The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-03-01

Out OF the lUO seeus OF looV there W
From this it will been seen that
wheat, after it is five years old, does not
grow, and the newer it is when Down,
the more plants it furnishes. But there
is another point that was proved by the
French Agricultural Society by series
of trials. and that was that the plants
were weaker, and did not tiller out az
we'll. For instance, the seed grown in
1856 did not sprout at all. The seed, one
hundred in number, grown in 1854, only
had 81 grow, and four days after coming
up the leaves only measured an average
OF half an inch in height, and the num-
of stalks was 269. OF the 100 seeds of
the wheat grown in 1856, 70 came up,
but four days after appearing above
ground, the leaves were but an inch and
two-tenths high, and the number of stalks
and ears produced was 800. But of the
seed grown In 1856 there were IA out of
the 100 terminated, and the length of
the leaves four days after appearance
above ground averaged one inch and six
tenths, while the number of stalks and
ears from the seed was 504. Showing
plainly that new wheat was the best for
seed, as more OF it grew, and also what
did grow seems to have more vitality, as
the plants we're stronger, and the produc-
ton was larger both Of stems and grain.
STUMP BLAsTING.-Now that He'll
Gate is blown up, some ingenious in.
dividual has set to work to see what can
be done in the same line with the uni
versal farm nuisance-the stump. Not
the spade and ak, but dynamite, is the
litter he proposes. Here is an account OF
an experiment with the article as given
in the american Agricuturist: 1.-The
first operation was upon green oak
stump, thirty inches in diameter, with
roots deeply bedded in the ground. 10
have cut and dug out this stump, with
AK and spades, would have been hard
days work for two or more good men. A
hole was punched beneath the stump,
with an iron bar, so as to reach the CEN
ter of it. Two of the cartridges Were
placed beneath the stump, and Were
tamped with some earth; pail of water
, was then poured into the hole, which had
the effect of consolidating the earth
, around the charge. The fuse was ther
: fred. The result was to split thestumI
: into numerous fragment, and to throw il
r entirely out of the ground, leaving onl.
a few shreds of roots loose in the soil
q the fragments were thrown to a distanc,
! of thirty to fifty feet, and many smaller
' ones were carried over one hundred feet
t The quantity of powder used was les
Y than two pounds. A portion of the usefu
5 effect produced by the explosion consis
!. ted in the tearing of the stump into sucl
pieces as could easily he sawed up int
v iirewood by which much after labor il
: breaking it up, when taking it out il
!. the usual manner, was saved. This ties
/ was perfectly successful, and proved no
s only the thorough effectiveness of tn
v new method, but its economy in cos
and in time. Several other stumps wer
e taken out in the same manner; the tim
r occupied with each being from five t
@ ten minutes. Smaller stumps wer
b thrown out with single cartridges, an
% in not one case was anything left in tn
n ground that might not be turned on
l. with the pillow, or that would interior
o with the blowing of the ground. Th
e application of this method is seen to
e OF great value where the saving OF tim
e is an object. An acre of stumps or rock
d may be cleared in one day by two mel
= and the material left ready tor use o
D firewood, or as stones for fences @
is buildings. The cost in money is also n
- duced in some cases very considerably
l. and almost absolute safety to the carefu
= operator is ensured. 1t would be gene
70 ally advisable to secure the services {
l. an expert, and that the parties who hay
e work of this character to be perfOrme
IS should jointly engage such man VIII
It could either do the whole work, or to
e it in part and instruct foreman {
n skillful workman sufficiently in q day
is perform the remainder"