A person signing himself a "Nobleman's Gardener," says in an English paper that it is a mistake to use poultry manure as a top-dressing for garden crops; for farm crops also, if the poultry and pigeon dung were in any considerable bulk. This, however, is not usually the case, and a hundred weight or two would not make much of an impression on a farm. The manure in question is a powerful fertilizer, containing ammonia, phosphates, and carbonate of lime in considerable quantity, also uric acid, all of which are valuable ingredients for the support of crops. The simplest method of preparing the manure for use is to partially dry it, then mix it with perfectly dry sifted soil or ashes in sufficient quantity that will enable the entire mixture to be rubbed through a half-inch sieve. A man can do this comfortably with the hand inclosed in a thick leather glove. In this finely powdered state it can be stored in a dry shed till wanted for use. It is an excellent top-dressing for onions, strawberries, and, in fact, for all vegetable crops that need assistance, also for fruit trees and lawns. It is best applied in showery weather in the spring--for lawns at the rate of two ounces, vegetable crops and strawberries three ounces, and fruit trees four ounces per square yard. If in very large bulk and needed for use in fields it would scarcely be necessary to pulverize it, as mixing it with dry soil, etc., and turning the heap over a few times would suffice for its ready application. * * * * * The strength of the donkey mind lies in adopting a course inversely as the arguments urged, which, well considered, requires as great a mental force as the direct sequence. * * * * * MISCELLANEOUS. Cheapest Farms for Sale in Illinois. BEST FRUIT REGION IN THE STATE. Send for my List of Farms and timbered Lands for sale. DEWITT C. SMITH, Land Agent. Stone Fort, Saline Co., Illinois. When you write mention THE PRAIRIE FARMER. * * * * * MARKET GARDENERS, AND ALL OTHERS who want the BEST Cabbage, Onion, Beet, Carrot, Parsnip, Cucumber, Tomato, and other Seeds, DIRECT FROM THE FARM, at the LOWEST PRICES, can now get them at wholesale rates. Catalogue, with directions for cultivation, FREE. Address JOSEPH HARRIS, Moreton Farm, Rochester, N. Y. Seeds for the Children, 25 per cent discount. If you do not want the Catalogue, let the Children send for it, and send at once, as this advertisement will not be repeated. When you write mention THE PRAIRIE FARMER. * * * * * BLUE STEM SPRING WHEAT!!! The best variety of Prairie Wheat known. Yields largely and is less liable to blight than any other variety. Also celebrated Judson Oats for sale in small lots. Samples, statement of yield, and prices sent free upon application to SAMPSON & FRENCH. Woodstock, Pipestone Co., Minn., or Storm Lake, Ia.