash, or 400 pounds of kainit may be broadcast now and harrowed in. - Farm Journal. It is a spl'eindid opportunity for the study of tliie luw that 13 offered by t'lie Spraguie COTrespondence School of LaT, 574 Teiephone Building, DetraH Ifich., whose adverüsemeiit wL be found elsewhei'e in this paper. Th Gir system ol instnictiom Is that by covrespondence, ail the lectures, text boofcs, etc, betag sent írom Detroit, toigether witn thorough Jiessons and iesso-n helps for every Üay's study. Thiis methiod is. oertoaimiy Dar superior to tfaat oí study ilng aione, readkig at hiapnazard, and even. superior to studyimg in au office under tlie directiou of a busy lawyer hio lias liittle time to flevote to hita Btudemt. The 6ch,ool is some eigint years old and lias prepared men íiot admissiom to the bar in. every state andj terriitory of the United States, and we have amipOe evilaem.ee thiat it is doing ilrst ciass work. Tliey liave a very plalln and full difseription of their plan and eourse Trhiiich they funiish free to all W'ho ask for it. We eh.ai'1 be pleased to bave any of our readers who wriite tbem for particuCars to memtion this paper lm. oonnection wi-tü their Inquiry.