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LIBRARY

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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
LIBRARY

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96

N43
vjl
1852

CHAPEJ-

Date Due

1

(ttf

PriMTED in U.S.A.

TRANSACTIONS

-^Tn,^^r TATQ

TTTmi;^

CITY OF NEW-YORK,

FORT II E YEAR

1852.

ALBANY:

CHARLES VAX BEXTHU YSEX, PRINTER TO THE LEGISLATURE.

1853.

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AMERICAN INSTITUTE.

TRUSTEES AND COMMITTEES FOR 1852.

JAMES TALLMADGE, President.

ROBERT LOVETT, )

ROBERT L. PELL, J- Vice Presidents.

GEORGE BACON, )

HENRY MEIGS, Recording Secretary.

ADONIRAM CHANDLER, Corresponding Sec'y and Agent.

EDWARD T. BACKHOUSE, Treasurer.

COMMITTEE ON FINANCF*

John Campbell, George Bacon,

John A. Bunting, N. G. Bradford.

George Dickey,

MAXAGEES OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNT7AL FAIH.

Joseph Torrey, Lewis G. Morris,

James R. Smith, . Richard M. Hoe,

Ifiaac v.. Brower, George S. Riggs,

William Ebbitt, Patrick Henry,

John A. Bunting, George Harrison,

P. AV. Geissenhainer, Jr., • Jordan L. Mott,

Peter B. Mead, Shepherd Knapp,

Paul Stillman, Joseph Cowdin,

Benedict Lewis, Jr., George Dickey,

William Hall, Thomas Vf. Harrey,

Edwin Smith, Joseph R. Taylor,

Benj. Aycrigg, Jared L. Moope.

John B. James,

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTTTHE.

Lewis G. Morris, Robert S. Livingston,

David Banks, James De Peygtep»

D. S. Gregory, ,

COMMITTEE ON COMMEItCB.

Freeman Hunt, Jared L. Moore,

Nicholas Carroll, John Distumell.

Jonathan H. Ransom,

COMMITTKE ON MAXCFAOTFRES; SCIENCE AND ARTS.

James Rcnwick, H. R. Dunham,

T. B. Stillman, Edwin Smith.

D. M. Reese,

51*^7^'

[AsSEaiBLY

COMMITTEE OIH THB ADMISSIOH OP MEMBERS.

George F. Barnard, William C. Arthur,

Jtohn Gray, lialph HaU.

Hiram Dizon,

COMMITTiSB OX CORRESPONDENCE.

Benj. Aycrigg, S. R. Comstock.

James Van Nordon, W. H. Browne.

P. P. Schools,

COMMITTEE ON THB LIBRARY.

Ralph Lockwood, George GifTord,

Isaao V. Brower, Edwin Williams.

Alex. Knox, Jr.,

:j-

StAtr of 'WrIUtfiiotrJfe*

No. i:«

M ASSEMBLY. MAE. 22, 1853.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE.

New- York, Fehj-uary 1, 1853.

To the Hon. William H. Ludlow,

Speaker of the Jlssemhly :

Sir — I herewith transmit the Eleventh Annual Report of the
American Institute of the city of New- York.
Very respectfully.

Your obedient servant,

ADONIRAM CHANDLER,

Corresponding Secretary.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE.

In compliance with the law passed May 5, 1841, the Trustees
of the American Institute present herewith a report of their pro-
ceedings for the year 1852, containing detailed statements of their
various exhibitions of useful farm stock, the agricultural produc-
tions of our State and the United States, of agricultural imple-
ments variously improved, and of the manufactures and mechanic
arts of our country, as illustrated at our 25th annual fair, held
in the city of New-York during the month of October last.

In the departments above enumerated, there were specimens
presented from twenty-four States of the Union. In that of agri-
culture, we had specimens of Indian corn from fourteen States:
Potatoes from ten States : Wheat from nine States. Ohio pre-
sented specimens of apples, pears, cheese, wine, potatoes, corn
and wheat.

The cattle show, which took place at Madison Cottage, on the
20tli, 21st and 22d days of October, was composed of stock from
various parts of the United States, comjirising, tliorough-bred
horses, horses for all work, and matched horses, in all number-
ing sixty animals. Of neat cattle, the native stock numbered
ten animals; crosses between improved and native stock, thirty-
two; Short horns, thirty-five ; Devons, sixty-six ; Ayrshires, six-
teen ; milking cows, nine; lat cattle, ten; working oxen, eight
y(>ke; fat sheep, seven; long wool sheep, forty-eight; middle
wool sheep, forty-six; merino sheep, thi'ty-one ; Saxony sheep,
seven; swine, eighty-three; Shetland mare-colt and stud, two;
jacks, three ; shepherd dogs, seventeen ; total -198 animals. In

8 [Assembly

addition to which, there were forty-one coops of poultry, consist-
ing of fowls of almost every variety — turkeys, geese, ducks, &c.
The cattle show of 1852 surpassed any heretofore held by the
Institute. The perfection and beauty of the animals very justly
elicited general commendation. It is to be regretted that up to
this time we have been entirely too limited in the space occupied
by us for this important purpose. We have reason to hope that,
through the liberality of our municipal authorities, this difficulty
may in future be obviated, so that the many who take an interest
in this exceedingl)- useful department of our annual fairs, either
as exhibitors, connoisseurs or amateurs, will be accommodated
with ample space.

That portion of our fair at Castle Garden, exhibiting the ce-
reals and their various preparations, the productions of the dairy,
garden vegetables, the fruits and flowers, were all admitted to be
of o-reat excellence and beauty. A detailed description will be
found among the reports herewith presented. Improvement
marks the progress of the husbandman, to some extent, by the
adoption of new methods of tillage. The app.lication of fertiliz-
ing- materials, founded on the developments of scientific investi-
o-ation, is attracting increased attention. The introduction of
under-draining, sub-soil plowing, irrigation, and the proper ad-
mixture of soils, are found to be helps of great importance, in
some instances compensating for their cost in a single season,
with accruing permanent advantages; thus bringing into produc-
tiveness, sterile fields and pestilential swamps, and restoring their
vicinities to that healthfulnessand purity necessary for the abode
of man. It has come now to be a settled matter that, with a cbr-
rect knowledge of the constituents of the plant and an analysis
of his soil, the practical farmer possesses the means of determin-
ing, almost with certainty, the ability of his land to produce any
desired crop, and how to return to his land the required ingre-
dients, should analysis show them to be missing. Without this
knowledge, it would seem that the practice of the farmer is a
chance matter, founded upon no settled data or rationale.

Agricultural implements constituted an important and very
interesting feature of the fair. So great a vaiiety of useful and

No. 133.] . 9

highly finished instruments, admirably adapted to every purpose
connected with agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, and pomol-
ogy, has rarely been collected in any one exhibition in the United
States. We shall name here only a few articles as of recent in-
troduction or improvement, calculated to effect a saving in the
labor of the husbandman, or to accomplish in a more perfect and
economical manner important results in the management of farms,
viz : mowing machines ; mowing and reaping machines ; mowing
reaping and raking machines; improved churns; cheese press;
wire fence ; cider mill and press ; threshing and cleaning ma-
chines ; draining tile; sub-soil plows, &,c., particular reference to
which will be found in our premium list or the reports which
follow.

The machine department was unusually full, presenting speci-
mens of the most highly finished and accurate machinery, togeth-
er with inventions and improvements designed for the accom-
plishment of important utilitarian purposes. The press for space
to exhibit moving machinery, induced the manageis to enlarge
this room by adding sixty ftet to its length previous to opening
the fiiir. The room is now 220 feet long by 25 feet wide, with
a tight roof, admirably adapted for light and ventilation. It is
furnished with a steam boiler of ample size, a twenty-five horse
power steam engine, a line of sliafting extending 180 feet, with
counter-shafting, pulleys, &c. Excepting the necessary reserva-
tion made for the accommodation of visiters, Avhich enabled them
to view every thing with perfect safety, the room was filled with
machinery, constituting an attraction of unusual interest. The
space allotted to visiters, was filled by them almost every hour
during the time it was open. Of new inventions, we will here
allude to a few. Three machines for crushing hard substances
were on exhibition, than which, up to the present day, no ma-
chinery has been more susceptible of improvement, or seems now
to be in greater demand. Among them the quartz crusher, in-
vented by Mr. John W. Cochran, appeared to be pre-eminent, re-
ducing that material with astonishing rapidity to almost an im-
palpable powder, at a cost far less than any plan heretofore de-
vised. A gold beating machine was exhibited in operation, by
William Vine, Jr. This is the first attempt at making leaf gold

10 [Assembly

by macliinery within our knowledge. Our judges passed high
encomiums upon it ; nevertheless, experience may develop de-
fects which at present do not appear. It is certainly to be hoped
that all difficulties may be remedied, since the present method of
producing leaf gold, so universally in demand for ornamental
purposes, is by manipulations of a very severe and tedious kind.
Messrs. Brundred, Son k Co., of Oldham, N. J., put in operation
a spinning frame, for the purpose of exhibiting a throstle con-
structed on a plan which dispenses with bands for the spindles,
by introducing friction wheels. It attracted much attention, and
our judges awarded to it the highest premium of the Institute.
A card printing press, of new and excellent construction, by G.
P. Gordon, New-l'ork city. A machine for paging the leaves of
blank books, by J. & W. j\Ic Adams, Boston, Mass. This machine
operated with great precision and speed. A new dovetailing ma-
chine, by A. Davis, New-York city. A double steam condenser,
by .Joseph P. Piisson, New-Yoi'k city. The above were promi-
nent among the articles of new invention in tlie machine depart-
ment.

Of woolen, cotton and silk, and the various tissues formed
of these materials, which were numernus and of excellent quality,
we shall not attempt here a particular account, as in a subse-
quent part of this volume detailed statements will be found. It
is o-ratifying to know that they were pronounced of very supe-
rior quality by competent judges, to whose particular examina-
tion they were submitted.

In tlie manufactu)'e of edge tools of all descriptions, we now
stand pre-eminent, nothing from abroad can compete with the
productions of our artisans, either in qualify or finish. From
indications we have recently seen, we are induced to believe that
the time cannot be very remote when the world will of necessity
look to the United States for steel from our ovrn native ])eds of
ore, of a quality heretofore unknown and unequalled.

We find tliat, notwithstanding all the disadvantages under
which our manufacturers and artisans have labored, such is their
indomitable energy, aptitude, and perseverance, that they seem '
to be gradually overcoming all obstacles and making the products

No. 133.] 11

of their skill and labor profitable to tliemselvs and acceptable to
their countrymen at least, in preference to similar articles from
abroad, competing successfully with the foreign producers in
price, and leaving them behind in the character of their articles,
because of their superiority in style and finish, their better adap-
tation to the purposes required and their value in labor-saving.
Let us ask, will our woodmen go into the forest with an axe
made in Europe? Will our farmers prepare their fields with a
foreign plow? Will they prepare for their harvest with scythes,
cradles, mowing machines and reapers from abroad? Will our
copper smiths and tin smiths look abroad for their tools? Will
our house and ship joiners and builders look beyond liome for
their axes, saws, planes, augers, rules, nails, hammers, tacks,
brads, bolts, locks, butt-hinges, door-kn bs, stained glass, &c.?
Will our tailors cut their garments with shears made in Birming-
ham or Sheffield ? Who sends abroad to purchase a carriage or
a piano forte? Our common laborers do not enter upon the toil
of the day unless armed with a shovel made at home, of proper
materials and form.

After watching with the most intense anxiety, the progress of
our countrymen in the varied departments of labor and produc-
tion, for the last c^uarter of a century, we have come to the con-
clusion that, at no very distant day the people of these United
States will produce every thing wiiich can be obtained through
the agency of human hands, equal in price and in quality to the
best products of the old world, no matter what may be the course
of legislation, unless laws prohibiting the use and application of
native skill and industry are to be enforced.

JAMES TALLMADGE, President,

ROBT LOVETT, Vice President,

FtOB'T L. PELL, "

GEO. BACON, "

E. T. BACKHOUSE, Treaswer,

H. IVUEIGS, Recording Secntary,

ADOXJRAM CHANDLER, Cor. Sec.

Trustees.
New-York, December, 1852.

12 [Assembly

FINAr^CES.

The following is the financial condition of the American Insti-
tute on the 1st day of February, 1853 :

Balance in the treasury, February 1, 1852, $2,569 00

The receipts of the year have been,

From managers of the 25th annual fair, $10,447 77

Treasurer of the State of New-York, 950 00

Members, 2,265 00

Certiticates of awards, 32 00

Subscription to library, 6 00

Sales of Transactions, 9 00

lumber used at 23d fair, . . 8 00
Knickerbocker and Howard Insu-
rance companies, 1000

R. W. F. (cash returned) 4 00

Rent of premises, No. 351 Broad-
way, from November 1851 to No-
vember 1852, 3,000 00

Interest on bonds, 466 67

$17,198 44
Levinus Carkson, bond due Janu-
ary 1, 1853, 5,0^0 00

22,198 44

$24,767 44
PAYMENTS.

Real Estate.

Interest on bond and mortgage, twenty-five thou-
sand dullars, Nov. 1851 to Nov.1852, $1,625 00 /

Insurance on building, 139 55

Taxes, 47120

New gutter in street, 8 50

Cementing roof and repairs, 19 25

Carried forward, $2,263 50 $24,767 44

No. 133.] 13

Brought forward, ^,263 50 ^2i;i(Jl 44

Committee on fitting vp rooiiis.

Carpenters' work, $30 35

Plumbing,.... 04 50

Painting, 2S 73

Repairs of gas and water pipts,

lock?,8:c., 9 22

Stove for library, 25 88

Clock and umbrella stand, .... 8 25
Plastering, 0 75

New seatiug chairs, 5 25

178 93

Library.

Books, $809 81

Periodicals, Ill IG

Subscriptions to newspapers, . 100 50

Binding, 265 72

Paper for catalogue and bind-
ing, 82 00

Paper for coveriog books, .... 7 00

Newspaper files, 8 70

Pair of globes, 35 31

Help in library, 13 75

1,439 95

Washington Monument.

Marble block, |125 00

Expenses, freight, &c., 23 12

148 12

Miscellaneous bills.
Expenses of Farmers' Club,
Sec'ry reporting 20 meet-
ings, $200 00

Publish'gproc'dings, 175 00

$375 00

Insurance on library and pro-
perty, 02 00

Statiuneiy, 04 19

Printing, 9 GO

Carried forward, $510 19 $4,030 50 $24,767 44

14 [Assembly

Brought forward, $510 19 |4,030 50 $24,767 44

Fuel, 45 00

Gas, 7G C5

Advertising, 07 00

Agent's expenses to Albany,. 28 00

Freight, 8 88

Funeral decorations of build-
ing— Messrs. Clay and Web-
ster, 24 82

Engraving duplicate medals,. 3 50

Binding Transactions, 2 50

Copying for do 1 1 00

Repairs of stoves, 1 5 70

Wood cut view of cattle gr'nd, 10 00

Ice, 12 75

Directories, 4 50

Petty cash — postages, cleaning, '

subscription to small papers,

advertising, &c., 251 62

1.072 11

On account of the 24^/i Jlnrual Fair, 1851.

Premi'ims, $145 11

Painting, 12 94

Keys to entrance Castle Gar-
den, 1 13

Premiums and engravings,. . . 43 35
Cleaning Castle Garden, 40 00

Injury with the fireworks on

the Battery, (donation,)... 40 00

282 43

Sala7'ies.

Agent, $1,100 00

Recording Secretary, 350 00

Clerk, 800 00

Librarian, 500 00

Messenger, 203 00

2,953 00

8,338 04

Carried forward, $16,429 40

No. 133.] 15

Brought forward, ^16,429 40

Special (lepnsite in Mechanic's Ecinking Associa-
tion, on interest, 15,000 00

Balance in the treasury Feb'y 1, 1853, $1,'4'29 40

Bend mnl Mortgage.
Loaned on bond and mortgage, due May 1, 1854,. . $5,000 00

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS

THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL FAIR, 1852.

The Board of Managers of the twenty-fifth annual Fair of the
American Institute, respectfully

REPORT :
That the Fair was opened at Castle Garden on the 6th day of
October, and closed the 29th. The total number of exhibitcrs
who presented themselves, exclusive of those at the cattle show,
amounted to 2,292. The numerous applications to exhibit ma-
chinery in motion, induced the managers to enlarge the machine
room by adding sixty feet to its length, at a cost of |400. The
room is furnished with an ample steam boiler, an engine of 25
horse power, a line of shafring 180 feet, with counter shafting,
pulleys, &c. Notwithstanding these arrangements, they were
found insuflacient to accommodate all who desired it. The other
departments of the Fair Avere full, and the entire exhibition mani-
fested improvements beyond former Fairs.

The attendance of visiters was unusually large. The total net
receipts at Castle Garden, show that near 100,000 persons paid
for admission. Taking into consideration the number of members
who are furnished with free family tickets, the number of dele-
gates from various kindred associations in the United States, the
extreme liberality of the managers in granting free admissions to
distinguished individuals from abroad, with the free access of ex-
hibiters, it may be fairly estimated that not less than 500,000 per-
sons entered Castle Carden during the exhibition.

[Assembly No. 133.] 2

18 ^Assembly

The total net receipts, including the cattle show, as will appear
by the following statements, was $25,429.49, the largest amount
ever received during any former exhibition. The expenditures
are necessarily larger, and will continue to be until the Institute
possesses a permanent location, as a large proportion of them arise
from the necessity of creating temporary fixtures, which have to
be repeated annually.

The premiums awarded this year exceed in cost those of any
former year $1,000, together with $400 additional expense by en-
larging the machine room, make $1,400 extra expenses. Deduct-
ing this sum from the total amount of expenses incurred, as now
ascertained, they will fall some $600 below the expenses of the
last year.

The following is a summary of the awards :
90 gold medals,
320 silver medals,
121 silver cups,
335 diplomas,
174 volumes of books,
$48 cash premiums,

$20 and 3 bronze medals, Van Schaick premium,
$175 premiums on fire works.

The premium committee estimate the premiums to cost five
thousand dollars.

The following is a condensed statement of the receipts and ex-
penditures of the 25th annual Fair. For details you are referred
to the report of the finance committee, which accompanies and
makes a part of this report :

RECEIPTS.

To cash received from sale of tickets at Castle Garden,

Wednesday, Oct. 6, $456 00

" Thursday, " 7, 726 50

« Friday, " 8, 769 00

« Saturday, " 9, 623 00

Carried forward, $2,574 50

fNo. 133.] l<d

Brought forward, $2,574 50

To cash rec'd Monday, Oct. 11, 1,291 00

" Tuesday, " 12, 1,319 50

" Wednesday," 13, 1,699 00

« Thursday, " 14, 855 50

« Friday, " 15, 1,324 01

« Saturday, " 16, 1,318 00

« Monday, " 18, 1,675 50

« Tuesday, " 19, 1,341 00

« Wednesday," 20, 1,723 61

« Thursday, " 21, 1,556 50

« Friday, « 22, 1,460 00

« Saturday, " 23, 1,102 00

« Monday, " 25, 985 50

« Tuesday, " 26, 862 00

" Wednesday," 27, 809 50

« Thursday, " 28, 992 51

« Friday, " 29, 720 87

To cash received at cattle show,

Wednesday, Oct. 20, $341 00

" Thursday, " 21, 698 00

" Friday, " 22, 527 87

" Catalogues at do 13 25

To cash premium on specie, $3 73

" rent of stands, 250 00

" for oil used for Bull's stand,. ... 15 06

" tickets for Mr. Walker's w'kmen, 12 50

$23,610 50

,580 12

281 29

$25,471 91
Less discount on uncurrent money, .... 42 42

$25,429 49

30 [Assembly

Brought forward, $25,429 49

EXPENDITURES.
By printing and publication committee.
Printing circulars, blanks, in-
vitations, tickets, handbills,

&c., $363 41

Advertising, 216 43

Bill posting, stamps, &c., . . . . 28 63

By committee on light.

Gas light, $444 34

Oil, use of lamps, and candles, 316 48
Gas fixtures, bridge, and ma-
chine room, 63 27

Lighting lamps, 130 40

By committee on police and labor.

Superintendent, $200 00

Clerks at desk, and managers

room, 240 50

Clerk's cloth and hardware, . . 94 50

Police and night watch, 972 50

Labor...... 255 37

$608 47

954 49

1,762 87

By committee on fireworks.
Fireworks, five exhibitions, . . 125 00

By committee on music. .

Dodsworth's band, $554 00

Bloomfield's band, 280 00

804 00

By finance committee.
Ticket sellers, 126 00

By ticket committee.
Ticket receivers, 80 00

Carried forward, $4,460 83 $25,429 49

No. 133.] 'ai

Brought forward, $4,460 83 $25,429 49

By agricultural committee.

Erecting sheds, pens, &c., . .. $310 00

Printing catalogue of cattle, . 25 00

Advertising, (extra,) 165 50

Clerks and laborers, 59 00

Ticket sellers and receivers, . . 12 00

Police, 18 00

Expenses of committee,. ... 20 75

Rosettes for cattle, and ribbon, 24 30

Tubs, &c., " 5 00

Bands of music, c.^tMe show,

and plowing match, 84 00

Refreshments, judges and com-
mittees, 97 62

821 17

By horticultural committee.

Clerk, $58 50

Laborers, 455 81

Box for decorating room, .... 22 50

Papering room, 14 00

Cartage, freight, and sundries, 18 68

Use of crockery, 20 00

589 49

By committee on machinery.

Use of engine, $100 00

Repairs of boiler, &c., 53 25

Superintendent, 95 25

Engineer, 77 00

Labor, &c., * 70 81

Coal, 100 88

Croton water, 10 00

Erecting additions to machine

room, 390 00

903 19

Carried forward, $6,774 68 $25,429 49

22 [Assembly

Brought forward, $6,774 68 $25,429 49

By refreshment committee.

Dinners for managers while
detailed on duty, and guests
from a distance, 783 44

Miscellaneous bills.

Rent of Castle Garden, for 21

days, $2,100 00

Carpenter's work, covering

bridge and fitting up interior,

lumber and hardware, 71 9 42

Painting roof of machine room, 55 92
Muslin for covering tables, and

flags, 85 84

Flag poles and mounting, .... 40 05
Bleaching muslin used on

tables, 9 60

Rent of Metropolitan hall for

anniversary address,.. .. . 100 00

Expenses of orator, 84 00

Badges for managers and trus-
tees, 10 70

New ticket boxes, 7 38

Cartage and freight, 7 81

Experiment with sub-marine

boat, 30 00

Postage of circulars, post of-
fice stamps, cleaning, twine,
locks, &c., 89 79

Blank books, stationery, en-
velopes, 38 89

Hanging pictures in gallery, . 10 00

Glazing cases and windows, . . 37 77

3,427 17

Carried forward, $10,985 29 $25,429 49

No. 133.] 2t

Brought forward, $10,985 29 |25j429 49

By 'premium comm,ittee.

Gold and silver for medals

and striking, $2,030 07

Silver cups in part, 518 00

Medal cases, 128 00

Diplomas, paper and printing, 136 52

Filling up diplomas, 80 00

Books, 249 59

Cash premiums in

place of cups and

medals, $659 25

Van Schaick premi'm 20 00
Fireworks, 175 00

854 26

^3,996 43

Making a total expenditure of,

Which being deducted from the receipts, leaves, . .
Of which amount there has been paid into the treas-
ury of the American Institute,

Leaving a balance in bank this day, .

14,981 72
$10,447 77

9, 000 00

,447 77

JOHN A. BUNTING, Chairma7i.

JOSEPH TORREY,
JAMES R. SMITH,
ISAAC V. BROWER,
WILLIAM EBBITT,
F. W. GEISSENHAINER, Jr..
PETER B. MEAD,
BENEDICT LEWIS, Jr.,
WILLIAM HALL,
EDWIN SMITH,
BENJAMIN AYCRIGG,
LEWIS G. MORRIS,
RICHARD M. HOE,

John W. Chambers, Secretary.

GEORGE S. RIGGS,
PATRICK HENRY,
WM. C. ARTHUR,
SHEPHERD KNAPP,
JOSEPH COWDIN,
THOMAS W. HARVEY,
JOSEPH R. TAYLOR,
JARED L. MOORE,
JOHN GREY,
GEO. C. MANN,
ADONIRAM CHANDLER,
Ex- officio

REPORT OF TEE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE.

The committee oa agriculture, under whose care and direction
the exhibition of the annual cattle show was placed, report :

That the exhibition was held at Madison cottage, corner of the
5th avenue and 23d and 24th streets New -York, on the 20th, 21st
and 22d days of October, 1852, with a greater area of ground
compared to former ones.

The weather was tine and the visiters (unusually numerous)
who had come with the expectation of seeing a superior class of
blood horses, horned cattle of all kinds, native, mixed and im-
ported bloods, sheep of every species, swine and poultry of every
nation, confessed that their hopes were fully realized.

It was remarked by several gentlemen who had visited the
State Fair at Utica, that although the number of cattle was far
greater at Utica than here, yet for quality, blood and appearance
our exhibition was far superior to that or any other they had ever
witnessed.

The programme adopted by the Board of Agriculture, publish-
ed and circulated by the American Institute, was strictly adhered
to by your committee in every particular.

The number of entries of horses was 59, one jack, one donkey,
a Shetland sttid and mare — horned cattle 182, sheep 145, swine
82, dogs 17 and a large quantity of superior poultry both of the
rarest and largest kinds, and of all varieties.

The sheep and swine were never equalled here at any former
exhibition. The total number of animals was 486.

The competitors were numerous, and many of them came from
distant States ; all seemed to take a deep interest in the exhibi-
tion, and much good humour prevailed tliroughout the three days

26 [Assembly

of the Fair. The judges were patient in their examinations, and
having performed their duty, reported to your committee the sev-
eral awards of premiums, with the names of the successful candi-
dates to which all parties cheerfully submitted.

Your committee would suggest to the Agricultural Board (and
they hope it will not be considered amiss or out of order, or in
any way dictatorial to so respectable a body of men,) that in future
when they appoint judges for our cattle shows, they will select
men not only capable and judicious but also'working men ; those
that will devote their time and attention to so important an ob-
ject ; for we find from experience that many are appointed to fill
these stations, more on account of their standing and situation in
society, than for their working qualities. This remark does not
apply exclusively to the appointment of judges on cattle, but
more to the men who are selected for the standing committees of
the Institute, and elected by its members only because they are
gentlemen of high standing and character ; many of them never
attend any meetings of the committee, so that the very object in-
tended, to wit, their counsel and labor is lost, and it frequently
happens that for want of their attendance, a quorum can not be
had, and no business is or can be transacted, why then put such
men on any committee.

Your committee will in anticipation of our future cattle exhi-
bition, suggest the propriety, if not the necessity of taking imme-
diate steps to procure a large and suitable plot of ground for that
purpose — our old place of exhibition, Madison cottage, has been
disposed of, and cannot be obtained. It has been proposed by
some of our friends that Hamilton square, long belonging to the
common council, about 3^- miles from the city hall, would be an
excellent place for us, a move to gain that object has been made,
but unless persevered in will be of no avail, and will totally fail.
It is the duty of every member of our Institute to exert himself
to attain so desirable an object. The benefit of having a perma-
nent and fixed locality would be incalculable, for when we once
erect our necessary fences,- stalls, pens, coops and other appenda-
ges, they will remain fixed and not be moved off the day after the
exhibition is over, and be rebuilt annually as has been the custom
heretofore , in fact this expenditure alone has been the largest
portion of our expense in preparing the cattle show.

No. 133.] 27

Your committee cannot express in words their indebtedness to
Mr. Thomas Bell, Mr. Ralph Hall, and Capt. John M. Terrier,
for their generous aid and assistance during the three days of the
cattle show, without which we should have been greatly embar-
rassed. Mr. Bell volunteered and took upon himself the most
arduous duty of receiving, regulating and posting in the horned
cattle department j his order and arrangement met the entire ap-
probation of the many exhibitors of the bull family.

Mr. Hall managed, in his efficient way, the horse department,
the duties of which he carried out to the utmost, and in a master-
ly manner, highly gratifying to the exhibitors of the stud family.

Capt. Ferrier volunteered and took charge of the swine and
sheep department, and the number of hogs was so great (nearly
double that of any former exhibition) that additional pens were
required, and which were procured with that promptness and
facility so characteristic of the man.

Your committee are of opinion, and they suggest to the board,
that early notice should be given in the newspapers and circulars,
of the time and place of holding our cattle show, that farmers,
breeders of cattle, and all others taking an interest in it, may be
apprised in due season, affording them an opportunity of prepar-
ing for the same ;■ by doing so, the number of animals and visitors
will be doubled, and our receipts increased in proportion.

The Board of Agriculture last year increased the price of ad-
mission from one to two shillings a visiter ; this worked well, as
the result fully shows, and greatly to the benefit of the Institute
in a pecuniary point of view.

The receipts of the cattle show for 1851 were,. .... $721 00
While the receipts of the cattle show for 1852 were. . . 1,580 12

Difference in favor of 1852, $859 12

Being $148 over and above the whole amount of receipts of 1851.

The expenditures for 1852 were, $772 62

" 1851 were, 719 49

Difference, $52 13

26 [Assembly

Many of the exhibitors and owners of cattle were anxious to sell
their cattle at auction, and we promised to take the subject into
consideration. Your committee suggest that, in pursuance of such
request, permission be given, and we recommend that the day set
apart for that purpose should be after the expiration of the three
days announced by the board for the exhibition of cattle, and not
on the last day of the fair.

All which is respectfully submitted.

DAVID BANKS,
JAMES DE PEYSTER,
R. S. LIVINGSTON,

Committee.

[For list of awards and names of Judges, see end of volume.]

, HORTICULTURAL REPORT

OF THB

25th ANNUAL FAIR OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE,

OCTOBER, 1852.

In presenting another horticultural report, there is renewed
cause for congratulation. The Fair which has just closed, has
been by far the most successful ever held by the American Institute.
This is true, whether we regard the number of people who visited
it, or the intrinsic excellence of the articles presented to their in-
spection. The same remark may have been made of preceding
Fairs, and with equal truth ; and I hope as much may be said of
those that are to follow. The world is progressive in all that
concerns the human race ; and at the great Fairs of the Institute
ought to be brought together the evidence of the progress that has
been made in all matters pertaining to science, art, and the vari-
ous departments of productive industry. This has been the case
heretofore to a considerable extent, it will be so hereafter to a
still greater extent. Without boasting of wliat the Institute has
done for the protection and promotion of American industry, I
may be permitted to say that it has labored to deserve well of
its patrons and the public at large, and it is believed that it now
occupies a place in the public regard which will not easily be
taken by anotlier.

Having thus briefly alluded to the general character of the
Fair, I will now submit a few remarks on the horticultural de-
partment. The change of this department, from the gallery to
the saloon, was a good one, and gave general satisfaction. A
room or saloon is better adapted for a horticultural exhibition,
than a gallery can be under any circumstances. While it affords
greater advantages for an effective display of horticultural pro-

30 I Assembly

ductions, it enables the public to inspect them more closely with
less labor and time, matters of no small moment to those who
come to seek knowledge. While some visit our Fairs from mo-
tives of idle curiosity, or merely to gratify the sight, there are
others who come from objects of a much higher order; and it be-
comes our duty to extend to these latter every facility in our
power. Each Fair constitutes a school, in which much may be
learned.

The Horticultural show was in a high degree satisfactory. The
remark was frequently heard, that it was the most beautiful part
of the Fair ; quite a matter-of-fact statement, to be sure, in itself
considered, but of peculiar significance when we take into con-
sideration the standard of taste that prevails. I hail it as a har-
binger of a better time coming.

A large show like this, embracing productions from such va-
rious localities, affords peculiar facilities for collecting interesting
and useful information ; and tlie opportunity was not allowed to
pass unimproved. On many subjects I collected much that was
useful, which, if incorporated in this report, would doubtless
give it some degree of interest, though it would make it one of
great length ; but I am convinced that this information will
prove much more useful to those for whom it is intended, if put
in the form of monographs, and for that purpose it is kept. It
will therefore only be necessary for me here to give some general
idea of the character and extent of the Horticultural exhibi-
tion.

The show of flowers, though very fine, was not quite equal to
some former exhibitions, at least after the second week. An
early frost cut off the supply in some considerable measure, and
thus robbed the Horticultural room of some of its greatest charms.
Our Fairs are held so late in the season, that an occurrence like
this must be looked for as a matter of course, and we must con-
sider ourselves fortunate when we escape. There is another se-
rious drawback connected with our Fairs, at least so far as con-
cerns this department : the great length of time during which
they are kept open. No person unacquainted with the nature

No. 133.] 31

and culture of flowers, can form any proper conception of the
immense labor and trouble of keeping up a show during four
mortal weeks in a hot room, filled with dust and noxious gases ;
and the wonder is, that our florists can be prevailed upon to ex-
hibit at all under such circumstances. They deserve more credit,
and a higher reward than they have yet received. My thanks
and good will they have in abundant measure ; and I cannot help
adding again the hope, that the Institute will feel it to be its
duty to extend to the florist and amateur, a higher degree of en-
couragement than has yet been afforded them. In addition to
the usual attractions, there were several specimens of that rare
and singular flower, the jiristolochia Braziliensis, from the Messrs.
Hogg, of Yorkville j and also a number of blooms ot the Cereus
triangularis, from A. P. Cummings, Esq., of Williamsburgh. The
display of bouquets and baskets was uncommonly fine.

Vegetables were shown in great abundance, and very superior
of their kind. I think we have never had so large a show of
fine vegetables, and never siich spirited competition for the gene-
ral display. The collection of vegetables embraced several no-
velties ; among other things, a new winter radish of great excel-
lence, Spanish garbanzos, (a substitute for peas,) and Japan beans.
These latter have since been distributed at the Farmer's Club,
and elsewhere, as Japan peas ; I think incorrectly. They were
grown by Mr. Jones, of Cold Spring, L. I., who states that the
seed were taken from a Japanese junk, found abandoned in the
North Pacific Ocean, in August, 1850, by the whaling ship
Splendid. * About one quart of seed were planted, only two of
which came up, and these two produced about 750 beans. They
are, as I learn, very prolific, quite early, and promise to be a de-
cided acquisition. The Garbanzos are very large, taste like peas,
are said to be early, and yield abundantly, (more so than peas,)
and may prove to be another acquisition. We shall know more
about these things in the course of another year. It may not be
amiss to state that turnips were exhibited weighing ten and
twelve pounds each. The potatoes were remarkably fine, and of
larger average size than I remember to have seen them before.
Mr. C. W. Forbush, of Grafton, Mass., exhibited the peach blow
potato, weighing 17| ounces, grown from sprouts, the potato

82 [Assembly

itself not being planted. It has long been known that potatoes
would grow from sprouts, and cuttings, but it remains' to be seen,
whether it can be done profitably on a large scale. Mr, Forbush,
I understand, planted about an acre in this way on a reclaimed
meadow, and estimated the crop at from 250 to 300 bushels the
acre. It is to be^ hoped that he will publisli the results of this
interesting experiment.

The fruit exhibited was abundant, and generally of fine quali-
ty. The display of apples embraced many superior specimens
of choice varieties, first among wliich were the Vaudeveer and
Newtown pippin, finer samples of which it would be difiicult
indeed to procure. A catalogue cannot be attempted here; suf-
fice it to say, that the display embraced almost every thing in
season, from a mammoth pippin, down to the Siberian crab. The
display of pears was also very fine. Duchesse d'Angouleme,
White Doyenne, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Seckel, Beurre Diel,
&c., were shown in great perfection. The number of persons
who came in to make catalogues of pears, was a pleasing evi-
dence that this luscious fruit is getting to be more generally
known and esteemed. Of other fruits, there were samples of re-
markably fine quinces, plums, cranberries, &c. A sample of
tomato figs may be mentioned here, as they were deemed by the
judges worthy of special notice. They were exhibited by Mr.
Porter, of Middletown Point, who intends, I learn, to make a
large quantity for market. They have a pleasant, agreeable taste,
and will probably meet with a ready sale.

Foreign grapes fell off to a single eotry ; but this was made up
in some measure by a remarkably large and fine show of natives,
embracing a greater number of superior samples than I have ever
seen together before. The season had been unusually favorable
in most localities, and the grapes were admirably matured.
Among other natives was the Charter Oak, in regard to which I
will add a few words. My opinion of this grape has been fre-
quently asked, and I will now put it upon record. This I do
for several reasons, foremost among which is this, that my posi-
tion imposes it upon me as a duty to the horticultural community.
I have seen this grape exhibited several times under different
names, and in its wild state, ( Vitis labrusca^ it is associated with

No. 133.] '33

my earliest boyhood rambles through the woods. It was exhibit-
ed at the late show of the New- York Horticultural society, and
Metropolitau liall was redolent of its peculiar odor. On the
second day of the exliibition, the same grape was sent in by the
Shakers of Lebanon under the name of " seedling muscadine ;"
but they were not allowed to be entered on account of their offen-
sive smell. I have seen the same grape elsewhere under other
names ; indeed, one might almost say that it may be found grow-
ing wild from Maine to Florida. My own opinion is, that, com-
pared with the Isabella, Catawba, Brown's Seedling, Early York,
Diana and some others, it is a worthless grape : among the poorest
of all our natives. This is not my opinion alone j it is also that
of the judges at Castle garden and the New-York Horticultural
society; indeed I have heard but one opinion from persons who
know what the first requisite of a good grape is. It is large, and
that is the best that can be said of it ; it is wanting in all other
good points. No degree of culture can ever make it a first-rate
■grape, though it may possibly improve it. I state my opinion the
more freely because of the fictitious character under which it has
been placed before the community. The stories that are told of
its " growing in large clusters like other grapes ;" of its "being
juicy and very sweet flavored," and "commanding an advanced
price over any other ever grown," &c., are purely fabulous. I
have now done what I would do in regard to any inferior article
exhibited in the department under my charge, if brought before
the public under similar circumstances ; nay it is only what I
have done before, and will do again in the way of duty.

Townend Glover, Esq., ofFishkill Landing, exhibited a part of
his composition model fruit, which, as usual, were examined with
a high degree of interest, which they have never failed to excite
wherever they have been seen. Much has been said of the sur-
prising truthfulness of these models, to which I again bear a will-
ing testimony. It is a remarkable fact, that a great majority of
visitors went away under the impression that they had been look-
ing at very choice specimens of real fruit ; and one person seem-
ed quite annoyed Avhen an attempt was made to [undeceive him,
not liking to acknowledge that his eyes had misled him. On the
contrary, another person, after having discovered his mistake,

[Assembly No. 133.] * 3

34 [Assembly

thought it a good joke ; and under the impression that they were
wax, thought to make himself merry at tlie expense of some ladies ;
but he got caught in his own trap. There happened to be in the
case at the time some veritable pears a little decayed. In the
midst of the joke, and just at the moment he .was turning the
laugh upon the ladies by exclaiming, " Ha ! ha! they are only
wax !" I went up to him with assumed seriousness, and begged
the privilege of assuring him that they were not wax. He was
taken aback, but presently said they were wax, for he had been
told so. I replied that I could not help what he had been told ;
but, to convince him, I would show him one. Taking one of the
pears out of the case, I plunged my finger in a decayed spot, and
remarked, in a quiet way, " there sir, do you call that wax ?"
The laugh was turned against him, and he walked off with a look
which c£Bi be better imagined than described. Similar cases were
constantly occurring, and they speak volumes in favor of these
beautiful models. It is only those, however, who have seen Mr.
Glover's entire collection, who can form any just idea of its vast
import^ice for pomological purposes. In my humble opinion,
Mr. Glover has done niore for pomological science than any other
man of the day ; and it reflects great credit on the good sense of
the American Institute tliat it has availed itself of the opportuni-
ty of securing a collection of these invaluable models by appro-
priating a sufficient sum for that purpose. But Mr. Glover is a
true artist, and does not confine himself to fruit alone. He is
now engaged in the interesting subject of Entomology, and in con-
nection with Professor Harris, will probably bring out by far the
best work on that subject that has yet been published. He is
very industrious in collecting, engraving, and modeling entomo-
logical subjects ; and we had a very remarkable specimen of his
modeling in this way at the Fair : a monstrous, uncouth Jpieroj
like one of those, I should suppose, which are said in California
to devour a cabbage a day. One gentleman said he had seen it
in South America; but as nobody knew its name, it was pro-
posed to call it, for special reasons, Martynia Gloveriana.^ in honor
of Mr. Glover himself.

The display of agricultural products was large, and many of
the samples of superior quality. The Mediterranean wheat was

No. 133.] 35

considered best by the judges, and the Bergen very little behind
it. Much has been said of the Australian wheat, but no large
sample has yet been exhibited at the Institute. We had a small
bottle of it; the grains were large and heavy, but they seemed to
have been picked out for show. The judges, two of whom had
grown it, stated that it would not yield as much per acre as either
the Mediterranean or the Bergen. There were several fine sam-
ples of rye and oats ; but, on the whole, they were much the same
as at former fairs.

Mr. Giraud, as usual, was on hand with a magnificent display
of corn, and finer could not well be imagined. While my opi-
nion remains unchanged, that a few choice kinds are sufficient for
any one locality, I think, notwithstanding, that Mr. Giraud de-
serves great credit for his enterprise in growing such a great num-
ber of varieties. He has not only proved the capabilities of this
locality for growing all the known varieties of corn in the great-
est state of perfection, but he has made our Fair a kind of House
of Representatives for the whole Union. Under no other circum-
stances, perhaps, should we have the opportunity of comparing
so many varieties. Mr. Williamson exhibited a sample of corn
of extraordinary growth ; but it came in too late for competition.
There was also a remarkably fine sample of sugar corn of unusual
size. Altogether the display of corn was in the highest degree
satisfactory.

The display of butter and cheese was much the same as at
former fairs, and needs no particular comment. Some samples
of iiuitation Swiss and Sapsago cheese, of domestic manufacture
were exhibited, which the maker thought might supercede the
imparted article, and become an important branch of domestic
manufacture. The judges thought the Sapsago cheese to be a
very fair article of its kind. The entries of butter were nume-
rous, but, as sometimes happens, the best sample came in too
late for competition. This arose, in some measure, from the fact,
that the day on which butter should have been entered was not
announced in our circular.

Of flour and meal the falling off was remarkable, the efft- ct of
the stringent rule adopted by the Board of Agriculture. Here-

36 [Assembly

tofore we have had from 25 to 30 entries ; this year there were
only three, and in no case was the rule complied with. We have
taken altogether too long a stride. I have since made inquiries
in various quarters, v/hich have led me to the conclusion, that
we must either abandon the rule, or give up this important part
of our exhibition. Tlie following are some of the reasons why
it cannot be complied with : It would be necessary to stop the
mill and clean out the elevators, conveyors, coolers, bolts, &c.,
preparatory to the manufacture of the 100 barrels, from which
the one was to be taken, and after this another stoppage and
cleaning out to ascertain the yield, a degree of trouble and ex-
pense which cannot reasonably be asked of any miller. Another
reason is, that no such uniformity as would render the competi-
tion just or judicious, exists in the manufacture ' of flour, each
mill having its peculiar system based on the demand it has to
supply. Country millers grind all they can into flour, the ofifal
being of little value to them, while city millers, whose offal is in
constant demand at a high price, have not the same motive to
make poor flour, and can therefore give it a due proportion of
wheat. Another reason is, that the quantity of grain used in the
manufacture of a barrel of flour is of little- or no importance to
the public, whose opinion will always be governed by its quality
and price. In addition to this, the details of the quantity of raw
material used in a mill, long and successfully established, vflth
the yields, &c., the result of great labor, experience and cost, are
precisely those things which prudent men would withhold from
others in the same business. Another reason is, that the rule
can only be fairly carried out, by requiring the competitors to
use ohe kind of wheat grown on the same soil, and ground and
bolted in a specified temperature, different wheats yielding differ-
ent results, according to the soil on which they are grown, and
the condition of the atmosphere in which the flour is manufac-
tured. In short, I am convinced that the rule is injudicious, if
not impracticable, and it sliould be abolished at once ; at all
events, it operates exclusively, and for that reason, if no other, it
should be abandoned.

The few samples of flour exhibited were of very superior qua-
lity, and a sample of Fowler's " Patent Self-raising Flour " excited

No. 133.] 37

no small degree of interest. This is a most valuable invention,
and will work an important relbrm in domestic economy. Bread
made from this patent flour was exhibited at the Fair, and found
to be a very excellent article. Samples of the flour were handed
to old and experienced housewives, who all bore testimony to its
excellence. The most -distinguished chemists and physicians in
this country and in England, have analysed it and tested its qua-
lities, and not only stated tliat it makes a light, sweet, and easily
digested bread, but have also pronounced it free from any delete-
rious substance. The common method of fermenting bread by
the use of yeast is open to many objections, and something has
long been sought fur that would supercede it. This something,
it is believed, has at length been found in the " Patent Bread-
rai<;iug Compound." Tlie Messrs. Hecker have put up an appa-
ratus, in connection with the patentee, bv which this compound
is thoroughly and perfectly mixed with flour in an incredibly
short time.

In this age of steam, these gentlemen may certainly be put down
as fast men. When the compound is thus mixed with the flour,
we have the "Patent Self-raising Flour,'' which, with the addi-
tion of cold water, enables us to have a light, sweet and whole-
some article of bread within an hour from the time it was mixed.
Some ten or twelves hours are required with the use of yeast, to
make bicad, which frequently proves heavy and sour ; and in ad-
dition to this, there is the lobS by fermentation of nearly all the
' saccharine qualities of the wheat. Some experiments have been
made on this subject, and it is found that by the fermentative or
old process, a barrel of flour yields, on an average, about 268^
pounds of bread ; while the new process yields about 300 pounds.

Taking the population of the United States at 25,000,000, and
allowing three quarters of a pound of flour per head, as the daily
average consumption, (equal to- 34,948,980 barrels per annum,)
we have, by the patent process, a saving of 3,669,642 j\ barrels
annually in the consumption of breadstuffs in the United Slates
alone, or a little over 10^ per cent, in favor of the Patent Self-
raising Flour. Here is an immense saving ; and he must be re-
garded as a benefactor of mankind who enables us to get such an

38 [Assembly

increased quantity of bread from a givenquantity of flour ; bread,
too, of a more wholesome and nutritious quality than can be made
by the fermentative process. This is " making two blades of grass
grow where only one grew before,*' in an important sense. And
what labor, drudgery and vexation are spared to the housewife.
And how much more tolerable and cheerful will the sailors life
at sea be, when he can have at almost any moment a good and
wholesome article of fresh bread. With the patent flour and Gail
Borden's Meat Biscuit, (perhaps the greatest invention of the age)
the sailor's life in a long voyage will be shorn of many of its hard-
ships. I repeat, that the general introduction of the patent flour
must work an important revolution in domestic economy, and add
much to the health and comfort of all who use it.

Of miscellaneous articles we always have an abundance. A
number of hams, put up for long voyages by a patent process,
would seem to deserve more than a passing notice. The hams
themselves were of tine quality, but their chief value for long
voyages must depend, of course, upon the covering in which they
are incased. As the capability and durability of these patent co-
verings could only be certainly proved by an ocean voyage, the
judges could not safely do more than state, after a careful exami-
nation, that they seemed well adapted to fulfill the purpose for
which they were designed. Anything which has for its object the
lessening of the hardships and privations of ocean life, should be
duly encouraged.

I take pleasure in alluding to a remarkable tine show of wire-
work, for gardens, containing almost the only really useful arti-
cles of the kind I have ever seen. What generally goes under the
name of wire-work, is of little practical use, being mostly made
for show, and not often in good taste. Mr. Burnett, however, had
some things that were new, as well as useful, tasteful, and orna-
mental. The pointed archway combined beauty and utility, and
was a superior piece of work In this connection I will mention
an improved watering pot, made by Mr. Poole. This is a most
useful article, and needs only a few other improvements to make
it perfect of its kind. It is so superior, however, to any other
now in use, that it is deserving of special notice. It has two

No. 133.] t9

movable roses, only one of which is pierced. * One rose is placed
at the extreme end of the spout, and the other on the under
side near the end, and they can be interchanged at pleasure ;
but the pierced rose should be placed on the under side for gene-
ral purposes. By tliis arrangement the water can be delivered
just where it is wanted in a cleanly manner, thus rendering it a
very neat article, especially for watering plants in rooms.

I will here notice some metallic castings, entered by Mr. Gil-
bert, as agent for the. inventor. The process by which these cast-
ings are made, is a novelty, and promises to be of great utility.
An exact copy of almost any object, no matter how delicate its
texture, can be reproduced, and this, too, without injury to the
object itself, with a few rare exceptions. I have seen a cast taken
from a bouquet, without injury to the flowers ; and the cast of the
lizard, exhibited in the horticultural department, was taken with-
out killing the animal. The organic parts of flowers, the veins
of leaves, the antennae of insects, &c., are all reproduced in re-
markable perfection. In architecture and kindred arts, this prc^
cess will prove to be of great value. A fuller description will
be found in another place.

Last of all, comes a long list of miscellaneous articles, such as
artiticlal flowers, rustic work; hermetically-sealed fruit, wine,
honey, pickles, preserves, spices, mustard, &:c., kc, which I am
compelled to dismiss with a passing notice, with the exception of
several botanical maps, very handsomely executed by a young
lady, of which I must speak in terms of high praise. I must also
state, injustice to the parties concerned, that, owing to the great
heutof the room, every sample of wine underwent the process of
acetous fermentation ; thus rendering it unfit for the examination
of the judges. Tliis statement is made, in order that it may bo
known why no report was .-iiade on tlie article of wine.

Belbre concluding, I would recommend, that, hereafter, an ama-
teur's list be made for the horticultural department. I think, that
in this WMy, we can add considerably to the attractiveness of our
fairs, and, at the same time, increase the domain of liorticultural
tasfe. Amateurs, as a class, have heretofore been overlooked.
There are some, who indulge a taste for fruits and flowers, neces-

40 [Assembly

sarily in a small w^y, who, since they cannot compete witli the
professional grower, would be glad of an opportunity of compe-
ting among themselves. A premium list, prepared for amateurs,
would act as a stimulus in increasing their number.

I have now done. It has been a matter of congratulation with
me, that there was no falling off of interest at our last fair, either
on the part of exhibitors or the public at large. I sincerely hope,
that this good feeling will continue to attend the labors of the
Institute, in time to come. The field of improvement and dis-
covery is constantly enlarging. Active and inquiring minds are
exploring it, in all its parts, in search of hidden treasure, and al-
most every day, some addition is made to our knowledge of the
laws which govern the physical world. While the American In-
stitute continues to •stimulate and encourage this condition of
things, it will never cease to be regarded with interest by the pub-
lic mind.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

PETER B. MEAD,

Chairman of Horticultural Committee,

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FARMS, MARKET GAR
DENS, AND FIELD CROPS.

FARM OF ELIJAH H. KIMBALL.

Your committee respectfully report, that ou the 20th day of
September last, they visited the farm of Elijah H. Kimball, Esq.,
at Flatlands, L. I.; for a full description of this farm, they refer to
the Transactions of the American Institute for the year 1851,
page 43, the description in regard to crops for 1852, will not vary
so much this year as to require a distinct report.

Mr. Kimball's farm, undoubtedly, is in a more perfect state of
cultivation than any ether farm of 100 acres visited by your com-
mittee. They have awarded to him the first premium for a farm
of 100 acres.

His method of cultivation is described in a communication to
your committee, which they herewith append.

A. NASH,
DAVID BANKS,
NICHOLAS WYCKOFF,
THOMAS BELL,
HENRY MEIGS,
ADONIRAM CHANDLER,
Committee.

John. W. Chambers, Secretary.

43 [Assembly

Gentlemen :

Having been awarded the first premium by the American In-
stitute, for the best cultivated farm of one hundred acres for the
present year, in obedience to the rules of your institution, I send
you the following statement of my mode of cultivation :

I observe in the first place, that as far as possible, I adopt the
following rotation of crops : Indian corn upon green sod ; pota-
toes after corn, with a second crop of turnips or cabbage the
same year ; potatoes the following year, followed by wheat sown
in the fall with timothy, and in the spring adding red clover
seed. Thus stocked, the meadow is permitted to remain so long
as it yields two tons of clean hay to the acre, w^hich is usually
five or six years, without top dressing. Each crop is thoroughly
manured, except the turnips.

Manure. — The manure heap is made up from the barnyard, the
horse stables and the hog pens, composted with muck or mud
from the salt meadows, leached ashes, ground bone, charcoal dust
and guano. I form the compost as follows : charcoal dust at
the bottom, wet muck, then ashes, then barnyard, hog and stable
manure, then bone dust, and so on in rotation, until the material
is exhausted. Then cover the whole heap with charcoal dust,
and cover the charcoal dust with a heavy coat of seaweed and
drift, which is thrown up in great abundance from the bay on
the farm. By means of such covering, the manure heap loses
none of its ammonia, and other fertilizing qualities. Immediate-
ly previous to applying the manure to the crops, the heap is
turned, and thoroughly mixed and made as fine as possible, then
through each load as it is taken to the field, a small quantity of
Peruvian guano is sprinkled, equal, say fifty pounds to the acre.
I have never known a tree, vine, or vegetable, upon my farm,
that did not thrive on manure composted according to the above
receipt ; and any success which I have had in agriculture, I at-
tribute mainly to the practice of giving every animal, and every
tree, vine, and vegetable, plenty of food, and in such variety as
to ensure good health and condition.

My agricultural year commences on the 1st ot December. I
then commence preparing my hot-beds, which consist now of

No. 133.1 43

four hundred feet of glass; in these beds are placed at the bot-
tom, leaves gathered from the woods, about six inches in depth ;
upon which fresh horse manure is laid about nine inches deep,
■with a layer above of fine rich loam. Three crops of lettuce are
usually sold from these hot-beds, before the outdoor lettuce
comes in competition with it. After the first crop of lettuce,
cucumbers are planted, so as to be ready to occupy the hot beds
as soon as the last crop of lettuce is turned out. A large yield
of early cucumbers then comes into market, by, the time or
before a cucumber seed would be planted in the open air. These
hot- beds are very profitable, and enable the farmer near the city
to keep his men employed during the winter, instead of discharg-
ing tbem to spend their summer earnings before the next spring.
January and February are spent chiefly in marketing and col-
lecting and forming the manure heaps. The 1st of March, or
the earliest period that the frost leaves the ground potatoes are
planted.

Preparation for jilanting pofafocs. — I harrow the ground, then
plow, then harrow again, then form drills in these open drills.
I place the seed about 8 or 10 inches, apart, cover the seed with
manure from the compost heap, then cover the whole with the
plow by a furrow thrown on each side. This covers the seed
quite deep, so that it is uninjured by the spring fn sts ; when
past danger from the frost, the drills are harrowed down. I plant
Mercer potatoes principally; usually about 3 acres of white,
called here the English white, or Aulgee potato ; they are dug
and carried to market before they are fully grown, and are sold
at a very high price.

Corn — I cultivate five varieties of Indian corn, viz : the Long
Island white flint, the Jersey white dent 12 rowed, the large eight
rowed yellow, the evergreen sweet.corn, the tAvelve rowed sweet
corn. I plant the white flint corn from the 1st to the 15th May,
sweet corn every two weeks until the 1st of July. I manure in
the drill with the compost, adding a little extra guano. I sow
all my root crops in drills after sub-soil plowing. I use the com-
posted manure above referred to, .well mixed with the soil in the
drill before sowing.

44 PAsSEMBLY

Wheat. — Immediately affer tlie potato crop is removed, the
ground is cleared of every vine and weed ; it is then harrowed
and plowed repeatedly, until the soil is mellowed fine, and a
thorough manuring from the compost heap follows. This is
plowed and harrowed in. Timothy seed is also sown thick. In
the spring, red clover is sown, followed by the roller, which com-
pletes the process. I usually sow the white Bergen wheat, which
has so often taken the premiums at the Fairs of the American
Institute, until it was supplanted by the Australian wheat, which
in my judgment is not fit to be raised in this climate.

My corn during the last year has averaged about 60 bushels to
the acre. Wheat do 28. Mercer potatoes do 150. Carrots do
325. Rutta baga 450. Red top turnips, (white,) 510. The hay
crop is lighter than usual, the crop averaged full two tons to the
acre. Rutta baga and red top turnips are raised as a second crop
after potatoes, and without any additional manure.

The following is the product of three acres of land, from which
I have this year raised two crops: 1st. The whole three acres
were planted with early potatoes on the 1st of March, from the
sale of this crop I received in the month of July, $.383.25. After
the potatoes were removed, one acre was given to celery, one to
spinach, and one to Ruta baga. My turnip crop is about five
hundred bushels, estimated at least at $100. My celery is not
yet sold, but I have been offered $350 for it, as it is now put up
for the winter market, which was refused. The spinach is very
large, and well covered, waiting for the spring market. At the
usual price for that season, I cannot fail to get less than $200 for
the crop. Here is a product of over $1,000 from three acres.
The potato crop was thoroughly manured ; the turnip and spin-
ach crops were not manured. Tlie celery was enriched with
manure taken from the hot-beds, which had already produced 3
crops of lettuce, and one of cucumbers. It is unnecessary for
me to describe my mode of raising and treating of fruits and
fruit trees, as that is fully set forth in the report of your commit-
tee of last year, and to which I refer respectfully.

ELIJAH H. KIMBALL.

No. 133.] 45

FARM OF ROBERT B. COLEMAN.

Your committee respectfully report, that on the 25th day of
JuDe last they visited the farm of Robert B. Coleman, Esq., of
the Astor House, at Fiatlands, L. I., situated about 8 miles from
the city of New- York.

This farm contains about 51 acres, besides some 20 or 30 acres
of salt marsh land, mostly lying under water, but producing a
large growth of swail or coarse grass. It is bounded on the north
and east by the form of Elijah H. Kimball, Esq.; on the south-
east'side it fronts on salt water, forming a portion of Jamaica
Bay. The soil of the farm is apparently of a late formation,
composed of a rich sandy loam, and along the salt water shore a
handsome breadth of black peat soil of an unknown depth pre-
sents itself Mr. Coleman informed your committee that he pur-
chased this farm in the fall of 1845 ; that he paid $129 per acre ;
the salt grass land was thrown in the bargain ; that the condition
of the larm when he purchased it was deplorable indeed, without
a fence to protect it, or a dwelling house which was habilable ;
the soil was full of hedges and noxious shrubs and weeds.

This iarm, when subdued, is easy of cultivation, few, or no
stones are found upon it.

Since the farm has come into his possession, he has erected
.580 feet of iron wire fence, the cost of which was $1.80
per rod; 7,000 feet of picket fence at the cost of $1.25 per
rod. He has put up 400 feet of glass frames for hot beds, in
which are raised early lettuce, cucumbers, and other vegetables.
He has also erected 300 feet of arbor for grapes, ten feet high,
and eigl-it feet wide, which is now covered mostly with young aud
thrifty vines of the Isabella and Catawba varieties ; there are now
growing 150 young vines and plants. The dwelling house has
undergone many alterations and repairs. In front of his house is
a young and elegant grove of shade trees, which not only afford
a pleasant retreat for his family and guests in the summer, but is
visited hourly by birds, whicli render it vocal by their songs.
Your committee witnessed several flights of songsters into this

46 • [Assembly

grove, whicli had become tame by feeding, and by social and kind
treatment.

Mr. Coleman's farm is now filled with luxuriant crops, abun-
dance of fruit, and a large number of j'oung trees just coming
into bearing.

The location of this farm is undoubtedly superior in many res-
pects ; it is adjacent to Jamaica Bay, and on the easterly side of
Long Island, a short distance of two miles from the ocean. Sloops
come to a dock erected on his farm.

Mr. Coleman raised this season past sixteen acres* of potatoes;
they were of the Mercer and Western red varieties, looked un-
usually well on the ground, the vines were free from disease, and
filled abundantly with blossoms; the crop produced was from 150
to 200 bushels per acre ; they were valued at 87^ cents per
bushel. He also raised five acres of turnips as a second crop on
the ground when he dug his early potatoes ; the turnips yielded
450 bushels per acre. He raised 2^ acres of winter wheat, .pro-
duction 50 bushels per acre ; four acres of Indian corn, produc-
tion 150 bushels of ears per acre; one acre of sweet corn; half
an acre of Lima beans; one acre of carrots ; one-third of an acre
of cabbages ; two acres of spinach; fifteen thousand celery plants ;
one acre of strawberries ; Hovey's seedling and Boston pine ; they
were in full bearing when your committee saw them; they pro-
duced very large fruit of a good flavor, and many of them ap-
proaching the size of Madeira nuts. Mr. Coleman plants his
strawberries in hills about two feet apart, dressed in. the fal} sea-
son with barn-yard manure, and with a light covering with Sea-
weed to protect the plants from frost and snow. In the spring it
is raked off. Weeding and trimming are the only care required
to produce a luxuriant crop. Your committee would recommend
this method of cultivating the strawberry, as economical and
practical. There were also in his garden a bed of four hundred
plants of raspberries; these produce an abundance of fruit. He
has set out in his orchard six hundred pear trees, grafted on the -
quince stock ; these are of choice varieties, of which one hundred
were in bearing ; one hundred apple trees were bearing grafted
fruit. Mr. Coleman adopts the plan of plowing among his apple

No. 133. 1 47

trees, and fertilises the ground with top dressing of compost and
stable manure. Your committee would recommend this plan for
the management of orchards.

A nul'sery of three thousand young pines, and two thousand
young arbor vit?e trees, were growing vigorously ; these trees were
brought^from the State of Maine, in crates; they cost four cents
a tree, delivered at Flatbush ; none were lost by transplanting.

There was four acres of timothy grass exhibited to your com-
mittee, in one field, which produced two tons per acre. In an-
other field, was growing four and a half acres of timothy and
clover, which yielded three tons per acre. In a third field, were
nine acres of timothy, which produced two tons per acre.

Mr. Coleman informed your committee, that he sold, prior to
the 25th of June, from his farm, garden vegetables, cucumbers
and spinach, to the value of $600. That his fall crop of spinach,
beets, carrots, celery and cabbage, yielded him more- than $600
more, which w'ere used by him to supply the Astor House.

He has cut from three to ten acres of salt coarse grass per year
which are used for covering vegetables, feed for cattle, and the
hogpen and barnyard. The stock kept by Mr. Coleman, this
year, consists of four farm horses, one pair of mules, four milch
cows, and twenty hogs ; other horses are taken to stable, which
consume the balance of the hay grown on his farm. At times,
Mr, Coleman has kept one hundred and fifty hogs ; he supplies
them with food from the Astor House, which is sufficient to feedj
this number of swine ; the hogs are put into pens, with yards ad-
jacent, into which is thrown sea weeds, salt water grass, and peat
muck, which form a compost of excellent quality ; the hogs are
found to be active workers In muck and compost.

He has reclaimed four acres of peat land ; this soil is of great
depth, and is found to contain a large portion of clam shells ;
this is the only form in which lime has been used on this farm;
the shells crumble, and when raked out. produce a good covering
for garden walks, as well as a fertile ingredient in the compost or
manure heap.

48 [Assembly

In the use of manure, Mr. Coleman mixes his stable manure
with compost, to which is added a supply of leached ashes. Ho
purchased three thousand bushels, the last season, at Waterford,
N. T.; the cost of which was 12^ cents per bushel, delivered at
his dock.

The effect of this kind of manuring, may be judged from the
fact, that in the year 1851, he raised four acres of winter wheat,
producing one hundred and forty bushels ; the same field was
sown with timothy grass, and yielded three tons per acre.
Adjacent to his house and barnyard, Mr. Coleman has put
down a receiving cistern, ten feet long, eight feet deep, and about
the same width. The soap-suds and liquid from the kitchen, from
the water-closets of the house, and from the stables, are conduc-
ted by pipes into this cistern, which is supplied with compost,
which affords a powerful manure.

Adjacent to his garden, he has erected an ice-house, twelve
feet high, 'sixteen feet in diameter, laid up in mason work ; it holds
forty tons of ice.; the whole is covered with earth, and sodded,
and raised into an elegant mound ; the ice is covered with straw.

His method of feeding stock, is with hay and boiled vegetables ;
the hogs are fed with boiled potatoes, turnips, carrots, and stale
sea bread, obtained from ships on their return voyages.

Mr. Coleman employs^ one head gardener, at $25 per month,
boarding himself, seven laborers at $10 per month, and board, and
one house servant. His cash expenses for labor, are $1,284 per
year. The cost of his manure is $700.

Your committee found Mr. Coleman's farm thoroughly culti-
vated and manured ; his buildings were good ; his fences were
permanent, inclosing clean fields and luxuriant crops. His fruit
trees were thrifty, and well grafted; his grape vines healthy, and
promising to yield large crops. The shrubbery was tastefully
arranged. The avenues around his premises beautifully laid out,
and everything indicated a practical and careful management.

The cultivation of his farm was in a high state, made so by ju-
dicious and scientific husbandry.

No. 133.] 49

Your committee unanimously came to the conclusion, t
Coleman is entitled to the first premium, awarded by the Ameri-
can Institute, for the best cultivated farm of fifty acres,

Kew-York, /an. 1, 1853.

ALANSOf^ NASH,

DAVID BANKS,
NICHOLAS WYCl
JAMES I)E PEYSTER,

THOMAS BELL,
ADONIRAM CHANDLER,
John W. Chambers, Secretary. Committee.

FARM OF JAMES J. MAPES.

Your committee respectfully report that on the 17th day of
July, 1852, they visited the farm of Prof. Jas. J. Mapes, near
Newark, N. J.

This farm consists of about 60 acres of land, 35 of which is
cultivated as a fruit orchard and market garden. It is situated
on the old Elizabethtown road, two miles south of Newark, N. J.
The farm originally had been more or less cultivated for a great
number of years, and had become exhausted. The soil of this
farm is a volcanic debris, not unlike that which appears on the
eastern part ot Rockland county, in the State of New- York. It is
a hardpan soil, mixed with many stones broken from a volcanic
green stone slate, and a red sandstone. The present occupant
has made an analysis of the soil, and as he informed your com-
mittee, has gradually added the missing organic constituents with
such amendments as renders it retentive of manure and capable
of absorbing and retaining the fertilizing gases of the atmosphere.
The general aspect of this farm where it has not been cultivated
of late, is that of a barren region, and dilFicult to subdue and ren-
der productive. All the cultivated portion of the farm has been
thoroughly plowed and subsoiled ; indeed. Prof Mapes informed
your committee that his fields had been subsoiled in many parts

[Assembly, No. 133 ] 4

50 [Assembly

to the depth of 30 inches, ^>A the stones taken out. Many of
the fiehls Jiave been underdrained. Perhaps no farm in the vi-
cinity of New-York lias been more improved within the last five
years tl^an this cne. Prof. Mapes moved on to this farm some
five years since, during vAhich lime he has thoroughly subdued
most of it. Many thousand loads of stone have been removed
from the fields and used for roads, walks, and fences.

The method of culture has fully established the economy of
his management, indeed too much cannot t>e said in favor of Prof.
Mapes' sjstem of husbandry.

On the subject of manures he has exhibited great skill. The
soil, in the first place, has been put in an exact balance for vege-
table productions by the addition of the missing constituents,
which have been ascertained by analysis in the Professor's labo-
ratory. Your committee have been furnished by him with a
statement of his method of preparing various kinds of manure.
The stable manure of this farm lis first mixes with a compost of
salt marsh muck, decomposed, with a mixture of salt and quick
lime ; to this is added a portion of his improved superpliosphate
of lime, before the manure is applied to the soil. The stables at
his barns are so constructed that seven half-cords of decomposed
salt muck are placed once in every ten days in a trough 4 feet
wide and 3 feet deep, passing the entire length of the stable, and
mmediately under the hind feet of the cattle and horses. The
bedding of the stables, such as straw and coarse hay, is thrown
over the trough, and overlays this dry and decomposed muck.
The urine of th^ animals, as soon as voided, passes through the
bedding down into the muck, before the animal heat has de-
d. The bedding is thus kep't at all times dry, and the foul
gases of the stable and urine are absorbed by the muck. When
the animal lays down, the heat of the body assists the chemical
changes going on between the muck and the urine. As often as
once a day the solid dung is removed from the stables and thrown
into a heap under an adjacent manure shed, supplied by eighteen
times its bulk of muck, previously reduced to powder by the
action of salt and lime mixed with it. Nineteen times the bulk
of the manure is thus formed from the solid dung alone mixed

No. 133.J 51

with muck. Every ten days the muck, charged with urine of
the animals, is removed to the manure slied. It usually yields
about seven half cords, being about equal to the bulk arising
from the solid manure. The two manures are then mixed
together, and form a bulk thirty-six times as large as would be
tlie natural result from the usual barn yard practice of most
fai'mers-

The manure shed is so constructed that a cistern supplied wiih a
pump, is located at its lowest end, receiving the drainage of the
heap, which is pumpied back upon. the manure heap, by aid of a
spout, every two days. Should the supply of drainage be defi-
cient, water is passed into the cistern from the barn gutters, and
then pumped on to the manure heap. Every part of the mass is
thus kept moist without permitting the water and liquids to remain
in a state of rest. A rapid decomposition of the manure follows
this treatment. Th« atmosphere acts upon the ingredients, fol-
lowing the w-ater in its downward course, without producing
fire fanging of the manure. Prof. Mapes is of the opinion that
this method of managing the manure heap is preferable to turn-
ing it over with a fork; the admixture and decomposition is
more perfect. The presence of the decomposed muck secures the
absorption of all the gases resulting from the decomposition.
This renders the muck more equal in quality as a manure to the
excretion of the animals.

Tlie hog pens he constructs in a similar manner. The effect is
to form an intimate division of th€ component parts of this ma-
nure, and render it suitable for garden use.

Prof. Mapes uses large quantities of manure. His compost
manures are insufficient to supply the farm. He uses in addition
much of his improved superphosphate of lime.

Prof. Mapes has established a manufactory of this article. Your
committee went through it when they visited his farm. The com-
position of this manure is an invention of tlie professor ; it ha«
been used by him fur some years past, producing extraordinary re-
sults. Tlie composition is strictly in accordance with the chemi-
cal wants of the soil. He says that this manure meets the wahti

52 [Assembly

of most soils nearer than any other before discovered. The quan-
tity used is froip 300 to 600 lbs. per acre ; the cost is less than the
cartage of an equal amount in force of stable manure, if brought
for the distance of one mile.

When your committee visited the farm, they found nine acres of
Indian corn growing, besides fields of oats, and potatoes. 73,000
Bergen and Dutch cabbages, were among the curiosities of this
farm. Five hundred pounds per acre of the improved super-
phosphate of lime was applied to the cabbage fields. His garden
crops were certainly very large. The committee saw raspberry
branches which had grown 19 feet during the current season.
Tliree hundred glass sashes had been put up in his garden ; beets,
parsnips, carrots, lettuce, radishes, onions, rhubarb, cauliflowers,
brocoli, spinach, kale, caulo-rapas, were growing luxuriantly.

The modes of cultivation in some particulars were peculiar.
Tomatoes and Lima beans were shortened in, to render them ear-
lier, and with good results. A bed of Spanish peppers was bear-
ing three distinct sets of p:^db, the elfect of three different manur-
ings; the plants stood about two feet apart, on an average. Your
committee saw 30 peppers growing on many of the single plants.

The garden and small fruits occupy about thirty acres, besides
the usual farm crops raised in adjacent fields. The vineyard con-
tains about 1,200 bearing vines of the Catawba, Isabella, Norton's
Seedling, and several other varieties.

Four hundred dwarf pear trees grafted on the quince, and em-
bracing most of the improved varieties, were growing in his or-
chard.

Eight thousand raspberry plants, together with strawberries,
including Hovey's Seedling, Boston Pine, British Queen, Prince
Albert, and many other varieties.

The larger fruits were in fine order, consisting of apples, plums,
peaches, nectarines and apricots, free from insects. The bark of
the trees appeared smooth and healthy.

The gooseberries, of which the Professor has choice varieties,
Jiooked remarkably well.

No. 133.] 53

During the last year he has raised and sold garden seeds to the
amount of $600. Of cold-frame planis $1 ,800 were sold from the
garden.

When your committee visited the farm, there was growing four
acres of Stowe^i's Ever-green corn, tlie seed of which sold last
year at the rate of $1 per quart ; three acres of beets, four acres
of potatoes, (Mammoth Nutmeg variety,) four acres of carrots and
oats together. The method of cultivation was as follows : The
field was first plowed and subsoiled deep for root crops ; the oats
were first sowed broad-cast and harrowed in ; the field was then
laid off in drills suitable for a carrot crop, the seed was then
sown, the oats and carrots grew up together, but the oats shaded
the carrots so, that when they were cradled oflf the field, t]:e car-
rots then first commenced a vigorous growtli, and produced a
heavy crop for the fall gathering. One thousand poles of Lima
beans.

Your committee have been enabled to obtain a statistical ac-
count of the productions of this farm from year to year. Prof.
Mapes went on the farm about five years since. The cost of the
farm thus far, has been upwards of sixteen thousand dollars ; this
has been all paid for by the produce of the farm alone, besides
stocking the farm and procuring farming utensils, and fencing.

The Professor encourages the appearance of birds upon his farm
and gardens. On an apple tree, adjacent to his dwelling house,
were put up four wren boxes, each of which were inhabited by a
family. He had put up about 300 of these boxes in his orchard,
every one of which was occupied. Tiie birds are complete sca-
vengers among insects. Take it all in all, your committee are
satisfied that Prof. Mapes' method of cultivation is superior to
most other agriculturists ; his grape vines and peach trees grow
luxuriant. The improved super-pho5]ihate of lime is evidently
an extraordinary manure ; its effects are marked, the Profetsor
combining science with practical husbandry in an unusual degree,
and its results are uncGmmon'y great.

54 [[AsSEMBLf

Tour committee unanimously award to Prof. James J. Mapes
the premium of a silver cup, for the best cultivated farm of 25
acres.

A. NASH,

JAS. DE. PEYSTER,
DAVID BANKS,
THOMAS BELL,
NICHOLAS WYCKOFF,

Committee.
John W. Chambers, Sec^y,

FARM OF LEWIS MORRIS.

Tour committee respectfully report, that on the 10th day of
July, 1852, they visited the farm of Col. Lewis Morris, of Morris-
ania, Westchester county, N. Y.

This farm consists of 200 acres of land, 55 of which is salt peat
marsh land. It is located on the north side of Harlem river, op-
posite tlie Island of New-York, on the east side of the road run-
ning from the 3d Avenue in New-York city to West Farms, and
formerly the old post road to Boston. The domains are a part of
the ancient grant of Morrisania, and for many generations past
have been owned in the Morris family, who were the original
grantees under the British crown.

The upland of the farm in question is mostly a yellow loam,
resting upon mica slate rock, with occasionally a bed and stratifi-
cation of limestone ; the land generally declines to the south and
east, and probably no part of it lies higher that 250 feet above
tide water in the Harlem river.

Tlie first object at the mansion house of Col. Morris, which
gained the admiration of your committee, were the shade trees
which had been planted around it, and which formed a delight-
ful retreat in summer. In front and around the house were stand-
ing a Sugar maple, Acer saccharinnm ; a Bass-wood or Lime tree,

No. 133.] 55

Tilia americana ; a Silver maple, Jlcer eriocarpum ; a beecTi tree,
Fagus americana ; together with one or two oaks, Quercus rubra;
and a B.ilin of Gilead tree. Idea guianensis ; the only species of
poplar which your committee deem worth the trouble of grow-
ing and cultivation. These are all American forest trees of the
native growth, and far superior, in the opinion of your commit-
tee, as t;hade trees, to any shade tree that has bet^n introduced
into this country of an exotic growth. Trees for ornament and
usefulness are ibund in our American forests, in numbers far be-
yond computation ; they have only to be taken up when small
and transplanted to the grounds immediately around our dwel-
lings, to form the most elegant and useful artificial groves, and at
a trifling expense. Almost every degree of latitude and longi-
tude on the globe possesses a system of vegetation more or less
peculiar to itself, and adapted to the natural exigencies of their
location. While we have so many kinds of shade trees of our
own native growth unsurpassed in beauty and usefulness, why run
around tlie world to bring hither the unhealthy ailanthus and the
offensive poplar.

The Sugar maple and the Beech are trees peculiarly free from
insects, and abounding in leaves of a delicate and deep green,
they are everywhere to be found, and adapted to the soil and cli-
mate of all regions visited by frost or snows.

The farm of Col. Morris is located so near the city ot New- York,
that it is cultivated with great advantage mostly for a market
garden, it furnishes feed for a large number of cows, which are
used for dairy-purposes, and the supply of milk which is daily
sold in the New- York market.

The derails of the operations of this farm have been furnished
by the proprietor himself, and your committee have incorporated
the same into this report j these details speak for themse]ves.

MoRisANiA, Dcc.^ 27, 1852.
Gentlemen :

This farm is worked on shares by Mr. Wm. Baity. It contains

about 200 acrfs, of which 55 are salt marsh. Thirty acres are

planted with apple trees, which do not now prove productive on

account of the thickly settled neighborhood which is found to

56 [Assembly

be more destructive of fruit than all other causes combined. The
mansion house grounds contain about 12 acres, which are covered
with shade and fruit trees, principally sugar maple, bass wood,
elm, weeping willow, cherry, apples and pears.

The produce of hay upon the lawn was increased one third,
and the quality much improved by top dressing it this spring,
with a compost of a ton of guano, combined with three times its
bulk of charcoal dust.

The farm is divided exclusive of the three orchards into 11
fields. No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 containing 49 acres of a fine sandy
loam are cultivated as a market garden. No. 6 containing 12
acres of a light sandy loam produces when highly manured, fair
crops of tomatoes and turnips. No 8 and 9 containing 16 acres,
are cut for hay. No 10 and 11 containing 16 acres are used as
pasture lots. There are on two of the fields ponds covering about
an acre each fed by springs.

Besides the manure made upon the place, that of a stable in
which are kept about 200 horses situated within a mile of the
farm is also used. The cost of this exclusive of transportation
for the year ending Oct. 1, 1852 was |760.

The live stock consists of 2 yoke of oxen, 23 cows, 6 yearlings
1 bull, 9 horses of which there was a mare with 2 colts sired Ijy
Trustee, a horse of celebrity, 18 hogs, 50 geese and 100 fowls.
The cows are a produce of the cross between the Durham andna-
tive. The hogs that of the Berkshire and Grass.

The system of culture pursued by Mr. Baity is as follows: as
soon as the frost is sufiiciently out to admit working the ground,
he commences plowing &c., in the usual mode of planting first
parsnips, prefers the cut parsnip. Prepares hot beds of which he
uses about 60 frames, from the middle Jan., to 1st Feb. Raises
salad plants from seed planted in the open ground about 1st of
Sep., transplants them into frames late in the fall before the
ground freezes, then transplants them to the hot beds from the
middle of Jan, to Feb., tliey are usually fit for use in about four
weeks from being transplanted to the hot beds. Sows seeds from
plants in the hot beds from 1 Feb. Cabbage, tomatoes, egg-plant

No. 133.] 57

&c., they are fit to transplant as soon as the season admits, thins
them out by transplanting the plants of one bed into 20 others,
say 5 inches apart for tomatoes and egg-plants. Spreads the ma-
nure broad cast and ploughs it in. Plants first the turnip beet .^
which produces early, abundantly and of good quality. For late
bsets, the long quaker beet and the old fashioned blood. For early
cabbage, prefers the heartshape and French green, for late the
savoy and drum-head. Plants the pink eye potatoes for early,
usually in drills, prepares drills on account of economy of labor,
plants as early as possible, sent some to market this year on the 2d
of July. For late potatoes, plants the mercers sometimes as late as
the 20th of May. Sows celery seed upon the best land in a moist
location well manured, as early as the season will admit, trans-
plants it according to the season in June or July for the crop,
placing the plants 5 Inches apart in the rows and the rows 4 feet
apart ; cultivates it in the usual mode. It is usually ready for mar-
ket about 1st of Oct. Plants spinach in the open fields, both ways
abroad cast and in drills about 25th Aug. till 15 Oct. It is usually
fit to cut in about 6 ueeks from the time of planting. In the fall
covers the cfop remaining in the ground with litter, sedge &c.,
usually cuts it through the winter fall and spring. After a crop of
spinach, the ground is fit the following year for any other crop
without additional manure. Prefers, whenever circumstances
will admit to manure and pluugh it in, in the fall. Is careful to
plant successive crops on the same ground.

The following produce of the farm was sold during the year
ending October 1st, 1852 :

590 bushels potatoes.
18G0 do tomatoes.

beets.

turnips.

Lima beans.

carrots. ,

onions.

parsnips.

peas.
569 barrels spinach.
67 do sprouts.

536

do

987

do

197

do

553

do

255

do

306

do

27

do

58 [Assembly

286 dozen egg plants.
1573 do cabbages.
103 do salsify.
2075 do salad.
1100 do cucumbers.
106 do squashes.
1595 dozen ears sweet corn.
393 dozen bunches celery.
^ 287 bunches asparagus.

587 do rhubarb.
6070 do radishes.
1800 pickles.

The quantity of milk sold amounted to 41,795 quarts. There
are employed upon the farm 15 hands, at an average cost of $10
each per mouth.

The sales for the year, ending 1 st Oct. , amounted to $6 , 229 87

Tlie amount paid for labor is $1 ,500 00 *

The amount paid for manure, 760 00

The amount paid for seed, 125 00

The amount paid for feed for cattle and

horses, 525 00

2,910 00

Leaving a net balance to the credit of the farm, |3,319 87

Your committee walked over this farm, and were delighted
with the perfect system of culture adopted by its proprietor.
Each field was devoted to its appropriate crop of vegetables.
There were growing, when your committee visited the farm, 16
acres of potatoes, (Mercer and Dykeman varieties,) 14 acres of
Indian corn, 5 acres of tomatoes, 2 acres of parsnips, 2 acres of
beets, 3 acres of carrots, 1^ acres of onions, ^ acre of cucumbers,
^ acre of egg plants, 1 1 acres of cabbage, | acre of Lima beans,
J acre of squashes, | acre of parsley, sweet marjoram ^nd sage ;
1 acre had been devoted to rhubarb, which had been cut off pre-
vious to your committee visiting the farm.

Col. Morris is a gentleman who owns extensive plantations in
South Carolina, which are cultivated under his immediate super-

No. 133.] 59

vision ; necessarily, from six to eight months a year is spent in the
southern country. His farm was not entered for competition, only
as a niarl^et garden. Your committee believe this to be one of
the most valuable that has come under their observation ; the
mansion house is delightfully situated, overlooking much of the
waters of the East and Harlem rivers, while the access to the
business portions of New-York, is easy,' and nearly every hour
during tlie day. Col. Morris entertained your committee, with
cordial good will and hospitality ; hi^ manners are strongly im-
bued with those of the old school, which confers ease and dignity
upon the possessor, and pleasure to his guests.

Your committee unanimously recommend, a premium of a sil-
ver cup, to Col. Morris, for the best market garden.

A. NASH,
DAVID EANKS,
J. DE PEYSTER,
THOS. BELL,
NICHOLAS WYCKOFF,
John W. Chambers, Sec'y. Committee.

FARM OF HENRY ROBINSON.

Your committee respectfully report, that on the 8th day of
July, 1852, pursuant to request, they visited the farm of Capt.
Henry Robinson, at Newburgh, Orange Co., N. Y.

This farm consists of 250 acres of land ; it lies on the westerly
bank of the Hudson river, within the precincts of the village of
Newburgh, and immediately south of, and adjacent to Gen.
Washington's head-quarters.

The soil of this farm, is, in a great degree, a lime-stone forma-
tion, with a mixture of clay, resting on clay slate, and a bitumi-
nous lime-stone.

Capt. Robinson entered 18 acres of wheat for competition, and
to view this crop, was the principal object of your committee in

60 [Assembly

isiting this farm ; but, nevertheless, they were invited to walk
over his grounds, and to inspect his method of farming and hus-
bandry.

The first object which attracted the observation of your com-
mittee, was the delightful and romantic location of this farm ; it
descends towards the NewLurgli bay, the Higlilands, witli the
vast g')rge through which the Hudson river rolls itself towards
the ocean, is seen to great advantage from many points on Capt.
Robinson's domains, while on the north and east, the ranges of
the Green mountains, the broken lands of Putnam and Dutchess
counties, and a long thread of the stream above Newburgh, are
brought within a simultaneous vision. Steamboats, vessels, and
indeed the whole commerce of the Hudson, are brought directly in
review at Capt. Robinson's mansion; probably no location of a farm
in the United States, excels this in elegant and enchanting views.

While Gen. Washington and his array lay encamped at New-
burgh, during the revolutionary war, their tents were said to have
occupied the south and eastern part of the farm. Gen. Wash-
ington, and many of his officers, are reported to have declared,
that the location of this farm, was superior to any grounds they
had seen. Your committee are inclined to ratify tliis opinion.

The principal business of Capt. Robinson,is dairying ; he keeps
50 cows, whose milk is converted into butter. The dairy house is
made upon a side hill, three fourths of a mile from the river ; first,
a large cellar was dug out, and a floor laid in brick and mortar,
with an underdrain j the walls are raised in the form of a dome,
until they meet at the center at the top, forming a roof; in this
is inserted a large canopy of glass, or what is called in the decks
of vessels, a bull's eye ; the wliole of this structure is covered
with green sod, except the small space for admitting the light on
the top ; this forms a room mostly underground, cool and capa-
cious, wliere the milk is strained in vessels, daily, for making
cream; lower down the hill, and adjacent to the milk room, is
another room, or second compartment, built like the first, and
used fur churning ; here are placed, in an upriglit position, four
large l)arrel churns, into which tlie cream is daily placed, and the
churning is done by means of cranks, attached to a shaft, which

No. 133.] 61

extends through the wall into an open lot, and worked by horse
power.

Adjacent, but lower down the hill, is a well, and an open shed,
capable of being closed in winter, where the pails, churns, and
milk-]'ans are cleansed with hot water, by means of a boiler, set in
an arch ; the whole arrangement is superior as a model house for
a dairy, and from the appearance, the method of conducting the
dairy operations, was as neat and perfect, as the excellency of the
arrangements was complete.

Capt. Robinson-s butter is sought for at his dairy house, and
taken for many of the packet sliips sailing from New-York.

After your committee had inspected the dairy house, they were
invited to see the barn and stables where the cows are kept, and
sheltered during the winter. Capt. Robinson has adopted a plan
of stabling for his milch cows, which your committee would re-
spectfully recommend to dairy keepers, as a pattern ; first, he raises
a platform, not unlike a poop deck to a ship, from 6 to 12 inches
high, on the stable floor, running the whole length of the man-
ger, which is of a sufficient width, to enable the animal, when fas-
tened, to stand upon it and feed with ease, as well as lie down and
rest, but the width is so much contracted, that the urine and ex-
crement of the animal fall over on to the floor below, leaving the
surface of the platform clean and dry, which is a very desirable state
of things for the milker, as well as to ensure cleanliness in the
milk.

On the grounds west of the mansion house, a meadow field is
located; the water of all the region about his farm, is more or
less clouded with the lime and clay ; to remedy this inconveni-
ence, Capt. Robinson first sunk a cellar 12 feet deep, amidst
springs of water; this cellar was 10 feet wide, and about 12 to
15 feet in length ; the bottom was laid with hydraulic cement and
flat stone, the walls were raised with mason work laid in cement.
This forms a large reservoir or cistern ; by adjustment, so much
of the walls are left open as to permit a flow of water freely into
this cistern, which fills itself to the brim ; over this is erected a
tight house, to exclude animals, and, in a great degree, the light

62 [Assembly

and the air ; a lead pipe now conveys the wafer down the hill to
the kitchen of his mansion honse, and supplies other bui'dings,
of which a stream is kept constantly flowing j in the reservoir, the
water settles as clear as crystal.

In the vicinity of his house, Capt. Robinson has preserved and
planted a grove of young and thrifty trees ; these surround two
fish ponds, into which he has introduced a great many varieties
of fish, which are fed from tlie hand of the owner; while he was
enjoying his piscatory amusement, he found that various tribes of
bird:5 took up their residence in the grove ; on these he bestowed a
share of his kindness, and in the course of some two or three years,
the songsters had become domesticated, recognising the hand that
fed them, until they would alight upon and around his person;
among the different families of the feathered tribe, there soon ap-
peared many black-birds, who recognized their benefactor, by ut-
terly abstaining from touching a hill of corn or giain, planted or
rowing on his farm. The birds knew their owner, and at least
they were not guilty of ingratitude to their friend.

Your committee much regret that Capt. Robinson did not enter
his farm for competition. His 15 acres of Indian corn looked re-
markably well, as did his grass lands and field crops. They noticed
with pleasure that Capt. Robinson kept his fields free from weeds
and brambles ; the lauds were cultivated clean, up to the fences.
The Captain, although a sailor from his youth, ana has fought
many battles of his country on the ocean, yet understands elegant
' and useful farming. .

The wheat crop was growing, in two fields, one of 15 acres,
the other of 3 acres, making 18 acres in all. The wheat was ap-
proaching the time of harvesting, when your committee was on
their visit ; it certainly looked extraordinary v/ell. The straw
was clean, of a bright gold color ; no mildew or blight had made
its appearance ; the heads of the wheat were large and full,
without smut, or any other blemish ; he has since communicated
to your committee, his method of cultivating his wheat crop, and
its results, which are as follows :

No. 133.] 63

Newburgh, Dec. 20, 1852.

GEXTLEIilKN :

The eiglitecn acres of wLeat in Newburgh, Orange county,
whicli the agricultural committee of the American Institute,
awarded me the premium on, was cultivated as follows :

The soil was loam and gravel, and had been an old pasture
lot. It had been manured, plowed, the Sod inverted, and plant-
ed witli corn ; the following spring sowed with oats, (without
manure.) and in the fall was manured with 23 loads of compost
to the acre, composed of barn manure, leached ashes, oflals, and
different kinds of rubbish, which was turned over once, before
carr}ingon the fields j and when ammonia was discovered, it
was strewed over with common salt and plaster of Paris; after
plowing, it was sowed with 20 bushels of quick lime per acre,
carefully slacked, and well harrowed, (the same quantity was
sown on the corn crop,) it was theu sowed with 2| bushels of
Genesee white short chaff wheat, to the acre, and thickly seeded
down with timothy, and finished by rolling. It was all sown
by the 3d of September. The produce was 35 bushels to the
acre, and weighed 61| lbs., whiclrwas half a pound less than
our general average ; the season being remarkably dry may ac-
count fur it. Three acres of the above, was in a separate field;
the cultivation was the same, with the exception, that in October,
it had a light top dressing of ashes, from the burning of weeds,
brush, kc. ; and in April, we sowed 150 lbs. of nitrate of potash
on one-half, and 150 lbs. nitrate of soda on the other, as an ex-
periment. The wheat grew remarkably tall and tine ; could not
discover any difference between the different salts, and i>roduced
42^ bushels to the acre, weighing 02 lbs. I was therefore amply
paid for the expense of nitrates, but as the three acres were not
seeded, it may not be considered strictly a fair trial.

It may be proper to add, that we plow deep, say 10 inches, the
mould board of our plows are three inches deeper than the ordi-
nary plows; it takes three horses, or two yoke of cattle to plow
with them, to their full depth. Our harrows correspond with
the plows. We are not alarmed at turning up the sub -soil, as we

64 [Assembly

find no injurious effects from it, but are led to believe that it is
beneficial.

These plows are made by the celebrated makers, Minor, Horton,
& Co., Peekskill, we find them of less draft than any other plow,
fairly tested by the dynamometer kept for that purpose ; lightness
of draft is considered all important ; we never plough without
the coulter, and that kept sharp.

Very respectfully,

Your obd't humble serv't,

HEXRY ROBINSON.

Your committee unanimously recommend the award of a silver
cup to Capt. Henry Robinson, for the best field of wheat.

A. NASH,
DAVID BANKS,
J AS. DE PEYSTER,
THOS. BELL,
NICHOLAS WYCKOFF,
CommiiUt.
John W. Chambers, Secretary.

FARM OF JAS. J. SCOFIELD.

Your committee respectfully report that on the 20th day of Sep-
tember, 1852, by request, they visited tlie farm of Jas. J. Scofield,
Esq., at Morristown, N. J.

He entered his quince orchard for premium. While your
committee was at the farm of Mr. Scofiekl, they were invited to
inspect a field of carrots.

Mr. Scofield's farm is situated within the precincts of Morris
town, delightfully and healthily located.

Mr. Scofield is a gentleman who follows tlie profession and
practice of tlie law, and (has, by his industry and talents, raised
himself to an eminent position in this branch of professional life.

No. 133.1 68

Nevertheless while plowing with Coke on Littleton, and Fearne
on Remainders, he occasionally lends a hand to plough the fields
and cultivate his mother earth, which yields him a bountiful
return.

The committee found Mr. Scofield and his lady hospitable and
generous in their entertainments. He has communicated to your
committee substantially what they deem necessary to constitute
their report, and the communication is herewith appended.

The crop of fruit exhibited to your committee by Mr. Scofield,
was superior to any they had seen. The quinces were indeed a
remarkable production ; the trees were healthy, and the fruit
bearing; qualities were very great. Climate and soil, no doubt,
have much to do with tl>e quantity as well as the quality of the
fruit which the trees yield.

Morristown is situated in a region of country eminently adapt-
ed to the growth of fruit. The soil lies warm and deep over a
bed of rocks of a primitive formation.

The country is high and rolling. It enjoys a pure atmosphere,
free from noxious moisture, and the deleterious effects of the air
contaminated by vapors from low grounds.

Gentlemen :

The committee on agriculture having requested from me a state-
ment in relation to the mode of culture and the production of my
quinces and root crops,- in pursuance of this, I will first give you
such statement In relation to the quinces.

The soil is a friable, clayey loam of light upland, that stands
the drought well.

This season being very dry, was unfavorable to quinces even on
such soil. I have two or three acres of quinces, but the larger
part being young trees, I will confine my statements to //^ acres
of the oldest, largest, and most productive.

The trees are in rows 12 feet apart, and 7 to 8 feet distant in
the row, making 348 trees on this quantity of gr6und. My princi-
pal manure is swamp muck mixed with barn-yard manure, say

[Assembly No. 133.) 5

66 [Assembly

one of yard mannre and five of muck, and of this I have put on
the yVo acres probably 15 loads a year since I set out the trees,
some six or seven years since, the land being in good condition
when the trees were set out. During that time I have washed the
bark of the trunk twice, once with sal soda, 1 lb. to 4 gallons of
water, and another washing with soft soap diluted in water, in
consequence the bark is clean and smooth. I trim out all unne-
cessary wood every winter, in February, and use the branches
taken off for cuttings in my nursery. The best trees had two or
three hundred on each, but the whole product of good, merchant-
ai)le quinces, was 22,980, which averaged about $1 per 100. I
sent them away in barrels; 175 of the largest would fill a flour
barrel. I had seven barrels, each of which was filled with that
number or under.

The most profitable part of the crop to me has been the grow-
ing of young quince trees from the cuttings. I have sold a great
many this fall set out from the cuttingsfour years ago next spring,
and have now more than three thousand more for sale, a great
many of them having borne fruit in the nursery last, season. I
had, last season, one tree three years old from the cutting that
had eighty fine quinces on.

I will now give you a statement of my carrot crop, including
cost, mode of culture, and product :

I raised one I acres of white Belgium carrots. First plowing

and subsoiling 3 days, $2.50, $7 50

Second plowing, harrowing and rolling, 2 days, 5 00

Forty loads of swamp muck with barn-yard manure,
decomposed, 1 load of barn-yard to 4 of muck, 50

cents per load, 20 06

Seed $1, planting with a machine less than a day $1,. 2 00

First hoeing, 10 days of boys and 5 of men, 15 00

'Second hoeing and thinning do, 15 00

Third hoeing, 12 00

Three times plowing with small subsoil plow, 6 00

Three hundred pounds of guano, sown broad-cast 7 50

Gathering in the crop, 12 00

No. 133.] W

Cost of selling and freight to Newark, 37 00

Interest on the value of lands $200 per acre, 15 00

$154 00
Product, 1,233 bushels of carrots which I sell readily '

at New-York in quantities, for horse feed, at 37^

, cents, $462 37

Cost as above, 1 54 00

$208 37

They were sowed the 1st of June, and gathered from the 10th
to the 14th of November, and the product was much reduced by
the grassliopper eating and destroying parts of rows when they
first came up. We measured the product of one square rod, in
the middle of the field, and it yielded at the rate of 1,330 bushels
to the acre. There is no difficulty in rasing 1,000 bushels to the
acre on first rate land, well manured and tilled.

The price is better this year than usual, on account of the scarci-
ty of hay. The land, I suppose, is in much better condition than,
it was before the crop was placed on it.

A fair estimate of expense is $100 per acre for high manuring
and good tilling, and then with good land the probable product
would be 1,000 bushels at 20 cents, $200, leaving a profit of $100
per acre ; and when I put the value at 20 cents per bushel, I mean
the value to the farmer himself, for the purpose of li^eding cows,
horses, and fattening cattle.

Yours respectfully,

JAMES J. SCOFIELD.

Your committee unanimously recommend that a premium of
a silver cup be awarded to Mr. Scofield for the best orchard of
quinces seen by your committee.

A. NASH,
DAVID BANKS,
JAMES DE PEYSTER,
THOMAS BELL,
NICHOLAS WYCKOFF,
JoHx W. Cahmbers, Sec^y. Commiitee.

68 [Assembly

farm of thomas shillingsford.

Your committee respectfully report that on the 17th day of
July last, they visited the farm of Thomas Shillingsford Esq. of
the town of Clinton, Essex Co., N. J., to view a crop of Indian
corn at his request.

The soil of this farm is a debris of the volcanic formations
■which run along the west side of the Hudson river forming the
palisade rocks, and is the basis of a large portion of the soils,
and earth through the central portions of the upland in New-
Jersey.

The farm itself is situated on a swelling ridge of land extend-
ing south and west of Newark. The soil is largely argillaceous,
hard, tenacious in the extreme, and filled with innumerable
quantity of stone, mostly of the volcanic green stone formation,
slate, flint and boulder green stones are mixed in strange confu-
sion and show themselves in great abundance, wherever the soil
on Mr. Shillingsford farm is turned up: his lands for a long series
of years prior to the recent occupation of his farm by himself, was
rented out to tenants whose practice is, as a general rule, to take
off every thing from the farm in the shape of fertility, and to
carry nothing on in return, his farm appeared to your committee,
to have been completely exhausted on the surface wherever Mr.
Shillingsford had not commenced the recent and improved
methods of^usbandry. His system is first to plow and subsoil to
the depth of 24 inches, the stone are taken out of the ground, he
then plies it freely with muck which has been composted in his
barn yard, the next operation is to apply a heavy dressing of
quick lime ; this renders the land healthy and fertile for cultiva-
tion : the ground crops and Indian corn are now introduced to the
soil, the subsoiling and the muck afford the necessary facilities
for the tap-roots to run down and drain their nutriment from the
improved soil, to the lowest depths required for their growth.

•
The field of Indian corn on which Mr. Shillingsford invited

your committee to give their particular attention, consisted of

about 8 acres, it had been plowed up twice before planting in

No. 133.] 69

the spring, the hills were 4 feet apart, no manure was put into
the hills except the improved superphosphate of lime ; this was
used at the rate of 3 oz., for each hill of corn making about 300
lbs. per acve, he planted for tour stalks of corn to each hill.
When your committee visited this farm the growth of this corn
was surprisingly great, it was of the darkest green color, unusual-
ly healthy and vigorous in its appearance, it yielded when
gathered 175 bushels of ears to the acre, making about 85 bushels
of shelled corn.

The field presented to your committee the effects of three
methods of cultivation ; first the improved superphosphate of
lime alone had been applied to the whole field, except about one
third of an acre ; next some 8 rows of corn had been manured in
the hill fr )m the hog pen aloue, and some 4 or 5 rows of corn had
been planted and grown without manure of any kind ; the last
method of cultivation presented a sorry appearance indeed for a
crop; the corn manured from the hog pen was deficient, on an
average not more than two stalks appeared in the hills, and these
were oftentimes assailed by the grub worm, giving them a sickly
and unhealthy appearance. The stalks of corn which had been
manured by the improved superphosphate of lime were free from
disease, and had not been attacked by the grub worm, or any
other enemy.

Adjacent to this field of corn was growing a field of carrots
which had been dressed with the improved superphosphate of
lime at the rate of about 300 lbs. per acre ; we have since been
informed that Mr. Shillingsford gathered 900 bushels of carrots
from this field which was about | of an acre of ground ; the sorts
were Red altringham and White belgrain in about equal quantities,
they were sown early in the spring and hoed sufiiciently to keep
them entirely free from weeds.

In a field adjacent to his house, Mr. Shillingsford exhibited to
your committee, 3 acres of timothy, it was of an uncommon growth;
he informed your committee that in .the spring he sowed on this
field about 600 lbs of improved superphosphate of lime, intending
to plow the same under for a ground crop, that owing to some de-
lay the field lay after tlie manuring about a fortnight, and to his

Td^ [Assembly

great surprise a rapid growth of grass appeared, when he had not
thought of mowing the grounds for some years before. This
grass was ready for cutting, the growtli indicated a yield of 2 tons
per acre.

My Shillingsford's stock was full bred consisting of 2 yoke of
oxen, 2 bulls, 7 cows, 10 yearlings, 2 horses and 6 to 8 swinCj
which exhibited a healthy and vigorous growth, he also had a
yard of superior dunghill fowls.

The general economy of his farm, and buildings, showed care-
ful management, and good thrift. The farm itself consisted of
about 50 acres, it was almost a desert wilderness when he went
on it 3 now it's a smiling domain.

Your comniittee unanimously recommend Mr, Shillingsford a
premium of a silver medal, for the best field of Indian corn.

Jan. 1, 1853.

A. NASH,

JAMES DE PEYSTER,
DAVID BANKS,
THOMAS BELL,
NICHOLAS WYCKOFF.

Commitiee.

John W. Chambers, Secretary.

FARM OF PETER PIRNIE.

Your committee respectfully report, that on the 30th day of
June, 1852, they visited the farm of Peter Pirnie, Esq., situated
in the town of East Chester, in the county of Westchester, New-
York.

This farm is about 20 miles from the city of New- York, about
one mile east of Bronxville, on the Harlem railroad ; it consists
of 85 acres. The soil of this farm is fertile and warm; it lies
upon a rock formation of granite and mica slate, with occasional
beds of limestone. Twenty-five acres of this farm is in wood land,

No. 133.] 71

consisting principally of oak, hickory and chestnut. The crops
growing at the time your committee visited it, were 25 acres of
grass for hay, 8 acres of Indian corn. 4 acres of potatoes, 5^ acres
of wheat^ 5 acres of oats ; the balance was pasture and fruit or-
chards.

Mr. Pirnie had growing on this farm 300 apple trees, most of
which had been grafted with choice varieties of fruit. He had 40
pear trees, 80 cherry trees, 150 peach trees, besides a large num-
ber of plum trees.

The garden which surrounded his house, consisted of 1^ acres
of ground, in which were growing and in bearing 4,000 strawber-
ry plants ; these consisted of Hovey's Seedling, Burr's Mammoth,
Prince Albert, and Swainstone's Seedling, 1,000 of each. In the
garden was also a grape arbor 150 feet long,* 10 feet high, and 8
feet wide, entirely covered with vines of the Isabella and Catawba
varieties ; which were thrifty and loaded with clusters. They had
been pruned judiciously.

In his green-house were growing a Black Hamburg and a Gol-.
den Chasselas vine ; these were both flourishing and healthy, made
so by throwing a full supply of light and fresh air daily upon the
vines. He uses the flour of sulphur ueely, to prevent mildew,
and the means of destroying the pyrales and other insects on his
vines. This house was constructed for preserving about 2,000
plants of which 50 were caraelias of the first kinds.

The stock kept by Mr. Pirnie on this farm consisted of 6 cows,
4 horses, 1 pair oxen, 5 young cattle, 6 sheep and 12 hogs. He
informed your committee that he cut last year 60 tons of hay. He
raised 400 bushels of Indian corUj 200 bushels of potatoes. He
usually makes in liis barn-yard from 200 to 300 loads of manure
and coDjpost.

On this farm had been erected three miles of stone wall, which
forms an excellent fencing. The roads which passes by Mr. Plr-
nie's house towards White Plains, as well as that which runs west
to Sc\-rsdale, are lined with a thrifty growth of locust trees, Ro-
hinia pscudacacia. A fine grove of these trees were also growing
upon his farm, covering a rocky swell. Of these locust trees, 823

t2! [Assembly

measured over three feet in circumference, and formed a valuable
stock of timber. These trees had been planted along the sides of
the highways running through Mr. Pirnie's farm by some of the
former proprietors, and now have obtained a growth both useful
for ornament and timber, and added much to the appearance of
the farm.

Your committee found Mr. Pirnie's farm well cultivated, his
buildings in a state of fine order, delightfully located on a high
rolling ground. Much pains had been taken to surround it with
fruit and ornamental trees.

The water to supply the house was furnished by a well, and
was reached at 30 feet from the smrface, w^here springs flowed out
from mica slate and limestone formations.

The location of Mr. Pirnie's farm is in many respects superior ;
no swamp or wet grounds are found on his lands. The mansion
house is upon the road direct from White Plains to New- York,
and at the junction of the road from Scarsdale.

Mr. and Mrs. Pirnie entertained your committee with cordiali-
ty and generous hospitality. The healthy and delightful location
of Mr. Pirnie's mansion, contributed much to the enjoyment of
the occasion.

Your committee respectfully recommend a premium of a set of
"The Working Farmer" to Mr. Pirnie, for the groves of locust
trees, and the good cultivation of his farm.

A. NASH,
DAVID BANKS,
JAS. DE PEYSTER,
THOMAS BELL,
NICHOLAS WYCKOFF,
A. CHANDLER, "

Committee,
John W. Chambers, Sec^y.

No. 133.] 73

Report oa the Stone-dressing and Polishing Machines.

We, the undersigned, having been appointed a special commit-
tee by the premium committee of the twenty-fifth annual Fair of
the American Institute, at the request of Mr. C. T. Shelton, pre-
sident of the " Empire Stone-dressing Company of the city of
New-York," to visit their works, foot of 28th, 29th and 30th
streets, with a view of examining and reporting upon the opera-
tion and elficiency of their machinery, consisting of Charles Wil-
son's Patent Stone-dressing Machine, and Albert Eames' Patent
Polishing Machine, which they offer in competition with any ma-
chine designed to produce the same results.

Your committee beg leave to report, that they have visited the
•works, and found the two machines in operation, and do not hesi-
tate to pronounce them to be superior to anything of the kind
within our knowledge, and in our opinion promise a revolution
in the mode and manner of dressing and polishing stone from the
rough to the finish, accomplishing the work with incredible expe-
dition.

We therefore consider Charles Wilson, of Springfield, Mass., as
entitled to a gold medal for the best Stone-dressing machine ;
and that Albert Eames, of Hartford, Conn., is entitled to a gold
medal for the best Stone-polishing machine : which we respectful-
ly submit.

^''ew-YorIc, Oct. 28, 1852.

JOHN A. BUNTING,
JOSEPH COWDlN,

Committee.

74 [Assembly

Report on Pirssoir's DouIjIc Vacuum Steam Condenser.

The judges, to whom the subject of Pirsson's Double Vacuum
Steam Condenser has been referred, respectfully report :

That this invention is well known to them all, in its general
form and principle j that some of them have had opportunities
for seeing it in actual use; and that abundant evidence has been
exhibited to them of its complete success in practice. The prin-
ciples on which this "Steam Condenser" is planned, consist, 1.
In the condensation ot the steam which has been employed in
working an engine, and the collection of the water formed by its
condensation, separate and apart from the water, by whose re-
frigerating effect the steam is condensed. And, 2: In performing
this condensation in such a manner, that no cessation of the work-
ing of the engine shall take place, even should the part of the
apparatus in which the steam is condensed, after leaving the en-
gine, fail altogether, or should its action be partially deranged.

The first of these objects, is of great and universally admitted
importance, whenever water holding saline matter in solution, and
particularly when sea-water is the only description of that fluid
which can be readily obtained. Various plans have been proposed
for attaining this object, but so far as the undersigned know, none
of them have come into general use, in consequence of their not
having fulfilled the second of the above named purposes. Pirs-
son's Condenser, not only accomplishes all that has ever been an-
ticipated by any of these plans, but accomplishes the second ob-
ject so completely and effectually, that the utmost injury that it
can experience, will do no more than reduce the engine to the state
of one working in the ordinary manner, in which the water ari-
sing from the condensed steam is mixed, with that which has been
employed in condensing it.

These two objects are accomplished ; 1. Ey the use of a con-
denser, having the general form, character, and construction of
that usually employed in steamers, which condenser is kept free
by an air pump, in the usual manner, and

No. 133.] 75

2. By placing within this condenser a system of tubes, into
which the steam flows from the cylinder, and in which the vacuum
is maintained by a smaller and separate pump, specially applied
to this object. The water drawn o£F by this pump, is alone used
in feeding the engine, while the water used in the outer condenser
runs to waste.

Evidence has been laid before the undersigned, which has es-
tablished the fact, that a condenser of this construction, has been
in use, without accident, for a number of days, far exceeding the
usual passages of marine steamers ; that a partial defect in the
tubes did not impair, in any way, the absolute efficiency of
the engine; that such partial defect did no more than diminish
the saving of fuel, which was the result of the use of the appa-
ratus when in perfect order; that such partial defects are readily
repaired, by tlie means, at the disposal of the engineers of the
steamers. The advantages which this condenser presents to steam
navigation, are, therefore : the saving of a large proportion of
the fuel, that is required when the boiler is fed by sea water, by
an apparatus, which, at worst, will not, when out of order, in-
volve the consumption of more fuel than would be necessary with
the common condenser ; and the great prolongation of the dura-
tion of boilers by feeding them with pure distilled water.

The undersigned, thierefore, in consideration of these advan-
tages, by which the cost of steam voyages may be reduced, their
length increased, the capacity of cargo enlarged, the duration of
the apparatus prolonged, recommend, that a gold medal, of the
highest order, be conferred on Mr. Pirsson,.by the American In-
stitute.

A^'exc-York, 2\st October, 1852.

J. W. AYRES,
JAS. RENWICK,
H. R. DUNHAM,
HORATIO ALLE^f,

Judges.

76 [ASSEMBLT

Report of (lie Commillee on Ray Prcraiiims.

The committee appointed by the board of managers at the last
annual fair, to decide on the re?j)ective merits of the claimants
for the premiums offered by F. M. Ray, Esq., designed to improve
the conveniences and safety of railroad travel, after devoting much
time and attention to the subject referred to them, have presented
the following report :

The proposition of Mr. Ray, which had been before the public
several months before the opening of the fair, brought forward
110 competitors, presenting an array of inventive genius which
was highly creditable. Mr. Ray's proposition was in the follow-
ing words, viz :

F. M. Ray, Esq., in view of the many accidents occurring on
railroads, and with a desire to promote the safety and comfort of
railway passengers, offers for competition the following premiums.
viz :

Fifteen hundred dollars for the best invention for preventing
loss of life from collisions, and from the breaking of axles and
wheels.

Eight hundred dollars for the best method of excluding dust
from cars when in motion.

Four hundred dollars for the best railroad brake.

Three hundred dollars for the best sleeping or night seats for
railroad cars.

The above premiums will be kept open for competition until
the opening of tlie 25th annual fair, where the plans, drawings
and models of inventions competing for them are expected to be
on exhibition. No inventions already introduced to the public
will be entitled to compete for the prizes. It must be understood
that these inventions are to be such as can be adopted and put
into general use j the inventors in all cases retaining their right
to patents.

No. 133.] 77

The above will be left to the decision of competent judges to
be appointed by a committee of the American Institute.

The subject was subsequently referred by the Institute to the
Board of Managers; by whom unwearied pains were taken Ho
obtain the services of competent gentlemen to serve as Judges,
which eventually resulted in the appointment of those who have
signed the following

REPORT.

To John A. BuntiDg, Esq.,

Chairmaji of Board of Managers.

The undersigned, a committee appointed by the American In-
stitute, in conformity with the foregoing conditions, for the distri-'
bution of premiums offered by F. M. Ray, Esq., for thebestmethod
of preventing accidents and promoting safety and comfort on
railroads, report :

That during the continuance of the fair of the American In-
stitute, held in this city in October last, they critically examined
the great number of inventions offered for competition, and se-
lected from each class, such as, in their judgment, were entitled
to the greatest consideration. A final selection and decision was,
however, postponed, with the hope of obtaining the aid of actual
experiment on some of the untried inventions. Since then the
private occupations of the members of the committee have been
such, that it has been a matter of great difficulty to get a suffi-
cient number together to make a report, and it has consequently
been delayed, very much beyond the wishes of all concerned.

In regard to the two first premiums offered of "$1,500 for the
best invention for preventing loss of life from collisions and from
the breaking of axies and wheels," and "$800 for the best method
of excluding dust from cars when in motion," we regret to say,
that although there were many very ingenious and highly cred-
itable inventions offered, yet from doubts of their utility in actual
service, and in the absence of sufficient actual experiment to es
tablish their merits, we do not ftel prepared to recommend any

78 [Assembly

one of them for adoption into general use, according to the tenor
of the conditions of award.

Your committee can, therefore, under the existing circumstances,
malie no award of the two first prizes of $1,500 and $800 each.

The railroad brake exhibited by Mr. T. A. Stevens, of Burlhigton,
Vt., (entry No. l,407)5best combines, in our opinion, the elements
of efficiency, simplicity and cheapness, as well as general adap-
tation to railroad purposes. We therefore award to it the third
premium of $400.

I
Of the night seats exhibited, we have selected that of Samuel

Hickox, of Buffalo, N. Y., (entry No. 303), as the best, under all

circumstances, that we have seen. It answ^ers well the purposes

of either a day or nightseat j it is not cumbersome or complicated,

is free from most of the ordinary objections of night seats, and

can be made at a very trifling increase of cost over the ordinary

seat. We therefore award to it the fourth prize of $300.

GEORGE STARK,
MADISON SLOAT,
WM. CUMMINGS,
J. R. TRIMBLE, j
F. HUNGERFORD,
Jfew- York J March 15,1853. Judges,

No. 133.] 79

Report ou <Jic large Oxen, owned by G. F. Hastings.

The committee appointed by tlie American Institute, at the
request of Mr. G. F. Hastings, to examine a yoke of oxen of ex-
traordinary size, belonging to him, and now in the city of New
York, submit the following report :

That in discharging the duty assigned them, they have exam-
ined with care the oxen alluded to, and find them in regard to
size, flesh and symmetry of form, truly of an extraordinary charac-
ter. Various testimonials emanating from creditable sources,
were also submitted to your committee, among which were the
proceedings of the Rensselaer co. Agricultural society, the pro-
ceedings of the supervisors of Rensselaer co. at Troy, and also of
the farmers and stock raisers of Washington co., together with
testimonials from gentlemen of undoubted character, speaking of
them in the highest terms of praise.

The oxen were bred in Hoosick, Rensselaer co. by Mr. Wm. M.
Paddock, were worked and fattened by Mr. John Lee ot Washing-
ton CO., and are now owned by Mr. G. F. Hastings of the town of
Jackson, Washington co. Their dams were sisters, they were
both dropped on the same day, in the same yard, grew and work-
ed together until they were five and a half years old, and were
seven years old in the spring of 1852. Their treatment while
worked was of the usual kind ; since which they have been fed
on corn ground with the cob, hay, roots, and occasionally for a
change on oats and corn ground together. They have uniformly
been in good health, and are now growing and fattening as rapid-
ly as can be expected for cattle of their age. It is the opinion ot
persons competent to judge, that they are now capable of improv-
ing largely in their weight.

Mr. Hastings states to us that they have not been weighed since
they were four and a half years old, at which time they weigh-
ed between fifty and fifty five hundred pounds, and were then
in nothing more than common working order. The reason given

80 [Assembly

by Mr. Hastings for not stating their present weight is, that
while they are on exhibition he prefers leaving that to the con-
jecture of those who may examine them, as he considers, to use
his own words, " That the person telling the first story, stands no
chance.'"

Pedigree of the oxen, Amazon and Tornado.

Bred by Wm. M. Paddock, of Hoosick, N, Y; fattened by
John Lee of Cambridge, N. Y ; sired by a bull kept and owned
by R. Gale of Hoosick, whose sire was " Young Nelson " by the
bull " Nelson," which was a short horn Durham, imported from
England by M. Bullock of Albany, for pedigree of which see Eng-
lish herd book.

Their dams were descended in a direct line from the Teeswater
breed, imported by Cadwallader D. Golden, and bred by him.
But owing to the careless manner that farmers have been in the
habit of keeping their cattle, there can be no correct pedigree on
this side made out. Their sires were full or pure breed of the
above named stock, and their dams half blood, the remainingpart
native.

The above are the facts as near as they can be made out.

ROBERT S. LIVINGSTON,
GEORGE DICKEY,
THOMAS F. DE VOE,
THOMAS BELL,
A. CHANDLER,
HENRY MEIGS.

Com7nittee.

GENERAL JEREMLin JOHNSON.

"We have placed at the commencement of this volume, a portrait
of the late venerable chairman of our Board of Agriculture. He
was well known to most of our members, and very few among
those who were in the habit of meeting him at the Institute will
be likely soon to lose a recollection of his cheerful countenance,
the urbanity of his mannei-s, or the earnestness with wiiich he
engaged in the subjects under consideratien.

General Johnson descended from a purely Dutch ancestry, his
immediate progenitors being among the earliest settlers of Long
Island. Jeremias Remsen, son of Rem Jansen, to whom the Gen-
eral was nearly related, was born Sept. 10, 1675, and purchased
the farm at the Wallabout, L. I,, in 1694. On this farm General
Johnson was born. It continued in the Remsen family for many
years. Jeremiah Remsen, who married Jane, daughter of Martin
R. Schenck, died without issue, Sept. 4, 1777, at the age of 63,
and left the family estate to Barnet Johnson, the father of Jere-
miah, who is the subject of this notice. Gen. Johnson had always
lived on the same farm, and after an active, energetic and event-
ful life of 87 years duration, died on the place where he was born,
and on the land which was owned and cultivated by his ancestors
and himself, through the continuance of several generations. The
house in which he died was built by himself in 1800.

General Johnson was familiar with many of the most thrilling
events of our revolutionary war. Living on the shore of Walla-
bout bay, in view of the head quarters of the British forces, he
daily saw the memorable prison ships as they lay moored b«;fore
him, and also saw many of the bodies of the 14,000 martyrs,
brought from these ships and slightly buried upon the beach-

[Assembly No. 133.] 6

82 / [Assembly

where almost each succeeding surge of the sea exposed them to
the naked view.

General Johnson was clerk of the consistory of the Dutch Re-
formed church for a period of forty years. In 1796 he became a
trustee of the town of Brooklyn ; in 1800 he was chosen a super-
visor of the town, which station he held until about 1840, having
been chairman of the board a large portion of the time. In those
days men took office with a full knowledge of the duty and re-
\ sponsibilities assumed by ihem, and deliberated on the best in-
terest of the public with great care, and the strictest integrity;
the citizen felt that he was safe in such hands.

The tenacity with which the early settlers of " New Nederlandt,"
and many of their descendants, adhered to their simple and inno-
cent habits, is very remarkable. It is within the recollection of
several, who were in the habit of attending the meetings of the
board of supervisors, to have seen Gen. Johnson presiding with a
long pipe in his mouth, surrounded by other members addicted to
the use of the weed, enjoying also the luxury of the tube in the
midst of their deliberations. The General was elected a member
of the Assembly in 1808, and again in 1809, in which station he
discharged his duty to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.

General Johnson was fond of military life, and at the commence-
ment of the war of 1812, took an active part in raising troops, kc.
He was a brigadier general when the militia of the State of New-
York were called into active service, took his post with alacrity,
and was in command of Fort Green during the greater part of our
military operations in that quarter. In 1837, he was elected
mayor of Brooklyn, and again in 1838. He was one of the most
faithful, prompt and indefatigable of public officers ; his punctu-
ality was proverbial. The hour of meeting for the common coun-
cil was 3 o'clock, and promptly to the time the General was al-
ways in the chair, and ordered the roll to be called ; if there was
a quorum present the business w^ent on, if not, the board stood
adjourned to the next time of meeting. A portrait of the General,
illustrative of his punctuality, is now hanging in the City Hall,
Brooklyn ; he is represented holding his watch, and pointing to
the hands which had reached the hour of meeting.

No. 133.] 83

He was again elected to the Assembly in 1840, and also in 1841 ;
was elected president of the St. Nicholas Society of Nassau Island
in 1848, and was respected and honored by all its members. The
General made no pretensions to literature, and seldom wrote any-
thing for the public eye ; he nevertheless wielded an eificient pen
when his feelings were aroused, or his sense of justice and propri-
ety were violated by official malpractices or the wrong doings of
individuals. About the years 1831, '2 and '3, Several essayg
from his pen, under the signature Joshua, made their appearance
in some of the city papers, treating of the existing topics of the
day, which were extensively read and applauded by sensible
men.

General Johnson became a member of the American Institute
in 1836, and was unanimously elected .an honorary member in
1849. He served as chairman of the Board of Agriculture in that
institution for several years, in which capacity he rendered essen-
tial service. When a member of the Assembly, in 1841, he was
very active as chairman of the committee on agriculture, in com-
pleting and urging to its final passage the act for the encourage-
ment of agriculture in the State of New- York, from the operations
of which that department of labor has, and we hope will continue
to derive lasting benefits.

Early in the spring of 1837, arrangements were made by the
Institute for holding their first public exhibition of plowing and
testing plows ; designed to ascertain the merits of the respective
plows then before the public, and to excite the emulation of plow-
men, by suitable rewards to those who should exhibit the greatest
skill. In this the General took an active part, and tendered the use
of a field on his farm for the purpose, which was accepted. The
plowing took place on the 28th day of April, 1837, in presence of
a large concourse of people who had assembled to witness it, very
much to the satisfaction of all concerned. The company then
repaired to the village hotel at Williamsburgh, when the awards
were declared. On our way there. Gen. Johnson assured the
writer of this notice, that the first iron plow ever used in the State
of New- York was first put into the soil on the field where we had
just been plowing. A large number of the persons assembled

<iW [ASSEMBLT

partook of a repast, prepared at the hotel, at which Gen. Tall-
madge, president of the Institute, presided", assisted by Gen. John-
son as vice-presid(;'nt. Addresses were made by gentlemen from
-Various parts of the country, by Gen. Tallmadge, Col. William L,
Stone and Gen. Johnson, who, at the close ol his remarks, pro-
posed the following toast in Dutch, which, as it embodies a histo-
rical fact, we insert here, with a translation. Gen. Johnson pro-
posed the memory of,

" Joris Janse De Rappelje, Teunis Guysbert Bogart, ende Jere-*
miah Remse Vanderbeck, bowleiden van Waael in Nederlandt,
die en de Waalleboght in Nieu Nederlandt de erste landt bowers
waren, begeninde in het jaar 1625."

Iranslation — " George Jansen De Rappelje, Tunis Guysbert Bo-
gart, and Jeremiah Remsen Vanderbeck, farmers from Waael, in
the Netherlands ; they were the first men who began farming in
the New Netherlands at the Wallabout, in the year 1625."

The General subsequently attended many of our exhibitions of
this kind, at which we always found him the first in the field,
and the last to leave it. He was emphatically an extraordinary
man, devoting himself with singular fidelity and promptness to
whatever he undertook ; his opinions' were expressed with moder-
ation and sincerity ; as a public man, he was discerning and steady ;
as a partizan, temperate and honorable; as a christian, unobtru-
sive and confident.

General Johnson died on the 20th of October, 1852, in a per-
fectly composed and unclouded state of mind ; at peace with all
his fellow men, and with entire confidence in the saving power of
the Redeemer. It was his particular request that his body might
be borne to its final resting place, in a strictly private manner,
entirely free from all display. In consequence of which the pre-
sent General Duryea, as a testimony of respect for the deceased,
Issued an order announcing his death, from which we make the
following extract : " It would be proper that this brigade should
bear the remains of their old commander to the grave with every
tribute of military honor, were it not his expressed desire, that
without military or civic escort, by his family alone, this solemn
duty should be performed."

No. 133.] 85

An immense concourse of friends and acquaintances assembled
at his late residence on the 22d, to be present at the funeral ser-
vices, which were conducted by ministers of the Reformed Dutch
church, in an impressive and solemn manner. A chapter from
the scriptures was read by the Rev. Mr. Strong, after wliicli a very
appropriate address was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Dwight, and
the service was closed with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Greenleaf.
The body w^as kept until the next day, when it was conveyed to
Greenwood Cemetery, by the members of his family alone, and
there deposited in its last resting place. a. c.

Not long since the following original paper was handed to us.
It is well authenticated, and as it contains an important historical
fact, we have taken the liberty of putting it upon record here.

A. Chandler, Esq.,

Dear Sir, — A short time before the death of my mother (Feb.,
1844,) she gave me this paper, and remarked, "your father and
myself wero walking in the neighborhood w^here the bones were
scattered over the surface ; some partly and others entirely un-
covered. He remarked that it was a disgrace to the country.
After walking a little farther, he said that he would have tliem
collected. He left me and went to a neighboring house, where he
found that there were several children. He made this agreement
with the father, and under this agreement the bones were col-
lected."

B. AYCRIGG.

New- York, jXov. 28, 1853.

'' Wallabout, Long Island, Jtug. 24, 1805.
" I do hereby agree to collect all the human bones as far as may
" be without digging, about the shore and banks of this place,
" (buried from on board the prison ship Jersey during the revolu-
" tion of America,) and deliver the same to Benjn Aycrigg, at this
" place, at one cent per pound, within one year from ihis date."

AMOS CHENEY.

Mr. L. Alexaaders's Submarine Vessel.

This novel vessel was presented at our last Fair by tlie inventor,
Mr. L. Alexander, and made two successful descents to tlie bot-
tom of the river opposite Castle Garden, in presence of a large
number of persons who had assembled for the purpose of witness-
ing the operation. Her last descent was made on the 28th day of
October ; she disappeared from the surface of the water at half
past one o'clock with seven persons on board, and descended to
the bottom in 35 feet of water. At the bottom the hatchway was
opened, and continued open for one hour and ten minutes. During
the time a small rock was broken, the pieces of which were brought
to the surface. At the expiration of the time stated, the vessel
ascended to the surface and the company landed, dry, and well
pleased with the experiment. They testified that tlie vessel gave
proof of capacity to make explorations in much greater depths of
water. The cut is a very good representation of the vessel, show-
ing a part of the interior.

Description of the Vessel.

The invention of the submarine Vessel is the application, upon
a large scale, of the physical law to which the illustrious Marri-
otte has given his name, and which is invaiiable in its effects.
This law is, that a certain quantity of air inclosed in a given
space, will overcome the force with which a column of water
Strives to enter the reservoir, and compel the water to confine
itself to such limits as are desired, according to the degree of
condensation to which the air is subjected.

No. 133] 87

The submarine boat is wholly constucted of boiler iron, con-
nected by rivets. In shape it is an elongated ellipse, resembling
somewhat the form of an egg; in length it is thirty feet, and ten
feet in diameter at its greatest tranyerse section ; it has thirty-six
tons of displacement, and weighs 20,000 lbs. At its sides are
placed thirty orifices— twenty six of these, which are eight
inches in diameter, are filled with bull's-eyes, as is the custom in
ships, for the purpose of admitting the solar light into the interior.
Of the four remaining orifices, two are used as entrances for men
into the vessel ; and the two others at the bottom of the vessel
communicate directly with the soil at the bottom of the waves.
These last two orifices, which we will call hatchways, are each
two feet and a half in length by eighteen or twenty inches in
breadth. At the stern of this novel vessel, on its exterior, just
above the rudder, is seen a screw propeller, about three feet
in diameter, which is sulTicient to propel the vessel without
difficulty. Both the propeller and ihe rudder have shafts com-
municating with the interior, passing through stuffing boxes. The
men in the interior of the vessel can thus guide its motions with
facility.

On the sides, and at the exterior of the boat, are placed, upon
hinges, two safety ballast supporters, and suspended by strong
chains.

These safety ballast supporters, which are constructed of wrought
iron, resemble in shape a gridiron, and their object is to carry,
when desired, a quantity of stone ballast of no value, which
loads or lightens the vessels at pleasure in its ascending or de-
scending movements. The movemculs of these safety ballast
supporters are also governed by ajiparatus in the interior of the
vessel. A stout iron bolt, Which passes through a stuffing box,
and which may be moved up or down in it, raises or depresses
the safety ballast supporters as is desired.

If we enter the inferior of the submarine boat through the
man-hole, we find durselvt'S in an apartment which inextent occu-
pies about two- fifths of the vessel; the other three-iifths of its
volume being occupied by two laige reservoirs, to which are
fitted two pairs of pun)ps, each having two separate functions,
either for air or for water.

88 [Assembly

The object of having two pumps for each of these uses, is to
guard against tliose accidents by which one of them might be
rendered unserviceable. This precaution is the more necessary as
the pumps are employed in every movement of the submarine
boat. Each of tliese pumps, No. 1 aud No. 2, is provided with
four cocks, whose use is to produce alternately the expansion and
compression of the air, and the expulsion or supply of water in
such a manner that they may throw off, or compress, or supply
air or water at pleasure, to the reservoirs to which we have already
referred ; for the whole operation of the submarine boat depends
upon the displacement of a certain quantity of condensed air, and
in taking in or throwing off a body of w^ater more or less consi-
derable, by working the pumps. Thus, if it is desired to descend
to the bottom of the water, the crew, before closing the man-hole
by which they entered, will employ themselves in forcing into
the reservoir the supply of atmospheric air necessary to balance
the weight of the column of water, proportioned to the depth to
which it is desired to descend. For the lower it is desired to
descend, the more should the air be condensed in the reservoir,
so that its resistance may prevent the entrance of the water.

Then, having thus obtained a sufficient supply of air, the man-
hole is to be closed, and we proceed to effect the entire submer-
sion of the boat. This operation is iu itself very simple. It will
be easily understood, when we say that the men who are inclosed
in the interior proceed with the water-pumps, to force into the
water chamber, a sufficient quantity of water to overcome the
equilibrium which keeps the boat floating, and to sink it to the
bottom of the stream.

Then the boat, by virtue of the law of heavy bodies which only
possess the requisite weight to overcome the equilibrium of the
pressure and of the specific gravity of water, passes through the
liquid at the velocity of one foot a second, and settles gently upon
the bottom. After arriving at the bottom, the crew proceed to
produce the balance of the atmospheric pressure with the pressure
of the water in which they are placed, by means of a small valve
which is between the two hatchways at the bottom, and of another
valve which is placed behind the pumps, the last of which com-
municates with the air-chamber.

No. 133.] aa

Let us suppose the valve No. 6 alone to be open ; the pressure
of the water of the river will immediately cause a jet d\au in the
cabin : but if, to prevent the invasion of this water, the valve 8
be opened at the same time, a portion of the condensed air in the
reservoir, rushing into the cabin, will there establish a resisting
pressure, capable of overcoming the power of the pressure of tlie
water, and from that moment the water of the river will be ex-
cluded by the resistance of the pressure of the atmosphere of the
interior, and the equilibrium of pressure and resistance will be
permanently established.

The hatchways are then to be opened, and the submarine soil
will be exposed to the view and touch of the workmen within,
who may anchor upon it, and operate with equal facility, either
for mining rocks, or for fishing gold, pearls, &c., &c.

The mode of reascending is also perfectly simple, and as easily
understood as that of descending, and may be performed in about
the same time; thus, if it has been necessary, fer example to take
in the weight of a thousand gallons of water, to sink the boat to
the bottom of the stream, it will be only necessary to expel the
same weight of water, with the same pumps, which act in a
double capacity, to lighten it sufficiently to cause it to rise to the
surface ; or, if it is desired to ascend more suddenly, it will be
sufficient to work the bolt to which are attached the chains by
which the safety ballast supporters are suspended with the ex-
ternal ballast contained on them ; at the same instant, the boat,
freed from a weight double that of the water which has retained
it at the bottom of the stream, darts to the surface with the speed
of ten feet a second.

Purity of the air breathed by the men in the boat.
This fluid, which, by the known effect of breathing, becomes
more and more charged with carbonic acid gas, whose deleterious
effect upon the lungs is well understood, is purified by means of
a pump, which, taking it from the cabin, passes it through a solu-
tion of patash, which is kept in a caustic state by means of quick-
lime, in which it deposits its carbonic acid, and returns to the
men only pure oxygen.

So [Assembly

The submarine boat can safely descend to navigate, or remain
stationary under the water, at the depth of from ten to one
hundred feet, with or without a direct or indirect communication
with the exterior.

The crew consists of from three to six men, who can remain,
without inconvenience, from four to seven hours under "water
without ascending, or ascend at their pleasure. The air which
they breath, is purified by a pump, which absorbs the carbonic
acid, and gives out the oxygen in a condition favorable for the
lungs.

The pressure of the wholesome air in the cabin,not being above
two and one-half atmospheres for one hundred feet of depth, is
supportable seven or eight hours without fatigue.

The boat may be conveniently employed to explore the bottoms
of rivers, lakes, and harbors, either to examine reefs, or to mine
them with a view to their removal. It may also be employed in
submarine fisheries for pearls, lor examining sunken vessels,
mining for gold, &c.

It may also be used very advantageously in laying wire for
telec^raphs, and in the salvage of sunken vessels. For these
operations, it may accomodate a crew of seven men.

The construction of a Submarine Vessel will cost about 5,700
or 6,000 dollars, and for extraordinary occasions, may be con-
structed upon a larger scale.

This apparatus may in time be rendered the means of effecting
great services to the navy department, for exploring the bottom
of ports, inspecting docks, securing dams, inspecting the founda-
tions of bridges, building up submarine constructions, carrying
cements and materials to the bottom of basins, looking for break-
ers, studying the coasts, making submarine maps, ascertaining
currents, looking for wrecked persons, &c.

It is intended for gold and commercial marine searching; also
for fishing for pearls, mother of pearls, coral, sponges; recovering
property in sunken ships, blasting rocks, putting at the bottom of
rivers and preserving from any accidents, the wires of magnetic
telegraphs, S:c., &c.

MACHINERY AT TBE LATE FAIR.

Cochran's Quartz- crushing Machine.

EXPLANATION.

A. A. — Foundation frame.

B. B. — Lower plate or disc.

C. C. — Upper disc.

D.— Pully and belt for giving motion to upper plate, and by it
to the balls.

H. — Fly wheel.

a. a. — Balls or spheres.

g. g. — Grating screen or bolter.

d. d. — Outside curb to conduct the ground matter, by the outer
or conducting pipes to the amalgamator or other receiving appa-
ratus. ■ ':"i^'"

h. h. — Pipes.

92 [AsSEMBLt

All the matter to be ground is received through the opening of
the fly wheel, and follows the direction of the arrows to the amal-
gamator or other receivers.

This is a very recent invention of great simplicity, and more effec-
tive than any method heretofore in use for the purpose of crushing
hard substances. It is the invention of Mr. John W. Cochran, of
New-York city.

The machine consists of two saucer-shaped cast iron basins, one
of which is permanently fixed upon a solid foundation, and fur-
nished with six cast iron balls, each nearly or quite touching its
neighbor. The other saucer is inverted and placed upon the top
of the balls ; the outer surface of the inverted basin is constructed
for carrying a driving band, balance wheel and feeding trough,
through which the material to be crushed is conveyed to the in-
terior of the machine.

The upper saucer may be made to revolve at any desired speed,
carrying ihe balls around. It should be mentioned that three of
the balls are larger than the others, and placed in the lower basin
alternately. The revolution of the upper basin gives a forward
axial motion to the larger balls, whilst the motion of the smaller
ones is reversed by contact with the larger. The granulated ma-
terial passes from the peripheries of the balls, through a sieve or
grating, and is deposited in a trough outside the basin, and thence
descends to the opening below.

It would seem that there is little liability in this machine to
get out of order ; it presents the appearance of great durability
and cheapness in construction, and the granulation of the material,
particularly gold bearing quartz, is deemed far preferable to pul-
verizing with stampers, because, by the latter process, a quantity
of the metal is liable to be carried off in leafy particles, coated
with iron pyrites.

The machine is adapted to pulverising gold, iron, zinc, copper
and lead ores, plaster, flint, coal, pumice, bones, drugs and dye
stuffs, copper and iron cinders, marble, cinnabar, barytes, in short
every minnral substance, wet or dry, as may be required. At
Com. Stockton's mine in Fluvana county, Virginia, it is certified

No. 133.] -SB

by Mr. Wm. Bearly, mining engineer, that twenty four head of
the most complete stamps could not reduce to powder more than
half the quantity of Cochran's machine in the same time, with the
application of equal power. In one of Cochran's machines, driven
by a band seven inclies wide, at the rate of six hundred teet per-
minute, 14,160 pounds accurately weighed was perfectly pulver
ized in one hour and fifty minutes. a. c.

MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES.

The competitors in this department of agricultural machinery
numbered nine. It is to be regretted that the managers could
not have had an opportunity of testing practically the merits of
these different machines; the lateness of the season, however,
rendered such a test impossible. Consequently, the judges to
whom they were submitted had very little save an examination
of the machines to guide them in coming to any satisfactory con-
clusion as to their respective merits. The judges say: "The
machines submitted to us are of two distinct classes, viz : one for
mowing alone, the others combine the operation of mov;ing and
reaping. The machine exhibited by W. F. Ketchum, of Buffalo,
for mowing, from our own examination, and from the evidence
presented to us, we are of opinion, is a valuable machine. The
maker of it has been the pioneer in the introduction of mowing
macldnes, and has spent many years in overcoming obstacles to
its success; we recommend to it the highest award of the Insti-
tute, as a mowing machine. Of those which combine reaping
and mowing, there are six, and one model. They all show a
very high order of merit, and some of them have done good ser-
vice in both kinds of work ; one of them is entirely new, and two
of them have not been in a condition for us to estimate what they
might do. Under these circumstances, your committee have
thought they could not give such an opinion of their comparative
merits as would be creditable to the Institute or just to the ex-
hibitors, and therefore suggest that this statement be published
in lieu of awarding distinctive premiums." We will add here
the names of all the exhibitors : W. F. Ketchum, Buffalo, mow-

M

['Assembly

ing; Mr. McCormick, Chicago, 111., reaping and mowing; Mr.
J. H. Manny, Illinois, reaping and mowing. Mr. T. D.
Burrall, Geneva, N. Y., reaping and mowing ; Mr. E. F. Forbush,
Buffalo, reaping and mowing ; Mr. Schnibley, reaping and mow-
ing ; Mr. J. Rapalje, reaping and mowing; Mr. H. B. Chaffe,
Hartford, Conn., a model.

Mr. J. W Wright, Chicago, Illinois, reaping, mowing, and
raking machine, invented by Atkins. This machine came in too
late for competition. The committee, however, in view of th©
ingenuity displayed in the automaton raker, awarded a silver
medal. a. c.

MACHINE FOR PAGING ACCOUNT BOOKS.

Messrs J. & W. McAdams, Boston, Mass., exhibited two ma-
chines for printing tlie folios in account books, consisting of an
endless chain of type running in succession over a flat shaft so as
to expose in regular order two pages at a time for printing, which
is done by the foot motion, bringing two ingeniously contrived
plattens together; at the same time, the reverse of the same mo-
tion turns two more pages, and inks both sides with one ink
roller. This machine is capable of paging books as last as the

1^0. 133.]

95

leaves can be turned over, ■without the possibility of mistake.
The machine reduces at once the difficult labor of paging account

books to a simple mechanical performance, not requiring on the
part of the operator even a knowledge of figures. It received a

gold medal.

Messrs. Mc Adams also exhibited an improved method of ruling,
by which the process is facilitated, together with specimens of
ruling in a great variety of forms, to each of which a silver medal
was awarded.

CAST STEEL GEARED HOLLERS.

These rollers are mainly used by silversmiths and jewellers for
the purpose of rolling silver or gold into plates of various thick-

"96 [Assembly

nesses. A good pair of rollers is an important apparatus or ma-
chine to ardsans engaged in these pursuits, to obtain which it
has not always been an easy matter.

Messrs. Blake and Johnston, of Waterbury, Mass., exhibited a
pair of cast steel geared rollers at our late fair, of very superior
workmanship and finish. The cogs in^tead of being parallel to
the shafts, are angular, assuming a spiral form, by which ar-
rangement it is claimed a greater degree of steadiness is obtained.
The material leaves the rollers in a perfectly smooth state,
whereas, ordinarily it isdiincult to avoid a rather uneven and wavy
appearance on tlie surface of the metal. A gold medal was
awarded to Messrs. Blake and Johnston. a. c.

NOTARIAL AXa COPYING PRESSES.

Messrs. E. B. Clayton L Sons, New- York city, exhibited a large
assortiiient of presses for the above pui poses, composed of all the
requisite sizes, which were of very superior workmanship. The
construction of the notarial presses is**t^«f.*D ensure efficiency
and cekrity of operation, with Teqtiisit« r^refigth and durability,
as well as neatness of form ; -some offhem have adjusted springs,
which by means of a quicTi thread screw, cause the die to rise of
itself la all thtlse presses tlve bolt and screw are in one piece,
with adjusting rods at the side, for guidiug the screw, which also
ensures steadiness.

The copying presses are also of an improved construction,
by whicli greater strength is acquired, as well as increased fa-
cilities in the process of copying, a. c.

BRUNDRED S P.^TENT THROSTLE.

Messrs. B. Brundred, Son & Co., Oldham works, near Patter-
son, New Jersey, exhibited a new spinning frame, of which the
following cut is a representation. The distinguishing leature of

No. 133,]

97

this Tluostle, is the use of a horizontal friction wheel 2 feet 8
inches diameter, for driving the bobbins, the beveled edge of the
bobbin tubes resting on the beveled edge of the friction wheel. B}'
this arrangement, bands for the spindles are dispensed with, and
the inconvenience caused by changes of weather from damp to dry
are altogether avoided, W'hichis an item of importance.

The principle is here shown on a cup frame, but it is applica-
ble to the several kinds of spinning, such as the ring and travel-
ler, live spindle and flyer, dead spindle with flyer, as used in the
largest establishments at Lowell. This Throstle can be built of
any desired length, from 10 to 60 feet, and with from 64 to 500
spindles. The length of a frame of 128 spindles, is 18 feet; of
272 spindles, 34 feet 10 inches; increasing or diminishing 22J
inches for every friction wheel of 16 spindles. The traverse is
4 inches, 4^ inches, or 5 inches, according to the nature of the
spinning.

The following memorandums of its speed and production have
been supplied by parties who have it in operation, viz :

On No. 50 s.
36 s.
30 s.

18 s.
12 s.
14 s.
30 s.

19 s.

96 revolutions of the front roller per minute.
106 "

112 to 115 «

140 to 150 "

150 to 170 "

8^ hanks per spindle in 11^ hours.

9

12 hours.

A. c.

[Assembly, No. 133.]

98"

[Assembly

WROUGHT IRON PLANING CYLINDER.

Mr. J. T. Bruen, of Hastings, N. Y., exhibited specimens of ma-
chinery of very superior workmanship, among which we would
particularly notice a Planing Cylinder, made of wrought iron, and
well constructed for the easy and perfect adjustment of the cut-
ting edges or knives. The surface of boards or other stuff planed
by this cylinder, as shown to us, was of extraordinary smoothness.

A stone saw, and other implements from the machine shop of
Mr. Bruen, gave evidence of the greatest perfection in mechanism.

A. c.

DOVETAILING MACHINE.

Mr. Ari Davis exhibited a machine for accomplishing the pur-
pose of dovetailing. It consists of two saws and a revolving cut-

ter when required, which are thus arranged : One saw accurately
cuts the mitre, the other cuts a groove at any required distance
from the end of the mitred stuff, on the outside, from top to bot-
tom, into which one edge of a metallic plate is to be inserted.
Now, when two ends of the mitred stuff are brought together,
forming one corner of the box, the metallic plate, which may be
a strip of plate brass bent longitudinally at right angles, with its
terminating edges bent inwards, which edges are inserted in the

[No. 133.] 99

grooves, and the plate is driven down from top to bottom, forming
the outer corner of the box, and permanently embracing both
parts. In this case the metallic corner will project its thickness
beyond the wooden sides of the box. If it is desirable that it
should be flush with the wood, a revolving cutter may be ad-
justed to the shaft of the groove- cutting saw, and next to it, by
which the superfluous wood can be removed, and the plate, when
driven on the corner, will be flush with the wooden part of the
box.

It is rather a misnomer to call this a Dovetailing Machine, be-
cause dovetailing is a manner of fastening boards together by let-
ting one piece into another with tenons, in the form of a dove's
tail spread. The machine in question seems rather designed to
supercede the labor of dovetailing, in putting the parts together
by other means, in a very permanent manner, cheaper and more
expeditiously. a. c.

perry's improved stop motion paper cutter.

The manufacture of paper of all descriptions, has been very
materially improved of late years. By the process now in use,
all paper for printing, and much of the papers for writing, are
made in one continuous sheet, and it is necessary to cut it into
such lengths or sizes as m^y be desired. This is done by ma-
chinery, and some difficulty has arisen from the imperfections in
the machines adopted, inasmuch as it was found difficult to cut
the sheets square, which is a very important consideration, as re-
lates to printing with the new fast power press, now generally in
use.

Mr. Perry's improvement consists in the application of a
straight edge across the sheet, at the moment the cutting com-
mences, but does not arrest the descent of the paper from the
cylinder. The straight edge is operated by a cam, and nips the
paper just above the point of cutting, which is performed in an
nstant, and the straight edge being released, the paper descends

100 I Assembly

perpendicularly to the next point for cutting, when the same pro-
cess is repeated, and the paper is thus divided into sheets, all per-
fectly square. The improvement is applicable to all cylinder
cutters heretofore In use, at a cost of about $25 each. Mr. Per-
ry's address is 49 Oliver st., N. Y. a. c.

No. 133.]

101

102 [Assembly

bottling machine.

Mr. William Gee, No. 66 Gold St., N. Y., exhibited, in connec-
tion with his soda apparatus, a machine for bottling, as shown in
the annexed cut. These machines were excellent specimens of
mechanism, and reflect the highest credit upon the skill of the
manufacturer.

The soda water is made in a self-acting generator, from which
it passes to the bottling machine through the pipe a. The bot-
tle must be placed under the cylinder b : then the foot, placed on
the treadle e, must press it down ; now raise the lever d, as shown
in the cut, so as to put the corks into the cylinder 6, the lever d
is then pushed down so far that the lower part of the corks are a
little above the orifice for the admission of the water, and the
one for the escape of air contained in the bottle ; the water is now
turned on at valve c, until the bottle is filled to the required
height ; the small weight on the end of the lever, should be so
regulated as to permit the escape of the air, and permit the bot-
tle to fill ; when full, the valve c is stopped off, and the cork
forced into the bottle by pushing down lever d with the hand.
The cylinder should now be raised, but the lever d remains until
seized by the tongs/, when it may be raised so as to free the bot-
tle, which is then placed under tyer g, where the cork is tied.
The stroke of the piston may be lengthened or shortened, at
pleasure, screwing around the nut on piston b. The corks should
have boiling water thrown over them and remain in while bot-
tling; if a small quantity of sweet oil is added, they enter the
bottle much easier, a. c.

No. 133."!

103

D. DICK'S ANTI-FRICTION CHEESE PRESS.

The Hadley Falls Co. Holykoke, Mass., exhibited, at our late
fair, a clieese press, constructed on the plan of Dick's anti-fric-
tion press, of great novelty, convenience, and apparent dura-
bility, fir which the Institute awarded its silver medal.

The above cut represents this press so plainly, that a minute
description of its parts is unnecessary. It is made entirely of
iron, of great strength, occupies but little room, and possesses,
apparently, every requisite for a perfect cheese press. Probably,
the greatest fault in the cheese made in our country, is the want
of thorough pressing, which leaves the cheese damp, with cavi-
ties for the easy access of flies, and retaining the elements of pu-
trefaction and decay. Perfect pressing is of the greatest impor-
tance in making the best flavored cheese. The manufncturers of
cheese are here presented with a press of undoubted power and
perfect simplicity. These presses are furnished by the company
ot various sizes, and warranted to stand certain pressures. A
press for $20, for cheese of 20 to 60 lbs, with five tons pressure ;
for cheese of 60 to 120 lbs., with eight tons pressure, $25 ; for
cheese of 200 lbs., with ten to twelve tons pressure, $30 ; a screw
at the top of the press, regulates the upper platin to the thick-
ness of the cheese, and the pressure is continuous, through the
lever and the rollinsc cam below.

104

[Assembly

COUA^TING HOUSE CALENDER CLOCK.

Mr. J. H. Hawes, of Ithaca, N. Y., exhibited a clock of his in-
vention, designed for the use of counting rooms, banks, railroad
offices, pu^'lic houses, &c., which, if it performs all that is claimed
for it, will, undoubtedly, prove a valuable acquisition The
calender exhibits the year, month, day of the month, day of the
week, and the time of day, making the proper number of days in
each month, including leap year, with unfailing certainty, and
requires no changing or winding during the year. It received
the gold medal of the Institute. a. c.

GWYNNE S CENTRIFUGAL BALANCE PUMP.

The annexed engravings are views of '' G Wynne's Centrifugal
Balance Pump," patented last year. Figure 1 is a vertical trans-
verse section. Figure 2 is an outside view of figure I, show-
ing the discharge-pipe, D. Figure 3 is an inside view, showing
one disc with its radial arms. Fgure 4 is an edge view of the
two discs or rotary pistons which constitute the pump when
placed inside of the fixed case, figure 2. The same letters refer
to like parts.

1^0. 133.]

105

Figure 1.

FiGCBB 2.

106

[Assembly

The nature of a centrifugal pump consists in receiving water
by an orifice or opening at the centre, and discharging it at the
periphery. It has no sliding pistons or rings, like most rotary
pumps, but simpfy consists in having two discs united together
by an arm or arms, and placing these on a shaft in an air-tight
case, connected with a central suction orifice, and a circumferen-
tial discharge pipe. > A, figure 4, is the rotary piston, formed of
the two discs, which are constructed with radial arms, as shown
in figure 3, and which constitute the water passages, through
which the water flows from the central inlet openings in radial
lines to the circumference where it is discharged at tangents into
-the pipe D. Tlie rotary piston is secured on the shaft, C ; 3 and

A

Figure 3. Figure 4.

4 are central openings into the inside of the two discs, w ich are
formed like two saucers united, with their concave surfaces
placed towards one another ; K is a stuffing box, and P is the
packing; L is the driving shaft, on wnich a pulley is secured to
drive the rotary piston by a belt ; G is the chamber in which the
water is gathered previous to its discharge, and F is the base of
the case for the pump to be secured to any proper bed, and at
the same time it is the suction pipe which leads down into the
cistern, or whtitever it may be. The water, therefore, enters up
through the bottom of the outside case, and passes into the inner
case by the central openings, 3 and 4, and into the interior of the
rotary piston, the two united discs, and is driven out of the pipe
D. H is a bearing for the journal of shaft, C. The engravings
exhibit what is termed a drainage pump, one built for the dis-
charge of large volumes of water to distances of from 6 to 20 feet.
For great elevations, and fire-engines, a smaller suction and dis-
charge pipe, and smaller issues in the rotary piston are employed.

No. 133.] 107

It must be admitted that the constniction of this pump is sim~
pie. A rotary piston, when so arranged as to require no pack-
ing, and not rubbing with its periphery on a stationary surface,
possesses undoubted advantages. We understand these pumps
are constructed much cheaper than ordinary pumps claiming the
same capacities. Our judges, at the 25th Fair of the American
Institute, reported fav^orably on Gwynne's pump, and recom-
mended it for low lifts. They are manufactured at the works of
the Union Power Company, 353 West 24th-streetj New-York
city. A. c.

Aiken's Saw Sets.

Mr. H. Aiken, of Franklin, N. H., exhibited, at our late fair,
specimens of his saw-sets, for which he received the award of a
silver medal. This instrument, wherever known, seems to have
met with very decided approbation, as possessing qualities supe-
rior to all others, although there are many in the market, and we
have confidence in stating that those from the hands of Mr. Aiken,
may be relied on as being made of the best materials and thoroughly
tested. Some idea of the importance of such an instrument may
be arrived at when we consider that there are over ninety differ-
ent kinds of saws now in daily use, in the hands of artizans, ap-
plied to wood-work ; it is probably true that the saw, in some form
or other, is more extensively used than any other mechanical im-
pliment, and all of them require the constant care and attention
of skillful workmen to be kept in order. We copy the following
from Mr. Aiken's circular.

"The edges of the teeth at the extreme points in all saws, le-
come worn off by use, and require frequent repairing. This saw-
set will bend the teeth in the angle required, condense and refine
the steel , bring the points to an edge, and extend the teeth in length ,
which saves a great portion of the labor usually wasted in filing,
and consequently saves the wear of files, wliich are expensive.
The great accuracy with which this saw-set operates, causes the
teeth to follow each other in a direct line, which makes the saw
cut smooth and greatly reduce the labor or power applied to
operate the saw.'- a. c.

108

[Assembly

Hubbard's patent self-adjusting and short-turning carriage

GEARING.

These are improvements in the construction and application of
carriage springs, with gearing so arranged as greatly to lessen the
space required in turning. In constructing an ordinary stage
coach on this plan, the bottom forms the segment of a circle of
22 feet diameter. There are seven springs running from the
front of the body to the rear axle, and six springs, placed alter-
nately between them, passing from the rear end of the body to the
bolster on the front axle. The springs are made of wood, 1^
inches wide by 1| inches deep, and weigh less than fifty pounds.
It requires over two tons to bring them down to their bearings,
and when brought down they roll together without any striking
or concussion, and spring as delicately when carrying but one
passenger as when carrying twenty. It is obvious that in this
position these springs combine a greater degree of strength than
will be required, with little or no liability to get out of order, and
as to their durability, we see nothing in the mode of construction
or use which is likely to impair it.

The arrangement for short turning is simple, consisting mainly
in placing the king bolt a certain distance in rear of the front

No. 133.1 109

axle, which permits the vehicle to be turned in about half the
usual space.

The adoption of the wooden springs renders the vehicle lighter
and of much clieaper construction. Springs of wood for an omni-
bus to carry 12 persons, will weigh 75 pounds, against 400 pounds
by the ordinary method ; for a carriage with two seats, 20 pounds
against 100 pounds. Buggy for two, 12 pounds against 50 pounds,
&c.

The cut at the head of this notice represents the springs attach-
ed to the rear and front axles, ready to receive the a body of a
carriage with two seats. a. c.

HYDROSTATIC REGULATOR,

Messrs. Sloan & Leggett, corner of Lexington avenue and
Thirtieth street, exhibited an apparatus under the above name,
designed for regulating the admission of water into steam boilers.
It consists of a float placed inside the boiler, which acts through
a stem upon projections above the boiler. The projections are
regulated to act upon the water cock, and are of difl'erent lengths,
corresponding to different appertures of the water cock, they are
acted upon at each revolution of the machinery, by a cam, so
that in case the water changes from its proper level, a longer or
shorter projection, as the case requires, is brought in contact with
the cam, opening or shutting the valve, thereby increasing or
diminishing the quantity of water, according to the power re-
quired at the time. In case of a dangerous deficiency of water,
the machine is so arranged that an alarm is given. a. c.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING BOLTS AND NUTS.

A. C. Powell, Syracuse, N. Y., exhibited an improved machine
for the above purpose, which met the approbation of the judges.
One of the merits of this machine is the greater convenience
afforded the operator, enabling him to stand immediately in front
of, and near his work. a. c.

110 [Assembly

LATHE FOR CONICAL WORK.

Lewis Bollman, 62 Beach street, N. Y., exhibited a lathe for
the above purpose, in which the cone is produced by means of
guides resting upon the shears and directing the rest ; the poppet
head remaining always in the center of the shears. a. c.

MANUFACTURES AT THE LATE FAIR.

WOOLEN FABRICS.

In this department, the exhibition was very commendable.
The display consisted of broadcloaths, plain and fancy cassimeres,
satiuetts, silk warp flannel, beaver cloth, hosiery, white flannel,
doeskin cassimeres, printed piano and table covers, blankets, silk
warp tweed, cashmerets, yarn, &c. On the report of the judges,
our committee awarded to the manufacturers of these goods,
eleven gold medals, twelve silver medals, and seven diplomas.
[See premium list at the end of this volume.]

The doeskin cassimeres, Irom C. L. Harding, Oxford j Mass.,
the colored merino cassimeres, from the Mystic Co., Conn,, the
blankets from the Rochdale Mills, Rochester, N. H., the silk
warp tweed, from the Salisbury Maaufacturing Co., Salisbury,
Mass , were all of very superior quality, reflecting the highest
credit on the skill of the manufacturers. There was one case of
children's hosiery, from J. J. Hickman, & Co., 53 Cedar street,
N. Y, This is a new article at our fair, and very deserving.

A. C.

CARPETING.

Specimens of Velvet Tapestry Carpeting, from the Troy Carpet
Mills, Troy, N. Y., George Hastings & Co., agents, an original
American design of great beauty.

Tapestry cifrpeting has become, to a large extent, a substitute
fur Brussels and Wilton, or Kidderminster carpeting, which was
largely imported some ten years ago. The fabric is in appearance

112 [Assembly

very similar, but by an invention in coloring the worsted, •which
is altogether new, more beautiful effects are produced, almost
rivalling, when properly done, the painter's skill upon canvas.

It is about seven years since it was first imported from Eng-
land, the only county in Europe yet producing it. Some En-
glish workmen attempted the manufacture in this country, at New-
ark, New Jersey ; they did not succeed there. It was then start-
ed in the city of New- York, also at Troy, at Roxbury, Mass., and
at the Sing Sing prison. The establishment at Roxbury, has been
closed about two years, and this branch of industry in the United
States, is at the present time confined exclusively to the State of
New- York. Power looms have been invented in this country
alone, adapted to this fabric ; one by Mr. John Johnson, of Troy,
another by Mr. Bigelow, of Mass., both are executing the work
well. Recently, Mr. Johnson has put in operation looms for vel-
velts, the first invented ; the result is most satisfactory. All these
looms have been carried to England, and introduced there j the
result, w'e presume, will be shown before long, in the increased
importation of the fabric to compete with our own American
producers. Since this manufacture became fairly established here,
the price has been reduced some twenty-five per cent.

The Troy carpet mills have, for two successive years, received
the highest honors of the American Institute, for the superiority
of both velvet and Brussels tapestry, and their fabrics have be-
come famous throughout the United States. a. c.

LINEN AND LINEN THREAD.

Three pieces of table and pillow case linen, made by Mrs.
Elizabeth Pearne, 47 Downing street, N. Y, The fabric was of
excellent quality, and reflects much credit on the lady by whose
hands it was made.

The linen thread from the American Linen Thread Co , Sara-
toga, excellent in all respects, and pronounced equal to any im-
ported. A. c.

No. 113.] 113

MANUFACTURED SILK.

John Ryle, Paterson, N. J., exhibited four cases of American
sewing silk, equal to any we have ever seen exhibited. In the
manufacture of silk, Mr. Ryle constantly employs 314 hands, and
consumes from 1,000 to 1,100 lbs. of raw silk per week in the
production of 'Sewings, tram and organzine, which are used for
covering the wood work of tassels, making gimp, and heading for
fringes, and also embroidering silks. Silk of American growth is
preferred for many articles. Mr. Ryle imports most of ^the silk
used in his manufactory, direct from China, at a cost of fi-om
$3.75 to $5.00 per lb., in the gum.

Mr. Joseph Mill ward, of N. Y. city, exhibited three silk lace
shawls, manufactured by him of sewing silk. Of this descrip-
tion of goods, these are the first which have been shown at our
Fairs. They were pronounced highly meritorious. a. c.

COTTON FABRICS.

The display in this department comprised bleached .sheetings,
brown sheetings, printed lawns, silesias, cotton duck, madder
prints, purple prints, pantaloon stuffs, darning and tidy cotton,
colored cottonades, colored thread, printed shirtings, long cloth,
hosiery, cotton diaper, U. S. pilot duck, brown drills, corset jeans,
ginghems, &c. The competition, except in bleached cottons and
prints, was somewhat limited. In reference to the whole dis-
play, we shall avail ourselves of the report of the judges, and
make such extracts as may interest the enquirer. In deciding upon
bleached cottons, they say : " We found it difficult, and a most
unpleasant duty. The contending parties were the manufactu-
rers of the Wamsutta, Williamsville, York Mills, White Rock,
and Marshalls. They all deserve high commendations for fine-
ness, durability, and perfect fabric. We have never seen any im-
ported goods, which, in our opinion, would compare with any of
the above-named styles for durability,

[Assembly, No. 133. J 8

114 [Assembly

The prints on exhibition from Sprague's American Print
Works, Philip Allen & Sons, and Richmonds, were all well exe-
cuted, and in good taste.

Printed lawns from the Lodi works, were most exquisitely
done, beautiful and tasty styles and patterns, they would bear
comparison with the French imported, and creditable to any
country.

The Wamsutta bleached sheetings are the finest and most per-
fect goods exhibited. We think them superb, and believe they
are excelled by no country.

The madder prints, from A. N. W. Sprague, Providence, R. I.,
are decidedly the most perfect printing and best styles of pat-
terns, creditable to the designer, manufacturer, and our country.

The pantaloon stuffs from the York Mills, are unequalled in the
United States, and deserve the highest commendation. The
sheetings and twilled jeans from the same establishment, we
believe are not excelled for durability. The manufacturers have
never allowed these goods to depreciate in quality- thej' deserve
the greatest encouragement and praise.

' The colored cottonades from the Ida mills, Troy, N. Y., will
compare with any imported.

The prints from Philip Allen & Sons, Providence, R. I., are
unequalled by any before exhibited, and merit the highest com-
mendation.

Brown sheetings from J. J. Thilton, R. I., and those from the
Steam Cotton Manufacturing Company, R. I, were decidedly su-
perior. The brown sheetings and drills from Granitsville, South
Carolina, were deemed highly creditable.

The purple prints from the Globe Co., Fall River, were a good
imitation of Hogle's.

Bleached shirting from the Williamsville Co., R. I , are supe-
rior in fabric, and will compare well in fineness with any.

A case of darning and tidy cotton, from N. G. B. Dexter, Paw-
tucket, R. I.J was pronounced a superb article, the color most

No. 133.] 115

perfect and durable, and can be relied on as permanently fixed,
an important matter in dyeing cotton.

Lancaster ginghams, from Lancaster, Mass.; these goods, for
color, pattern, and durability, have become celebrated, and are
in general use. They deserve all the commendation bestowed
upon them. a. c.

SHIRTS.

Of this description of goods, eight cases were entered for com-
petition. The work was uniformly good, some very elaborately
wrought, and of well chosen materials. Our committee, on the
report of judges, awarded the first premium to Mrs. R. Van Hou-
ten, No, 83 Nassau-street. a. c.

READY MADE CLOTHING.

The display of seamless garments exhibited a greater variety,
and of better fabric, than heretofore shown. This branch of man-
ufacture seems to be progressingly improving, and gives promise
of its luture importance; we hope it may result in providing
clothes for the million, of great durability, warmth and cheap-
ness. The articles are made of various kinds of wool ; by a pro-
cess of felting, they may be made of auy form, size or thickness.
A mixture of wool and fur produces a very soft and flexible arti-
cle, as pleasant to the wearer as any of the textile fabrics. The
display consisted of coats, vests, pantaloons, gloves, mittens, &c.,
made of Saxony and common wool, and w^ool and fur mixed.
They were from the manufactories of S. M. Perkins and L. W.
Badger, Auburn, N. Y., J. M. Perkins, Factoryville, N. Y., J.
Barber, Auburn, N. Y., and S. W. & H. M. Badger, Elmira, N. Y-

Messrs. Ellis & Isleton, from 439 Broadway, N. York, exhibit-
ed a large case of very superior made children's clothing, for
which they merit the highest compiendation.

Messrs. P. L. Roger6 8:Co.,corner of Fulton and Nassau-streets,
N. York, exhibited boys' clothing in a great variety of styles, and
of excellent workmanship.

116 [Assembly

Three cases of ready made clothing exhibited by the " Mari-
ner's Family Industrial Society," were pronounced very credita-
ble. This society is composed of the widows and families of sea-
men, who are occupied in making all kinds of clothing. The or-
ganization of the society,- we understand, is such that all the net
profits are divided pro rata among its members. It is an excel-
lent institution, and worthy of patronage.

Five vests, made by W. T. Jennings & Co., Broadway, N. Y.,
of American manufactured silk vestings, attracted attention. The
stuff was from the Newport Silk Manufacturing cpmpany, New-
port, Kentucky. A. c.

CLOAKS AND MANTILLAS.

The display iu this department was very superior, and we are
glad to be able to say so, because it introduces to our own coun-
trywomen a new vocation, for which they undoubtedly possess as
much taste and ingenuity as the women of any country ; gives
respectable employment to many who find themselves compelled
to put their ability in requisition to obtain a livelihood, and affords
to those who are able, the luxury of parting with their super-
fluous means in cherishing the industry and talents of the less
fortunate of their sex around them. The exhibition consisted of
velvet, satin and clotli cloaks and mantillas.

A white satin embroidered cloak, from George Brodie, 66 Ca-
nal-street, received the first premium on the recommendation of
our judges. The chain stiching on white satin is very difficult,
but it is reported to have been, in this instance, most perfectly
done.

An embroidered maroon velvet cloak, from Molyneux Bell, 58 '
Canal-street;, was reported excellent, and deserving much praise ;
the design of the embroidery was elaborate and well executed.
The first premium was awarded to it on the report of the judges.

A. C.

No. 133.] 117

ladies' boots and shoes.

The exhibition consisted of six cases from different manufactu-
rers, all very creditable, surpassing any imported. One case of
white satin lair-stitched gaiters, and one case of ladies' fancy boots
and slippers, from Benjamin Shaw, 73 Canal street, were returned
by the judges as very superior, for which a gold medal was award-
ed. N. Cantrell, 336 Bowery, exhibited a case of imitation French
shoes and boots, very superior.

Our committee, on the representation of the judges, awarded
the gold medal of the Institute to George JN'icholls, a journeyman,
for the very superior workmanship displayed by him on white
satin gaiter boots. a. c.

MEN'S BOOTS AND SHOES.

The Immense capital and product of the labor employed annu-
ally in this branch of manufactures, is almost incredible. In the
absence of any official statistical returns, we are compelled to
seek for information from those most conversant with the trade.
The information which we have been in quest of not being com-
plete, we shall defer making any statement at the present time, in
hopes of being able to illustrate the subject more fully in a subse-
quent part of this volume.

At our late exhibition the display was below that of other
years ; the trade did not by any means come out in its best man-
ner. John Ready, No. 127 Nassau street, exhibited the best pa-
tent leather and calf-skin dress boots. a. c.

LEATHER.

We stand in an independent position in relation to this article
of prime necessity, the demand for which seems to be constantly
increasing. Our statistics furnish us with no data upon which to
found a satisfactory estimate of its annual consumption or value ;
nevertheless, we know that it is immense, and it is gratifyiiig also

118 [Assembly

to know that the great bulk of the supply is produced by our own
people, at prices which set foreign competition at defiance. In
1851 the importation of leather in a manufactured and unmanu-
factured state amounted to $2,815,669 in value, of which sum
$1,314,706 was for men's, women's and children's gloves, the
balance was made up by the importation of articles of fancy ra-
ther than necessity. The trade in the United States gives employ-
ment to an immense number of hands, and we believe the manu-
facturers are improving in the production of the finer and fancy
descriptions of leather.

At our late Fair there was fifteen exhibitors from various de-
partments of this manfacture. The competition was not very
spirited,' though the exhibition was satisfactory, consisting of oak
and hemlock-tanned sole leather, black Morocco, calf-skins,
colored and bronze Morocco, black and russet bridle, leather,
bark-tanned skivers, &c. The calf-skins from M. Crawford, Phil-
adelphia, were reported superior, and received the gold medal.
David Moffat, 5 Jacob street, exhibited the best black and russet
bridle leather. The Waterbury Leather Manufacturing Co. ex-
hibited the best colored and bronze Morocco and calf skins for
suspenders. a. c.

STRAW HATS AND BONNETS.

Specimens in this department of manufacture from five exhi-
bitors were shown at the Fair. We did not notice any advance
beyond former exhibitions. The fine split straw bonnets and fancy
bonnets from D. Thayer, Jr., Franklin, Mass., were reported as
of superior workmanship, for which a silver medal was awarded^

A. c.

HATS, CAPS AND FURS.

The display in this department consisted of men's moleskin
hats, ladies' silk riding hats, ladies' soft pearl hats, misses and
children's Angola and fancy hats ; navy, army and fancy caps ;
Russian and Hudson Bay sable muffs and victorines, and other

No. 133.] il9

furs. The exhibition sustained tne character of the American
manufacturer. The awards were made to John N. Genin, for the
best moleskin hats; F. H. Amidon, for the bestriding hats for
ladies ; A. Freeman for the best soft pearl hat ; John N. Genin,
for the best Angola hats for misses and children, and for the best
army, navy and fancy caps ; Francis Landry, for the best Russian
saible muffs and victorines ; J. N. Genin, for the best Hudson Bay
sable victorines and muffs. a. c.

TELESCOPES.

Mr. Henry Fitz, of the city of New- York, exhibited at our last
fair, an achromatic telescope, manufactured by himself, for John
Campbell, Esq., of this city. The object glass is eight inches,
the focal length, ten and a half feet, with circles of right ascen-
sion and declination, seven inches diameter. One peculiar fea-
ture in this instrument, is the plan of its mounting. The equa-
torial machinery is of cast iron ; the polar axis and declination
box being cast in one piece, as is also the saddle for the tube and
the declination axis ; both axes are cast hollow, which gives great
firmness with little weight. Its cheapness is a very great recom-
mendation. It is furnished with clock work for keeping the ob-
ject in the field of view adapted to lunar, mean, and siderial
time.

A novel and most important improvement has been made, by
which the necessity of clamping or unclamping the tangent screw
(which connects the clock with the riglit ascension circle) is dis-
pensed with, and by which means the management of the instru-
ment is rendered perfectly simple and plain to persons unaccus-
tomed to the use of telscopes, with very little liability to be put
out of order, even in unpractised hands. Fur these improve-
ments, Mr. Fitz has applied for Letters Patent.

This telescope is placed in an observatory on the top of Mr.
Campbell's dwelling house, in Sixteenth street, and stands 70 feet
above the surface of the ground. The observatory is of a circu-

120 [Assembly

lar form, with a revolving dome of 12 feet diameter, which is
moved at pleasure by a crank with rack and pinion.- The hem-
ispherical top of the dome, moves upon an iron ring 12 feet di-
ameter, cast in one piece, and turned in a lathe on the upper side,
upon which the grooved wheels run. The observing chair
with the observer, are carried round with the dome, which is
another new feature in this domestic observatory, and it is found
to answer admirably. The building is of brick, with an under
cellar ten feet below the surface of the ground. The instrument
is placed upon a pier of brick encased in iron, three feet in di-
ameter, which stands on three beams built into the walls of the
house, about three inches below the floor of the observatory.
The great steadiness obtained by. this arrangement, is a matter of
surprise to practical astronomers, and contrary to their predic-
tions.

The opening in the dome gives a view from the horizon to the
zenith, and is closed or opened by rack work, with a crank, al-
ways at the command of the observer, without leaving his seat.

A, c.

No. 133.]

i2i

GRATES AND FENDERS.

The above cut represents a parlor grate from the factory of
Messrs. W. & N. Jackson k Sons, 238 Front street, New- York.
These gentlemen are entitled to the highest praise for their skill
and perseverance in this department of manufacture. The arti-
cles shown by them at our late fair, are unsurpassed by any thing
of the kind, imported or otherwise, that we have seen. Our
judges, in their report, make the following statement:

"Previous to 1840, parlor grates were manufactured of sheet
iron, on which zinc ornaments were riveted. AboUt that period
Mr. Bacheler imported a number of Berlin gi'ates, which gave
promise of superseding those made of sheet iron. Mr. Jackson,
unwilling to be outdone, resolved to try the experiment of ma-
king cast iron grates, himself He commenced with very costly
patterns, and has continued to improve from that day to this j
his success has been most triumphant ; Berlin grates are no longer
imported, and the creditof perfecting this branch pf manufactures
in the United States, is emphatically due to Mr. Jackson. Those
on exhibition are equal, if not superior, to the finest European
grates." a.c.

122 [Assembly

paris furxace company, clayville, okeida co., n. y.

The very superior display from this company at our last fair,
merits particular notice. It consisted of scythes, hay-knives and
forks, made of the best materials, and a finish so extraordinary
that they attracted attention and commendation during the entire
exhibition. a. c.

EDGE Toots.

Messrs. D. Simmons & Co., Cohoes Falls, N. T., exhibited two
cases of edge tools of very superior quality in all respects. And
we may add, that this company may safely challege the world to
excel them. a. c.

GRASS AXD GRAIN SCYTHES.

The scythes from Mr, S. Harris, Pine Plains, Dutchess county,
N. T.J were reported by our judges to be of excellent quality, and
fully sustain the reputation of this long established manufacturer.

A. c.

Remarks. — ^We feel an assurance in saying, that should our cus-
tomers from the West Indies and various parts of South America,
in quest of tools and implements in the markets of the United
States, be careful to make their selections from the authorised
agents of such establishments as we have named in the three fore-
going notices, and many may be added to the list, the complaints we
have heard as having been made in South America, of the worth-
lessness of American manufactured articles, will soon cease. The
probability is, that these orders, to a large extent, are filled with
articles of foreign manufacture, which, like Pindar's razors, are
made 'to sell,' and that thus the reputation of our own excellent
manufacturers and artizans is made to sufter. We find, on examina-
tion of the list of imported articles made of steel, iron, brass, &;c.,
that nearly $7,000,000 in value were imported in 1851, of the
very articles made by our own citizens, in a style that cannot be

No. 133.] 123

excelled in Europe, many of them have not yet been equalled,
and they are constantly in the market at prices competing fairly
with the foreign product. It is a mystery to us what becomes of
the importation, since our own people know their respective me-
rits very generally, and reject the foreign product for their own
use ; at the same time, our tables of exports of foreign manufac-
tures, show that only $78,000 in value, of this large importation,
was exported. What becomes of it ? Can it be possible that it
went abroad again under the title of American manufactured ware?

A. C.

SILVER GILT MOULDINGS.

Messrs. Black & Gramm, corner of Grand and Centre-streets,!^.
Y., exhibited specimens of mouldings manufactured by them for
picture frames, looking-glasses, kc. These mouldings are first sil-
vered and then covered with a lac prepared for the purpose,
which gives them the color and appearance of gold. The speci-
mens were very fine, and can be washed with water without im-
pairing their brilliancy. The silver medal of the Institute was
awarded toc them. a. c.

BLAKK BOOK BINDING.

Mr. C. S. Eoynton, of the city of New-York, exhibited a speci-
men of Blank Book Binding and Ruling, of novel appearance
and superior workmanship. It consisted of an imperial leger
of 1,000 pages; each page had a ruled border of twelve lines,
composed of five difierent colors of ink, with circular cor-
ners. The ruling was done on each page separately, by means of
ruling pens so arranged that the page is completed at One opera-
tiun, with the lines so perfectly joined as to leave no perceptible
break ; the wliole appearance of the ruled work was extremely
accurate and beautiful. The time consumed in bordering these
1,000 pages was thirty hours. This production very distinctly
marks the progress of improvement in this department of me-
chanism, as we can remember that about the commencement of
the present century, the time consumed by the best workmen of

124 [Assembly

that day in faint lining a book of this size, would be nearly six
months, independent of the time required for cross ruling. The
worli reflects much credit upon Mr. Boynton, to whom the
Institute awarded its gold medal.

Specimens of binding from Messrs. Bowne & Co., N. Y., and from
Messrs. Collins, Bowne & Co., were of an excellent character and
highly creditable. a. c.

STEREOTYPE PLATES MADE FROM GUTTA PERCHA.

Specimens of Stereotype Plates, made of gutta percha, were
a short time since presented at the rooms of the Institute, with
moulds taken from the type in the same material. These plates,
as far as the type was concerned, were as perfect as any metal
plates we have ever examined, and even more so. This new art
is progressing in the hands of ingenious men, and there is a rea-
sonable probability of its eventual success. The result will be
to lessen the cost of type iised, by lessening very materially the
quantity ; one set of moulds made from moveable type, will pro-
duce any number of sets of plates, and if applied to printing
newspapers, the saving in the expense of the moveable type will
be large. . a. c.

GLOBES.

Mr. Charles Copley, of Brooklyn, L. I., presented at the Fair,
specimens of Globes of his own manufacture, of very superior
quality, constructed from surveys up to the present time, embra-
cing all the new discoveries in all parts of the world.

The celestial globe has been drawn upon the most scientific
principles, every star being laid down in its true position. Mr.

No. 133.]

125

Copley has been engaged nearly forty years in bydrograpliical
and geographical works, and we are of opinion these globes are

"**S^^£Ei2i

equal to any that can be procured. Our committee awarded to
Mr. Copley the gold medal of the Institute. a. c.

CARRIAGES, SLEIGHS, AXLES, &C.

The manufacture of carriages, axles and harness, of all descrip-
, tions, are branches of art vastly more important than they are
I generally considered to be. If we contemplate the losses, delays,
injuries, vexations, risk, and sometimes loss of valuable lives, de-
pendant upon the skill, carefulness, and integrity of artisans en-
[ g^ed in these pursuits, we may realize something of the impor-
i tance of their calling, and the propriety of regarding tliem, in
relation to our daily wants, comfort, and safety, as occupying a

126 [Assembly

position differing very materially from that of artisans in a multi-
tude of other vocations. The Institute will always consider it
an important duty to examine their contributions with particular
care, and bestow its awards only on the recommendation of prac-
tical and competent judges.

By a new arrangement in tlie interior of Ca lie Garden, the
managers were enabled to afford a better opportunity for a dis-
play of articles in this department, than heretofore. The display
was good, and the competition somewhat spirited. ' Among the
production of twenty exhibitors, there appeared specimens of very
superior workmanship. We shall refer particularly to some of the
articles and manufacturers.

A top-wagon, from J. C. Wolfe, Newark, N. J., was reported as
the best. Smith & Sons, East Brooklyn, L. I , exhibited the best
wagon without top. L. N. Herman & Co., Kingston, N. Y., the best
sleigh. Afred E. Smith, N. Y. city, the best steel converted pat-
ent axles. C. A. Ball, N. Y. city, the best pair of detached har-
ness shafts, Arnold Stivers, Newark, N. J., the best carriage
mountings. M. G. Hubbard, Rochester, N. Y., exhibited a new
self-adjusting, short turning carriage, springs and gearing, which
we shall particularly notice in a separate article. a. c.

SADDLERY, HARNESS AND WHIPS.

An excellent specimen of workmanship was exhibited by Jo-
seph Hawley, Newark, N. Y., consisting of covered harness fur-
niture, superbly done.

A very superior case of whips, from C. P. Caldwell, Philadel-
phia, attracted much attention.

With the above exception, the display in this department was
unusually small. a. c.

No. 133.] 127

THE MEJ.O-PEAN.

Messrs. H. B. Hortun & Co. of Akron, Summit co.. Ohio, ex-
hibited a key-board instrument of their invention, under the above
name, designed for the parlor. It is smaller than the piano, bvjt
resembles it very much in shape. It is a wind, metal-tongued in-
strument, constructed upon novel principles, aiming at a combi-
nation within itself of .the qualities of the organ, piano and vio-
lin. Its tones are far from being unpleasant, many pronounced
them sweet, and as an accompaniment to the human voice, it may
become popular. It varies in compass from five to five and two-
thirds octaves, and the inventors claimed that, "the combina-
tion of its improved reeds and sounding board, with its peculiar-
ly simple and easy blowing apparatus, gives it the power to pro-
duce the prolonged sound of the organ, the quickness and bril-
liancy of the piano, and the variety and expression of the violin."

Success to Akron, which sixty years ago, was the center of a
howling wilderness. It now sends forth instruments of sweet and
harmonious sounds, in new and beautiful combinations, from the
liands of accomplished workmen. It may yet rival the almost
time-forgotten cities of the old world, as it certainly marks the
rapid progress of civilization and refinement in the new. a. c.

stillman's improved h.'^rpoon, designed for whaling purposes.

The instrument consists of two parts; a lance, with a shaft a,
of the ordinary length, f^r longer if desirable ; and a strong socket
b, about a foot or more in length, which is made to slide freely on
the shaft, and fit closely to the head of the lance, in which posi-
tion it forms a prolongation of the head. The flukes are fitted
into slots in tKe socket, close to its junction with the head of the
lance ; they are movable on pivots, and when shut, as in Fig. 2,
and as they are designed to be when the harpoon is to be thrown,
they lock into the shaft, and hold the socket firm ; but when they
are spread, as in Fig 1, the lance is free to slide through the soc-
ket. A small line passes through the end of the shaft at c, and,

128 [Assembly

passing on both sides parallel to the shaft, each end is rove
through a dead-eye on corresponding sides of the socket SLt d d;
they are then made fast to the whale line, which is supposed. to be
egual to their united strength. This line is then made fast to g,
short light pole by a becket upon it. This pole is for convenience
in throwing, and to take up the slack of the line already referred
to. When this harpoon is thrown into the body of the whale
deep enough to hold, and traction is made upon the line, the flukes
will spread, preventing them from being withdrawn; and, libe-
rating the shaft in the socket, the head is forced inward. The line
being then slack, the pole immediately unships, and all force on
the lance shaft in a lateral direction is prevented, and all traction
subsequently applied oh the line is spent indirectly upon the outer
extremity of the shaft, until it is entirely buried in the body of
the whale. Should the lance be arrested by bone, it may be
broken or bent ; in either case, the essential parts of the harpoon,
the socket and flukes attached, are more reliable in their hold
than the common harpoon ; thai is bent as soon as traction begins
on the line, and is liable to be wrenched out by the gyrations of
the animal ; while in this instrument the socket is not longer than
is necessary to enter past the blubber, and being of a hollow cy-
lindrical form, it cannot well be bent, nor is there any purchase to
wrench it out. It is claimed that this instrument can be used
with as great facility as any instrument now in use, and that the
lance must inflict such serious injury upon the whale by the loss
of blood, as to shorten the conflict and increase the number of cap-
tives. If the instrument is entered anywhere near the "life" of
the whale, it seems impossible that it should not dispatch the ani-
mal at once, unless it should conclude to surrender without at-
tempting suicide by flight.

No. 133.] 1^9

ZINC PAINT.

Specimens of zinc paint, wljite and red, wiili zinc in a lattalie
i'oinij were exliibited by the iVew- Jersey zinc company, at our fair
iu 1850, for wliich the lusiitute awarded its gold medal. In 1851
this company cflertd, tluougli the American Institute, very liberal
special premiums for the best specimens of zinc painting, to be
exhibited at the th^a approaching fair, which brought forward a
number of competitors with specimens of great beauty, and iu all
probability had no small influence in extending the use of zinc as
a paiiit, in th^ place of white lead. We are gratified to
learn that the use of these paints is rapidly increasing, and that
experience has already established important facts in regard to
them, from \vhich the public will undoubtedly derive lasting ben-
efit. That the use of white lead as a paint for the interior of our
dwellings is unwholesome and injurious, does not admit of a
doubt ; that the use of it by artizans engaged in the business of
painting has been attended with fatal consequences, is well known
and universally admitted. From recent investigations and experi-
ment in the use of the white oxide of zinc, the following fads
seem to have been arrived at, viz:

Zinc, used as a paint, is perfectly harmless.
The first cost of zinc painting is less than lead.
It need not be renewed as often as lead.

It is not readily discolored by exposure to dampness, sulphuret-
ted hydrogen, or other gaseous exhalations.

The red oxide of zinc is prepared for paint by pulverizing the
ore and grinding it in oil, and forms an excellent article for out-
side work, particularly fur covering iron, for roofs, ^c, and is
known as "Brown Metalic Zinc Paint." The white oxide of zinc
may be produced by the company through the agency of their
improved process for working the ore, at a cost of two to three
cents per pound ; it is then ground in oil, and is ready for the
market.

The New-Jersey Zinc Company deserve the thanks, as well as
the patronage, of the citizens, for their perseverance and enter-
prise, through which they are now enabled to furnish an article

[Assembly No. 133.) 9

/

130 [Assembly

of paint possessing great brilliancy and beauty, entirely free from

the objections so long known to exist against the use of white

lead. The writer of this feels bound to add his testimony in its

favor, by stating that, during the spring of 1852, whilst slowly

recovering from a very serious sickness, the whole interior of his

domicil was painted with white zinc, parts of it with two coats of

most beautiful white, without the slightest inconvenience to hini

or any member of his family, arising from its exhalations.

A. c.

(wool from VIRGINIA.

Mr. H. N. DoXj frem Nelson county, Virginia, exhibited twO"
fleeces of wool from a cross of Merino and Saxon. Our judges
pronounced it a good specimen of Saxony wool, fine and in good
condition. Mr Box's flock now consists of 700 sheep, and yield
an average fleece of 2^ lbs., which now sells at 50 to GO cents per
pound. The cost of keeping in Tirginia, is about 50 cents a
head per annum. The sheep are kept on green feed all the
year with the exception of two months. Mr. D. Is of opinion
that the quality of his wool improves annually. a. c.

AMERICAN STATUARY MARBLE.

Mr. Joseph F. Lippitt, exhibited two mantles and a statue
specimen of marble from his quarry at Wallingford, Vermont,
the quality of which was considered very superior, and equal in
many respects to the Italian, from which it is not readily distin-
guished. We understand it is coming into very acceptable use
for mantels, table tops, and plumbers' work. It is furnished at
from 25 to 33 per cent, less than the imported marble. There
is very little doubt, that as the deve^)pment of the mineral re-
sources of our country progresses, statuary marbles, of unrivalled
beauty and excellence may be found in abundance. a. c.

No. 133.] 131

MARBLED IRON.

Mr. Silas C. Herring, No. 813, Broadway, N. Y., exhibited fifiy-
two pieces of what is termed marbled iron, as specimens from
his manufactory, consisting of mantles, table tops, kc, all of
which attracted general attention and admiration. The founda-
tion is iron, cast from elaborately wrought patterns. The surface
of these castings, after being prepared, receives a coating, which
can be put on in imitation of the most delicate and choicest mar-
ble. The imitations are so perfect, that it requires a practised eye
to discover the dificrence. It is then submitted to a very high
degree of heat, in furnaces or ovens constructed for that purpose;
during the process of heating, the material which forms the coal-
ing, vitrifies and unites permanently with the cast iron without
maring the delicacy ot the lines or figures of the artist, or
changing the colors, except to brighten them. After the firing
process, the surface is susceptible of the most perfect and endu-
ring polish, which resi^^s the action of acids and other corroding
substances so detrimental to marble. The iron, thus finished, we
understand, permanently resists the action of moisture and ordi-
nary heat, and is not impaired by exposure to the atraospliere
throughout the year.

It will be perceived that it' is applicable to almost an endless
variety of uses, including external as well as internal decorations
and embellishments. We have seen fluted columns of tliis mate-
rial ten feet in height, which were, to our eye, beautiful. If this
is not a new thing under the sun, it is certainly a combination of
great beauty and promising utility, resulting from an union of
science and art. It is a most perfect substitute for marble, as
far as appearance goes, and may be advantageousily used iji situ-
ations and under circumstances where marble itself w»uM utterly
fail.

The process, we understand, is the invention of Messrs. R. F.,
& J. P. Williams, of Ohio ; and the public are indebted, for its
early introduction into the market, to Silas C. Herring, Esq., and
Mr. John Ruston, of the city of New- York. It received the gold
medal of the American Institute at its late fair. a. c.

132 [Assembly

gold bearing quartz.
Mr. D. K. Minor exhibited at the fair, a specimen of gold bear-
ing quartz, weighing 113 lbs., whicli attracted much attention.
This specimen was taken from a vein in the mines at Volcano"
ville, Eldorado co., California, near the middle fork of the Ameri-
can river, and 70 miles above Sacrcimento city, on the 9th day of
May, 1853, by Mr. Nathaniel Conkling, and was brought to New-
York the following June, by Mr. Miner. It was estimated to con-
tain over ^2,500, and belongs to the " Volcano Quartz Mining
Co ," office No. 78 Broadway. a. c.

TOMATO FIGS.

Mrs. Sarah Ann Porter, of Mattevvan Point, New Jersey, pre-
sented at the late Fair an article under the above name, which,
in consequence of its novelty, atiracted attention. This is a very
delicate method of preserving the tomato ; and if its supposed
medicinal properties are not thereby impaired, will undoubtedly
be sought after by those who are in the habit of using them
freely. The fruit thus prepared resembles a very delicate fig,
and constitutes a species of confectionary which is very acceptable.

The tomato used is the yellow pear-shaped variety, sehcted on
account of their uniform size, better appearance when dried, and
the readiness with which the skin leaves the pulp in tlie process
of preparation. The fruit is picked when quite ripe and im'
mersed in boiling water, to release the skin, which then peals
readily. One pound of best loaf sngar, pulverized, to one pound
of the fruit, is required. The sugar is sprinkled upon the toma-
toes without any other addition, both being placed in glass or
stone jars, where the mass remains for tliree days -, then the syrup
is poured off, and boiled until the scum ceases to rise, v.hen it is
poured, boiling hot, on the fruit, and thus it remains two days,
when it is poured off and boiled again ; the boiling is repeated a
third time. Then, after standing two days, the fruit is ready for
drying, which is done by exposure to the sun for six or seven
days, being carefully turned every day, and the fruit may then
be packed for market. a. g.

No. 133.] 133

FIRE WORKS.

Tn arc- 'I'tlauce with oui' custom of the last twenty years, the
board uf managers offered the followins; premiums for a display
of fire works, in competition, viz: For the best display, $100;
for the second best, ^50 ; for the third best, $25. Only two com-
petitors entered, Messrs. Joseph G. & I. Edge, and Mr. Isaac
Edge, all of Jersey City. The exhibition took place on tha

evening of the 28th of November, at the close of the Fair.

%

The display was truly magnificent, brilliant in color and beau-
tiful in design. The principal piece was composed of a central
group of collossal figures, representing the genius of America,
crowned with a laurel wreath by the Goddess of Wisdom, and
receiving from an attendant divinity the scroll of Fame. This
group was enclosed in an arch of arabesque work, surmounted
with the American eagle, and flanked on each side by an elegant
imitation of the fountain of the Infant Triton in the garden of
Versailles; presenting in the whole, a front of splendid highly
colored fires of ninety feet in length, by over fifty in height.

Another piece worthy of notice, was called the Emblem of
Freedom, consisting of a large shield and pendent flags under a
semicircle of stars, for the states of the Union, which was sur-
mounted by our national bird. Messrs. Joseph G. and Isaac
Edge deserve much praise for efforts continued by them for a
series of years to elevate the pyrotechnic art from the mere manu-
facture of squibs and popping crackers, to the rank of one of the
arts of design. The artistic skill shown in their allegorical
pieces, it is said, has never been equalled in this country, and
probably not in Europe. The first and second premiums were
awarded to them by the judges. a. c.

1»4

[Assembly

BACK- WOODSMAN.

Short- lioia bull Back- woodsman, winner of the first prize,
($25) ill the class of Short-horn balls over three years old, at the
cattle show of the American Institute, held at Madison Cottage,
New-York city, on the 2Gth, 21st and 22d days of October, 1852.
Weight, on the 19th October, 1852, 2,324 lbs.

Pedigree.
Color red roan ; bred by John Walton, Esq., of Peterborough,
C. W. 5 owned by Samuel T. Taber, of Chestnut Ridge, Dutchess
CO., N. Y. ; calved 20th April, 1847 ; got by Brilliant. 30 E. H.

Dam, Young Favorite, by Comet ; g. dam, Favorite, by Hen-
wood, (2114) E. H. ; g. g. dam. Sweet Apple, by Frederick,
(1060) E. H. ; g. g. g. dam, Ribston Pippin, by Cleveland, (146)
E. H. ; g. g g- g- dam. Golden Pippin, by North Star, (459) E. H. ;
cf. <r. g. g. g. dam. Beauty, by Favorite, (252) E. H.

CoHiet was got by Refoimer, by Worcester; dam, Favorite, by
Warden, (1563) E. H. ; g. dam, Amba, by son of Atlas; g. g.
dam, Actonia, by Duke Humphrey. ; g g. g. dam , by Bads-
worth, (47) E. H. See English Herd Book.

No. 133.] 185

STATEMENT Or MR. JACOB P. GIRAUD, JR., TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE.

Gentlemen — In conformity with your regulations, circumstances
again require that I should allude to my agricultural operations
of the past season, the most prominent of which is the cultivation
of Indian corn, which is to me a subject of untiring interest, not
only in regard to the utility of its production, which is of the first
importance, but also of its capability of development in numerous
forms and colors, which renders it, \n connection with a just ap-
preciation of its high value as a cereal, the most interesting crop
we till.

Of the fifty varieties exhibited at your late Fair, the utility of
continuing so large a number, will doubtless suggest itself to the
minds of some. To those unacquainted with its tillage, I would
say that each variety has habits peculiar to itself, in regard to
time for ripening, extent of foliage, and ability for producing seed.
Thus a variety is held in high estimation at the north, on account
of the short period required for ripening, while in a more south-
ern latitude its place is supplied by those of greater value when
grown with the great advantage afforded by the longer season of
a milder climate. Nor are we by climate only to be governed in
selecting seed; the condition of the soil, and our ability for pro-
curing- fertilizers in sufficient quantity, should be well considered
before selecting a variety suited to our circumstances. Tor ex-
ample, the proprietor of land, ricli in the requirements for Indian
corn, or facilities for making it so, may indulge in the rich and
stately growing " Golden Sioux,'' while he whose soil and oppor-
tunities would suffer by comparison, would wisely act by planting
a variety of less pretending growth.

At local fairs, especially those representing counties only, we
should not, in a strict utilitarian view, expect to meet with so
many representatives of this valuable grain. But your institution
claims a much wider field ; as its title proclaims, it represents, at
its industrial exhibitions at least, the United States ; where then
can be a place more appropriate for exhibiting, in numerous va-
rieties, the product of this accommodating plant, now cultivated
throughout the length and breadth of the Union.

13Q [Assembly,

The general course of cultiv^ation pursued by me this season
was the same as that of previous years, with which you have on
a former occasion been made acquainted. On a portion of the
land, however, I this year used improved phosphate of lime, with
marked good result; and with the view of estimating the compa-
rative merits of specimens of this fertilizer from rival manufacto-
ries, I applied it respectively on alternate rows, and observed no
superiority of one above the other. The mode of cultivation re-
quired for many other plants would perhaps afford a better field
for testing their respective merits. That superphosphate of lime
is an excellent fertilizer for Indian corn, the results of the analy-
sis fully establishes, but whether it can be profitably employed I
am not at present prepared to say.

In employing chemically prepared fertilizers, a strict view in
regard to the lasting effect they have upon the soil, should be
well considered, as well as in the effect upon the present crop.
Barn-yard manure possesses this great advantage of permanency
in a high degree, and can be safely used in the cultivation of any
crop 5 but the great difficulty is that few or no farms furnish it
in sufficient quantity, and when purchased at a distance, as It
usually is, and the expense ot cartage is added to the cost, it is
one of the most expensive manures used. Wood ashes also con-
tain properties entering freely into most vegetable products, and
are well known to be oUe^of the best fertilizers for corn, but can-
not always be obtained in sufficient quantity, or at a price tliat
will justify their free use.

Of manures applied locally, guano mixed with charcoal, in the
proportion of one part of the former to four of the latter, is per- .
haps the best and cheapest. I have used it with good results in
various departments of the kitchen garden, and have observed its
active stimulating effects on corn, especially in the early stage of its
growth ; indeed, Peruvian guano may be considered a universal
fertilizer, and a most valuable auxiliary to agricultural and hor-
ticultural efforts. The large quantity now used in England,
where agriculture from necessity has been reduced to a science,
and the vital importance of renovating and keeping up the con-
dition of the soil is a subject of active discussion, with a rigid

No- 133.] . 137

view to profitable expenditure, attests tlie high appreciation there
placed npon this comparatively recent acquisition to the farming
interest; Our position, happily, is somewhat different, especially
in districts lately. opened to Agriculture, where but recently the
axe has been laid aside for the plow, and where the generous soil
so liberally gives forth its treasure. There we are aware that the
subject of manuring is not so important, but in the older districts,
superficial farming, in connection with the advanced prices of
lands, is found unprofitable ; to which we may chiefly trac3 the
intelligpnt enquiry that has within a few years past been directed
towards the improvement of the soil, by furnishing special ma-
nures to supply the missing constituents required by the respect-
ive crops. With the aid of chemistry, there is scarcely any soil
unworth}' of cultivation, or which, in my opinion, cannot by ju-
dicious treatment be profitably employed, and of which the capa-
bilities and deficiencies cannot be unmistakeably made known.
The requirements for Indian corn and all other crops, may, by
chemical aid, be supplied to all soils, and the results anticipated
with as great a degree of certainty as are the laws which govern
the science, which all admit are constant.

Although the seed of Indian corn is the first object to be attained
by cultivation, it nevertheless possesses a high value in its capa-
city of furnishing from its foliage a large quantity of excellent
fodder, the value of wliich, however, greatly depends on the mode
of preserving it. If left standing on the field until late in the au-
tumn, most of that portion in which consists its chief value is lost ;
but if the tops are cut, and the leaves below^ the ears are stripped
off when their extremities are changing from green to yellow,
which does not occur until the grain is well glazed, they furnish
an excellent substitute for the best of hay. This mode of proce-
dure, we are aware, meets with opposition chiefly on the ground
that what is gained in fodder is lost in grain ; but having repeat-
edly practiced both modes with alternate rows, and finding no
established difference in the product, either by weight or measure,
have adopted the system of topping with the certainty of superior
fodder. I entertain the o])inion that when the grain is as far ad-
vanced, and as well glazed as it is when the extremities of the
tops indicate maturity, that the process of filling is accomplished,

138 [Assembly

and all that is then required is for the grain to harden by expo-
sure of the wind and sun, to ensure safety in storing and trans-
portation. With this view, the theory that the descending sap is
taken up by the footstalk of the ear increasing the bulk of the
grain, is irreconcilable.

The estimate generally placed upon this portion of the crop, is
far below its real value, if we judge from the indifferent care too
frequently taken of it ; cut when nothing but the fibre is left,
stacked out without protection, blackened by the weather and
dried almost to crumbling, it furnishes but a meagre winter fod-
der, but when properly preserved, horses as well as horned cat-
tle thrive remarkably well on it, and the careful farmer reaps
the advantage of both field and meadow in the tillage of this pro-
ductive plant.

In the southern states the value of its foliage is more justly
appreciated, and we learn tliat the knights of the turf, when
leaving home with their steed, bale up their corn blades and
carry them v.'ith them, preferring it to hay when preparing for
the contest, for both speed and endurance.

In addition to the varieties grown last year, I this season in-
cluded with others a variety said to be freely grown on the bor-
ders of the Black Sea, and imported largely into England from
the port of Galatz. It meets with great favor in the European
markets, and the prices current inform us, commands the ex-
treme rates. The grain is quite small, roundish, very hard, and
well adapted for shipment, but can see no reason why in point of
intrinsic value it should be inferior to the finer sorts grown with
us. With me it attained only the height of four and a half to
five feet, produced near tlie ground two and three ears, with
twelve to sixteen rows from five to seven inches in length, and
ripened in twelve weeks. In this, as well as other sections where
farmers are accustomed to a more imposing growth, we do not
expect it to meet with much fiivor ; but in northern localities it
may be desirable on account of the ?hort period required for
ripening.

A more valuable variety, however, for general cultivation, is
he " Golden Spike," a variety I have originated by hybridation,

No. 133.] 139

this jear for the first time shown at your exhibitions. Under
fair circumstances it grows seven feet high, the stalk midway fur-
nished usually with two ears, eight-rowed, and ten to thirteen
inches in length, faithfully representing in form the distinguish-
ing character of its title. Ripe in fourteen to fifteen weeks.

CATTLE EOOTS.

The mangold wurzel and carrots exhibited in connection with
other roots of the above class, were grown on clay loam, furnished
with yard manure, and deeply trenched the previous autumn.
To the latter circumstance, chiefly, I conceive, is to be attributed
their full development and fair appearance, which is only another
evidence that for the successful cultivation of all tap-rooted vege-
tables, the ground should be deeply worked. Spade husbandry,
in connection with liquid manures, the system of cultivation in
Flanders, as referred to in Coleman's European Agriculture, is
perhaps the highest practical effort of which the subject of that
work treats.

The large landed proprietor will question the expediency of so
seemingly an expensive course, but the cultivator of a few acres,
especially when near to market, afforded by proximity to large
cities, would find it a source of certain profit.

The qucintity of vegetables that a few acres under thorough cul-
tivation are capable of producing, is remarkable; but land has
been comparatively so cheap, and its inherent fertility so rich,
tliat a careless system of cultivation has too generally prevailed.

A very objectionable feature in connection with our farming
interest is the desire for too large possessions, wliich in feeling is
truly American, of course commendable, and we admire it; but
it had bettf'r be progressive. How frequently do we see attempts
.at cultivating a hundred or more acres, with help and manure
not equal to more than half the extent of laud subjected to this
superlicial process, and whtu we interrogate in regard to such
unthrifty course, the reply universally is want of capital. Then

140 ["Assembly/'

we say, especially if subject to mortgage, sell enough to furnisli '
funds sufficient to develop the resources of the remainder. In ;
England it is estimated that .€8 sterling, or $-10 dollars, cash ca-:
pital per acre, is necessary to make the land. In other words,
farming is a business requiring a knowledge of the laws governing
the results, and capital corresponding with the extent of opera-
tions, without whicli it cannot be profitably pursued. As a source
of rapid wealth it offers no inducement; but as a means of abun-
dantly and permanently supplying all of the rational enjoyments
of life, all whose tastes so incline, and are willing to apply the
same amount of industry necessary fur success in other business
can confidently depend.

One great advantage we claim for it over mercantile pursuits,
is that the capital is not endangered by the sudden reversions to,
which it is constantly exjjosed when invested in commerce. Itis
true, there are seasons when the crops, however skilfully managed,
ill repay the cost of production ; but he is an indifferent farmer
that cannot bear up against an occasional season, when the earth
withholds a portion of its fullness.

To the leisure-seeking theorist, desirous of changing the active
employment of city life for the imaginary spontaneous enjoyments
of the country, we say hesitate before purchasing a farm, or too
late you may find that though theory is valuable, practice is in-
valuable, and that both are requisite to attain the distinguished
position of a successful and accomplished agriculturist.
Very respectfully.

JACOB P. GIRAUD, Jr.
Bergen, JYtw-Jcrsey, Dec. 6th, 1852.

PROCESS OF MAKING CHEESE, BY JOHN O. DALE, WESTERN, ONEIDA CO.,
N, Y., TO WHOM THE FIRST PREMIUM OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE
WAS AWARDED, OCTOBER, 1852.

I milk 30 COWS, averaging one year with another, 3 lbs. of cheese
per day to a cow. Last year tlie season being very dry, the aver-
age was less, say 2^ lbs. per cow. My cheese-making season is
about six month, commencing about the 1st of May. Put the ren~

So. 133.] Ml

net into the ciilk when it is as warm as it comes from the cow ;
if the weatlier is cold, the milk will require heating to about the
temperature named above, before putting in the rennet. ^My
mode is to take five rennets and put them into a stone jar, hold-
ing about three gallons, and fill ihf jar with strong brine; and thig
I frequently fill np the second time, as tb.e strength will not be
exhausted by using the fluid the first time out; but this, of course,
depends upon the strength of the rennet. The rennet from a calf
four days old is much better, puier and stronger than one from a
calf four weeks old ; and in saving the rennet from a young calf,
part of all the contents of the stomach >hould be saved, mixing
with tlie contents of the stomach half as mucii pure salt as the
stomach contained of curd ; but if the rennet is taken from a calf
fit for veal, no portion of tke contents of the stomach should be
saved. The quantity of rennet used should be such as would coa-
gulate the milk in about thirty minutes, say about a pint and a
halt to the milk of the above number of cows. If this does not
effect the object, increase the quantity a trifle. There will be a
difiiirence in the strength uf the rennet at different times.

Cut the curd carefully v»'iih a wood knife, into squares of about
an inch, let it stand until the whey rises above the curd, breaking
it up from the bottom of the vat or tub ; then let it stand until
the accumulation of whey is suffici'^nt to scald the ciud the first,
then draw or dip off the whey, strain and I.eatit to 90*=*, then turn
on your whey, turning and breaking up the curd while doing so;
as so<->n as it begins to cool, you strain off the whey again, and
heat it to 104° or 105°, then pour on your heated whey again, all
the while working and breaking up the curd'v^'lth ycur hands,
until it is entirely fine, letting it remain until it is cooked to that
degree that by working the curd in your hands the particles will
not be larger than kernels of wheat; then draw off the whey and
salt at the rate of an ordinary sized tea cu{) full to 15 lbs. curd.
After salting, continue to work the curd to the degree of fineness
last named ; the cnrd cannot be too fine ; then put it into the
press, and let it stand six hours; then turn, bandage and press
18 hours more ; then place the cheese on th« counter and bandage
it, then color cheese and bandage together after the coloring mat-
ter strikes in, grease well with whey butter, and never grease any

142 [Assembly

more, but turn and rub the cheese well every day fur four months ;
after that time turn and rub well about three times a week.

The above is a good general rule, but not invariable. In a
very wet time, when the milk contains a larger quantity of water
than it d^jes at others, the curd might require a little more salt,
and perhaps a little more scalding, and so other variations to which
the general rule is applicable.

Ne^^^-York, October 28, 1852.
To the Comraittce on Agriculiure of the Americaji Insliticte:

Gentlemen — As one of your judges on "fat cattle," I am in-
duced to address you a few lines, not fir the purpose of instruct-
ing you in the discharge of your various duties, but with a view
to assist with what little knowledge I possess, in perfecting the
arrangements of the Institute in regard to this part of its annual
exhibition. Feeling an interest in the prosperity and usefulness
of the institution, I am confident a few suggestions will receive
attention if made in the right spirit.

The last exhibition of fat cattle, with a few exceptions, was
quite interior, most of them falling below second rate for prize
cattle. Such qualities can be bought almost any market day in
the year at the Bull's Head. I differ with some of the judges
with whom I have been associated, both at the Fairs of the In-
stitute and at the State Fairs, who contend that the best and fat.
test cattle on the ground should receive the j^r^^ prize. I would
not award a first prize to any animal, unless it was found to
be suparior in size, fatness, and primeness, to animals ordinarily
sold in our cattle market. The breed, and constant care and
manner of feeding, are essential requisites in producing what
should be termed prize fat Ciittle, for which the award should be,
measurably commensurate. A farmer, who may raise a pair of
cattle from calves, watch, nurse, and feed them for four or five
years, or more, and turn them out, possessiiig extraordinary fine
points, and w^eighing not less than 2,500 lbs., and authenticated
by affidavit, finds little inducement to exhibit them at our fairs

No. 133.] 143

iiiulcr a rule which puts him on a par witli the exhibitor of vastly
infc'ri<>r animals, as far as the testimonials of former or succeed-
ing fairs are or may be indicative of merit The practice of giv-
in^'the fust prize to the best and fattest on the ground, is not
sufficiently discriminating, some definite standard should be
adopted whereby merit might obtain a fair reward.

In a separate sheet accompanying this, I have taken the liberty
of suggesting for your consideration a list of premiums and quali-
fications for prize cattle, calves, and sheep.

Most respectfully, yours, &,c.,

THOS. F. DE TOE,
Butcher, No. 768 Jeflerson Market.

CULTURE or THE GRAPE.

TJie following letter from Gen. Tallmadge, President of the
American Institute, to M. Fleischmann, late U. S. Consul at
Stuttgard, Wurtemberg, gives an interesting account of a very
valuable work which he has just completed :

New- York, Monday, May 24, 1852.
My Dear Sir: — I am greatly obliged by your kindness in sub-
mittiug to my inspection your work in five volumes, large folio?
of specimens of the grape vine and its treatment, and one on the
melon. It is a gratifying circumstance, that after a three years
absence you are enabled to return to the welcome of friends*; and
in addition to the character of fidelity in office, and improve-
ment ill the higher pursuits of literature, you are enabled to pre-
sent six such manuscript volumes. It shows your leisure time
from other duties has been spent in industrious pursuits ; if not
useful to yourself, at least honorable to the couniry of your
adoption. That country may well make it an occasion for some
material demonstration to its author.

Tlie kindness of the king of Wurtemberg in allowing you free
access, has eftabled you to make your drawings, not only from his
library and gardens, but from Nature. The volumes of your work

144 [Assembly

show you have successfully availed yourself of these opportuni-
ties, in the drafts and in the coloring of the specimens preserved.
The stem, with the vine, the tendril, and the cluster of grapes j
and the cutting ; to engraft or to propagate, are the two figures of
each variety, on each folio page of the book. They are executed
with such precision of draft, and accuracy of coloring, as to ena-
ble the eye to determine many of the varieties, without a reference
to their names. It shows your ability with the pencil and the
brush, and gives material value to the volume.

You seem to have copied your specimens very much as proba-
bly you found them, in the garden of the king of Wurtemberg.
The wine countries plant the vine without classification, as being
suited in their varieties, for tlie table grape or the wine press.
Climate compels England and ourselves here, to regard these dis-
tinctions. She cannot cultivate the wine grape in the open air
at home, and we cannot cultivate it, certainly, north of the Poto-
mac. The books afl'ord abundant information and instruction in
regard to the selection and the cultivation of .the wine grape.
That selection regards only the varieties to produce tlie diiferent
kinds of wine. Your volumes present these varieties, with many
interesting and useful specimens for that object. The southern
and western portions of this country have a soil and climate pecu-
liarly congenial to the mulberry and the vine. Tbe grape can-
not endure any frost on its spring blossoms or ripening fruit.

England can only raise the talAe grapes of Europe with the aid
of her hot houses. It was the same case with ourselves. She
has made her selections for this purpose from the vineyards of
Europe J — especially regarding size of cluster, flavor of grape,-
and delicacy of fruit.' We, in this country, have made our selec-
tions very much from England, and with some additions. We
have the large Syrian grape, so beautifully copied in your book.
The large Smyrna grape, also, so well exhibited in your book,
remains to be obtained. Spain and Portugal have each imposing
specimens of the table grape. But the large inviting grape is
often tough, coarse, and without flavor. Whatever England has
so long rejected in her selections we must adopt with care.

No. 133.] 145

Experiments to naturalise the foreign grape in about 38 to 43
degrees of north latitude, have ascertained that our summers
cannot be relied upon as exempt from frost, beyond June, July
and August. Frost oftentimes comes in the last of May and earlj
in September. But say we have a summer, at most of three and
a half months, without frost. Experience has established that
the foreign vine requires a season of from four to five and a half
months to ripen its fruit into its luscious and natural flavor and
sweetness. Upon such facts, all hope to naturalise the foreign
Tine to our northern latitude, is given up. But experiments on
this matter have since established that the foreign grape vine,
planted in a cold glass vinery (without fire or artificial heat), de-
pendant upon the sunshine alone, will be entirely successful.
The culd and frosts of April will not penetrate within the glass,
and overcome the natural heat within, to hurt the growing vine j
nor the cold and frosts of September and October, and sometimes
November, will not penetrate. to hurt the ripening fruit. Thus a
summer is provided of from 7 to 8 months continuance, and free
from frost, with a climate to be regulated by a thermometer, and
at any degree of heat desired, day and night, above the climate
of tlie place of the nativity of the grape, the forcing power and
growth of the vine and fruit thus matured, can only be credited
by actual observation.

"When the vines have performed their functions, and the crop
is gathered, the vinery is to be opened to the season, that the
vines may cast their foliage, be trimmed, and laid down for their
winter rest. They are thus kept in health, and escape diseases
liable to befall vines in the heated house with exotic plants, con-
tinually growing and without rest for a series of years.

The entire success of this new system of the cold vinery for the
grape, has been made certain by specimens of fruit, large and
fine beyond example, and exhibited at the fairs of the American
Institute, the two years past. In October last, at the fair of the
American Institute, at Castle Garden, New- York, and also at the
agricultural fair at Albany, gratifying specimens of the culture
of the grape in a cold vinery, and without fire, were exhibited
from tlie gardens of different gentlemen. Some were from the

[Assembly, No. 133.] 10

^ 143 [Assembly

garden of Mr. P. S. Van Rensselaer, of New Hamburgh, Dutchess
county, and among them were exhibited clusters of the "Grape
of Canaan," sometimes called the Palestine Grape, measuring
from the vine from 27 to 30 inches in length, and weighing from
5 to 7 pounds a cluster.
«.
The witnesses are therefore numerous in favor of the cultui-e

and encouragement of the foreign grape vine in tliis country.

The native grape of this country, when ripe, has a tendency to
acetous fermentation and decay. The juice of the foreign grape
is saccharine, Avith a tendency to granulate and to dry into
preservation. The grapes of this country generally require a sea-
eon of from about three to three and a half months to ripen. The
snccharine fluid of the foreign grape is slow in its ripening, and
requires a season according to varieties, of from three and a half
to six and seven months. The grape of Canaan and the purple
grape of Damascus will illustrate. Several years ago I endeav-
ored to grow these grapes with the Burgundy, Chasselas, and
others in the open air ; they grew, and In the hot months pro-
mised well, but the fruit of the former were cut off by frosts when
about half formed. We have since introduced them into our
cold vinery, where they are now growing with very fair success ;
they require a soil suited, great heat, and a season of from six to
leven months to ripen into full maturity.

These facts will regulate the selection and the treatment of the
different varieties of the vine. England and ourselves might
now contest with the vineyards and the wine countries of the
continent, and win the premium on table grapes, for improvement
in size, tenderness of skin, virgin bloom, delicacy of fruit, and
equal flavor. Horticulture, with its ingenuity and the sciences
at hand, will not linger long behind the occasion.

When Carolina and our southern friends shall have completed
their monument in memory of prejudice, persevering opposition
and unmitigated hostility to "internal improvements," their
more congenial soil and climate will enable them to reap the
harvest and take the premium for production and improvement
from us all.

Ko. 133.] 147

The Americau Institute, of which you are a member, desire
me to proffer their obligation to you for submitting to their ob-
servation, the volumes of your work, of so much labor to you, so
gratifying to them, ■ and so creditable to yourself. Their best
wishes will attend you.

I hasten to return the volumes so kindly submitted to my
examination, and within the time limited lor' my retention, and
send this note of my high commendation.

Permit me to proffer assurances of regard.

I am truly yours, &c., &c.,

JAMES TALLMADGE.
C.*L. Fleischmann, Esq., U. S. Consul, Stuttgard, Wurtemberg.

CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO IN OSWEGO COUNTY, N. y.

The tobacco plant mentioned in the following letter was receiv-
ed in good order, and placed on exhibition at the late Fair, where
it attracted much attention.

LivERPooL, Oswego Co., N. Y., Oct. 2, 1852.
Dear Sir — I send you this day a tobacco plant I have selected,
a late plant in order to show more of the appearance of the weed
in its natural state. It is of fair growth, but not as large as the
earlier plants. On its arrival you will make such disposition of
it as you judge proper The growing of tobacco in this county is
a new branch of agriculture, and is increasing. I was among the
first who produced it here. It was regarded by most farmers as
an experiment likely to fail. I have raised a crop ranging from
five to thirty acres each year since 1846, and have had as good
success as I anticipated. Most of the farmers in this vicinity
who have suitable soil, are now raising crops, mostJy small, from
one to five acres. The seed is cautiously sown about the first of
April. We select for the plant bed a warm location on the
southerly side of a building or board fence, which breaks off the
cold northerly winds which prevail in the spring. We manure
the bed with rotten barn-yard manure, or manure from the hog-

148 [Assembly

pen, that producing less weeds. We pulTerize the soil thoroughly^
then sow on the seed broadcast, an ounce to four square rods
being sufficient. Great care should be taken to spread the seed
equally over the surface ; then without raking the bed, roll with
a heavy roller, which serves to retain the moisture in the bed.
In dry weather the seed bed should be kept moistened by water-
ing the surface, or the young plants will die.

We get our plants large enough for transplanting about the
lOth of June, and set them as rapidly as the work can be accom-
plished, finishing by the 25th of June. I have transplanted as
late as the 5th of July, and had the crop come to maturity. The
soil most suitable for tobacco is loam ; when clay predominates,
the plant will obtain but a small growth. When sand is pre-
dominant, the plant is likely to be affected by drouth. The time
between transplanting and harvest is so short that unless v/e can
produce a rapid growth, the plant will not arrive at maturity
early enough to escape the frosts of Autumn. We commence our
harvest about the first of September. The crop this season is
good, and all secured without damage from frost, and buyers are
now contracting at prices from 8 to 10 cents. We get from an
acre from 1,200 to 1,800 pounds. I have had crops which would
make a ton to the acre. That, however, is an unusual growth ;
1,500 pounds is perhaps full up to the average. I have taken
some pains to send the plant in as good order as may be. When
it arrives you will dispose of it as you think best.*

I am yours respectfully,

MAUS NEAMY.
Richard Pennell, M. D.

SELECTING SOILS FOR ANALYSIS.

We are often applied to for information as to the proper
method of taking a specimen of soil from a field for the purpose

• The Syracuse Journal states that about 1,000 acres of tobacco wero'grovm in Onondaga
county til e past season; and that the average crop is about 1,400 lbs. per acre, though 2,000
lbs. are often produced. The entire crop of the county is estimated at 2,240,000 lbs., which
at ten cents, makes the snug sum of $224,000, gained by the cultivators, but totally lost,
wasted, and worse than thrown away by the consumers. Last year, the best quality, knowa
as seed leaf, brought fifteen cents per pound. At present rates, or even at six or seven cents*
it is considered a profitable crop.

Ko. 133.] 149

of analysis. Upon enquiry, we found those whom we supposed
most conversant with th-e subject, to differ somewhat in regard to
it, though pefhaps not essentially. We will here state our best
information relati\^e thereto. Those who till the soil are gene-
rally very competent to determine whether the lot, field, or farm,
is uniform in its texture and composition. When it is so, we
would select eight or ten acres, and from these take our samples.
We shall consider the surface soil to extend about the usual
depth of plowing, say six or seven inches, and if we wish an
analysis of surface and subsoil separate, or one only, we should
proceed with wheelbarrow and spade to five selected spots in the
field, and throw into the barrow a spade full of surface soil,
taken to the depth of six inches, from each place. The mass
thus collected should be intimately mixed, of which one pint is
enough to send to the chemist. For the subsoil, the same quan-
tity should be taken from a depth of not less than twelve inches,
and treated in the same manner. If the land is composed of
soils differing essentially, they must be treated separately in order
to obtain useful analyses, a, c.

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES.

Paris, May 8, 1853.
Mr. a. Chandler,

Secretary rf the Jlmerican Li^tifute, JV. Y. :

Sir — I have the honor of addressing to you thirty-three volumes

and pamphlets, relative to industry, agriculture, horticulture and

statistic?, presented to the American Institute, in the name of their

Excellencies the Ministers of France and Belgium, and by Mr.

Henschling, one of the first statistical writers in Europe.

Allow me, Mr. Secretary, to take this opportunity to express once
more my feelings of gratitude for the kind hospitality with which
I have always been received by the members of the Institute when-
ever I have had the happiness of being present at their meetings,
to whicli I am proud to belong as an honorary member.
I have the honor to remain,

Dear sir, your very humble serv't,

ALEXANDER VATTEMARE.

150 [ASSEMBLT

Cdttalogue of the Books and Pamphlets received as above from

Mr. Vaitemare.

Cattalogue of the collection in the Industrial Museum, Brussels j

8vo, 1846.
Extract from the Journal of the Economists, Belgium ; quarto,

pp.8
Disease of the Grape Vine in the south of France and in Italy, by

Victor Rendu, Inspector General of Agriculture, Imperial Press,

Paris; 8vo, pp. 116.
Horse Shoer's Manual, Brussels; duo., pp. 75.
On the Bit Regulator Bridle, with plates ; 4to, pp. 4.
Biographical notice of Baron de Reiffenberg, by Xavier Hensch-

ling; Cologne, Bonn and Bru S£e]s;87o, pp. 27.
Exhibitions of Belgian Industry, Brussels; 8vo, pp. 101.
On the Influence of Lakes^ Ponds, &c., on Human Life, by Hensch-

liug ; small 8vo. pp. 5.
Horticultural Institute of the Belgian Government, Theoretical

and Practical, by Louis Van Houtte, Ghent ; 8vo, pp. 40.
Project of a Law relative to Patents ; 8vo, pp. 20.
Relation of Imposts to Agriculture ; 8fo, pp. 6.
Diseases of Grape Vines, by LeClerc, Paris, with plates ; 8vo,

pp. 80
New Consideration on the Effect of Imposts on Revenuef by

Henschling, Brussels ; 8vo, pp. 37.
General Indicator of Belgian Products, exhibited at the Crystal

Palace, London ; 2o, pp. 142.
Treatise on the Pruning and Culture of Fruit Trees, with draw-
ings, Ghent ; Sfo, pp. 114.
Annual of Belgian Industry, 1848 ; 2o, pp. 222.
Historical and Statistical Bibliography of France, by Henschling,

Brussels, 1851 ; large 8vo, pp. 53.
Vattemare's Report on the Metrical Weights and Measures sent to

be government of the United States by him, 1852.
Bulletin of the Central Committee of Belgian Statistics ; Births in

Brussels compared with the population, by Henschling, Secre-
tary of the Committee ; 4to, pp. 41, from vol. 1.
Civil Affairs of Belgium, by Henschling ; 4to, pp. 16, from vol. 2.
General Review, Population, &c.; 4to, pp. 19, from vol. 2.

No. 133.] 151

On the Increase of Belgian Population ; 4to, pp. 20, from rol. 1.
Statistics of the Kingdom of Bavaria ; 4to, pp. 37, from vol. 4.
Historical and Statistical Bibliography of Germany, by Henschling;

8vo, pp. 112.
Memoirs of the Society of Natural Sciences of Cherbourg, 1852 j

8vo, pp. 9Q. They ask for exchanges.
.Biographical notice of William Benjamin Craan, author of the

plan of the Battle of Waterloo, with a glance at the graphic

works of Belgium to this day ; 8vo, pp. 22, 1852.
New table of Mortality in Belgium, 1851 ; 8vo, pp. 7.
A Collection of Laws and Regulations now existing relative to

patents ; 1846, 8vo, pp. 562.
Exhibition at Poissy, of cattle, &c., 1853 ; 8vo, pp. 24.
Essay on the General Statistics of Belgium ; 8vo, pp. 116.
Exposition of Belgian Industry, 1847 ; 8vo, pp. 101.
Cattle Show, &c., at St. Lo, Toulouse, Nancy, Amiens, &c., with

numerous plates of the animals exhibited; 8vo, pp. 475.

152

[Assembly

y^^e^.iS'jSsuri:,

AMERICAN WILD TURKEV.
(Communicated by Sam"l Van AYyck, Esq.)

To give a correct, intelligible history of the American domes-
tic turkey, we must give a pretty minute account of the wild
turkey of America, from which our tame ones all originally
sprung. The wild turkey is a bird peculiar to America, this the
best ornithologists admit. It is of the genus or family gallmaciej
and of the order or species maleagris gallopavo. The native
country of the wild turkey extends from the north western part
of the United States, to the Isthmus of Panama, south of which
it is not to be found, notwithstanding the statements of some
authors and travellers who have mistaken another bird for it, and
that possibly somewhat resembled it. In Canada, and the more
densely peopled parts of the United States, wild turkeys were
formerly very abundant ; but like the Indian and Buffalo, they
have been compelled by the destructive energy of the white set-
tlers, and perhaps sometimes wantonly exercised, to seek refuge
in the remotest parts of the interior. Civilization too, is more
hostile to most barbarous nations and all wild animals; they with-
draw from it, with almost as much precipitation and terror, as
from the assaults of an open active enemy ; although more gradual

No. 133.] 153

in its results, it is sure, ultimately, to effect the destruction of
botli. The one tries to get beyond its reach by travelling, and
taking up his residence in the distant and uninhabited wilderness,
and the other flees to the deepest recesses of the remote forest
for preservation.

To give a good history of the wild turkey, it is necessary to
consult several authors of the highest reputation on the birds of
our country; among these, Audubon, Wilson and Bonaparte, and
NuttalFs Ornithology of America and the United States, with
some others. The authors here named stand highest, and may
be safely relied on — they have all resided many years in the
United States, and travelled over a large portion of our continent
to enable them to give the most accurate history of its birds —
and especially Audubon. This gentleman studied most assidu-
ously his subject for more than twenty years, and that in the only
book free from, error and contradictions, the great book of nature.
His observations, principally made in the western, south and
south-western and north-western States, enable us in consequence
to enrich the present article with several new details of the man-
ners and habits of the wild turkey. The wooded parts of Arkan-
sas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama ; the unsettled portions
of the States of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois ; the vast
expanse of territory south-west and north-west of these States, on
the Mississippi and Missouri, as far as the forests extend, are
more abundantly supplied than any other parts of the Union with
this valuable game, and forms so important a part of the subsist-
ence of the hunter and traveller in the wilderness. It is not
probable that the range of this bird extends to or beyond the
rocky mountains. The Mandan Indians, who a few years ago
visited the city of Washington, considered the turkey as one of
the greatest curiosities they had seen, and prepared a skin of one
to carry home for exhibition. Still this bird may be found there
in time, as it is a very extensive country, and as yet a large por-
tion of it very imperfectly explored; or it may travel and flourish
there, as the climate, soil, and products of many parts of both
sections, east and west of the mountains, are very similar. The
wild turkey is not very plenty in Florida, Georgia, and the Caro-
linas; is still less frequently found in the western parts of Virgi-

1 54 [Assembly

nia and Pennsylvania ; and is extremely rare in the remaining
northern and eastern parts of the United States. We have it,
though, from the best authority, that wild turkeys are yet to be
found in the mountainous districts of Sussex county, New Jersey.
The most eastern part of Pennsylvania now inhabited by them is
Lancaster county ; and they are often observed in the oak woods
near Philipsburgh, Clearfield county. Those occasionally brought
to the Philadelphia and New- York markets, are chiefly obtained
in Pennsylvania and New- Jersey, and, as may be readily supposed.
in either of these States they are not very abundant. The wila
turkeys do not confine themselves to any particular food ; they
eat maize or Indian corn, all sorts of berries, fruits, grains and
grasses ; and even tadpoles, young frogs and lizards, are occasion-
ally found in their crops ; but where the pecan nut, a variety of
the hickory, is plenty, they prefer that food to every other. Their
more general predilection is, however, for the acorn, or mast, on
■which they readily fatten. When an unusually profuse crop of
acorns is produced in a particular section of country, great num-
bers of turkeys are enticed from their ordinary haunts in the sur-
rounding districts, where the acorn abounds. This food, owing
to its abundance, as it is to be found more or less in all our large
forests, is one reason why it is a favorite with the turkey ; it is
more easily procured, and can be depended on with more cer-
tainty. About the beginning of October, while the mast still re-
mains on the trees, they assemble in flocks, and direct their course
to the rich bottom lands. At this season they are observed in
great numbers on the Ohio and Mississippi. The time of this ir-
ruption is known to Indians by the name of the turkey month.
The males, usually termed gobblers, associate in parties number-
ing from ten to a hundred, and seek their food apart from the
females ; whilst the latter either move about singly with their
young, then nearly two-thirds grown, or in company wath other
females and their families, form troops, sometimes consisting of
seventy or eighty individuals, all ot whom are intent on avoiding
the old males, who, whenever an opportunity offers, attack and
destroy the young by repeated blows on the head. All parties,
however, travel in the same direction, and on foot, unless they
are compelled to seek their individual safety by flying from the
hunter's dog, or their march is impeded by natural obstructions.

No. 133.] 155

When the turkies have surmounted all difficulties, and arrived
In their land of abundance, they disperse in small flocks, com-
posed of individuals of all sexes and ages intermingled, who
devour all the mast as they advance ; this occurs about the mid-
dle of November. It has been observed, that after these long
journeys, the turkies become so familiar near the farm-houses
and plantations, as to enter the stables and corn cribs in search
of food ; in this way they pass the autumn, and part of the win-
ter. During this season, great numbers are killed by the inhabi-
tants, who preserve them in a frozen state, in order to transport
them to distant markets. Early in March they begin to pair ;
and for a short time previous, the females separate from and shun
their mates, though the latter pertinaciously follow them, utter-
ing their gobbling notes. The sexes roost apart, but at no great
distance, so that when the female utters a call, every male within
hearing responds, rolling note after note, in the most rapid suc-
cession ; not as when spreading the tail and strutting near the
hen, but in a voice resembling that of the tame turkey, when he
hears any unusual or frequently repeated noise. Where the
turkeys are numerous, the woods from one end to the other,
sometimes for hundreds ot miles, resounds with this remarkable
voice of their wooing, uttered responsively from their roosting
places ; this is continued for about an hour, and on the rising of
the sun, they silently descend from their perches, and the males
begin to strut, for the purpose of winning the admiration of the
females. If the call be given from the ground, the males in the
vicinity fly towards the individual, and whether they perceive
her or not, erect and spread their tails, throw the head back-
ward, distend their comb and wattles, strut pompously, and
rustle their wings and body feathers. While thus occupied, they
occasionally halt to look out for the female, and then resume their
strutting and pompous movement. During this ceremonious ap-
proach, the males often encounter each other, and fierce battles en-
sue, when the conflict is only terminated by the flight or death of
the vanquished. When mated for the season, one or more females
thus associated, follow their favorite, and roost in the immediate
neighborhood, if not on the same tree, until they begin to lay, when
they change their mode of life, in order to save their eggs, which

156 [Assembly

the male uniformly breaks, if in his power, that the female may
not be withdrawn from his company and attention. At this time,
the females shun the males during the greater part of the day ;
the latter become clumsy aud careless, meet each other peaceful-
ly, and cease to gobble. The sexes then separate ; the males
being tliin and meagre, retire and conceal themselves by pros-
trate trees in secluded parts of tlie forest, or in the almost im-
penetrable recesses of a cane break. Rather than leave their
hiding places, they suffer themselves to be approached within a
short distance, when they seek safety in speed of foot ; at tliis
season, however, they are of none or very little value to the hun-
ter, being quite lousy and covered with tick. By thus retiring,
and feeding on peculiar grasses, they recover their flesh and
strength ; and when this object is attained, again congregate, and
commence their rambles. About the middle of April, when the
weather is dry, the female selects a proper place in which to de-
posite her eggs, secured from the encroachment of water, and as
far as possible, concealed from the watchful eye of the crow j
this crafty bird espies the hen going to her nest, and having dis-
covered the precious deposite, waits for the absence of the parent,
and removes every one of the eggs from the spot that he may
devour them at his leisure.

The nest is placed on the ground, either on a dry ridge in the
fallen top of a dead leafy tree, under a thicket of sumach or bri-
ars, or by the side of a log ; it is of a very simple structure, be-
ing composed of a few dried leaves. In this^receptacle the eggs
are deposited, sometimes to the number of twenty, but more
usually from nine to fifteen ; they are whitish, spotted with red-
dish brown, like those of the domestic turkey. Their manner,
number of eggs, period of incubation, &c., appear to correspond
throughout the Union, as Messrs. Audubon, Wilson and others,
have received similar accounts from the northern limits of the
turkey range, to the most southern regions of Florida, Louisiana^
and the western wilds of Missouri, The female always ap-
proaches her nest with great caution, varying her course so as
rarely to reach it twice by tlie same route ; and on leaving her
charge, she is very careful to cover the whole with dry leaves,
with which she conceals it so carefully, as to make it extremely

No. 133.] 157

difficult, even for one who has watched her movemenls, to indi-
cate tlie exact spot. When laying or sitting, the turkey hen is
not easily driven from her post by the approach of apparent dan-
ger ; but, if an enemy appears, she crouches as low as possible,
and sutlers it to pass. A circumstance related by Audubon, will
show how much intelligence they display on such occasions :
having discovered a sitting hen, he remarked, that by assuming
a careless air, whistling or talking to himself, he was permitted
to pass within five or six feet of her ; but if he advanced cau-
tiously, she would not suffer him to come within twenty paces,
but ran off twenty or thirty yards, with her tail expanded, when
assuming a stately gait, she paused on every step, occasionally
uttering a chuck. They seldom abandon their nests on account
of being discovered by man, but should a snake or any other wild
animal suck one of her eggs, the parent leaves them altogether.
If the eggs be removed, she again seeks the male and recom-
mences laying, though otherwise, she lays but one nest of eggs
during the season. Several turkey hens sometimes associate per-
haps, for mutual safety, and deposit their eggs in the same nest,
and rear their broods together. Mr. Audubon once found three
females sitting on forty-two eggs. In such cases, the nest is con-
stantly guarded by one of the parties, so that no crow, raven or
pole cat, dares approach it.- The mother will not forsake her
eggs when near hatching, while life remains ; she will suffer an
enclosure to be made around and imprison her, rather than aban-
don her charge.

Mr. Audubon witnessed the hatching- of a brood while thus
endeavoring to secure the young and mother. " I have lain,"
says he, "flat for some time within a few feet, and seen her gently
rise from the eggs, look anxiously towards them, cluck with a
sound peculiar to the mother on such occasions, remove carefully
each half empty shell, and with her bill caress and dry the
younglings, that already stand tottering and attempting to force
their way out of the nest." When the process of incubation is
ended, and the mother is about to retire from the nest with her
young l)rood, she shakes herself violently, picks and adjusts her
feathers about the breast and under parts of her body, and as-
giunes a different aspect ; her eyes are alternately inclined oblique-

1 58 [Assembly

ly upwards and sideways; she stretches forth her neck in every
direction, to discover birds of prey or otlier enemies ; her wings
are partially spread, and she softly clucks to keep her tender
offspring close to her side. They travel slowly at first, and as
the hatching generally occurs in the afternoon, they sometimes
return to pass the first night in the nest. While very young the
mother leads them to elevated dry places, as if aware that low
wet ones, during the first few days of their life, would be very
dangerous to them, they having then no other protection than a
delicate, soft, hairy down. In very rainy seasons wild turkeys
are scarce, because when completely wetted, the young rarely
survive. At the expiration of about two weeks, the young leave
the ground or neighborhood where they were hatched, and rested
or slept at night under the female. The time then approaches in
which they seek the open ground or prairie land during the day,
in search of strawberries, and subsequently dewberries, blackber.
ries, and grasshoppers, thns securing a plentiful food, and enjoy-
ing the influence of the genial sun. They frequently dust them-
selves in shallow cavities of the soil, or on ant hills, in order to
clean off the loose skin of their growing feathers, and rid them-
selves of tick and other vermin. The young turkeys now grow
rapidly, and in the month of August, when several broods flock
together and are led by their mothers to the forest, they are stout
and quite able to secure themselves from the unexpected attacks
of wolves, foxes, wild cats, and even cougars, by rising quickly
from the ground, aided by their strong legs,, and reaching with
ease the upper limbs of the tallest tree. The large diurnal and
nocturnal birds of prey are also much dreaded by the turkey.
In most cases, though, he contrives to elude the attacks of these
by his remarkable swiftness of foot, aided occasionally by his
wings, and his great instinctive sagacity in quickly discovering
danger and parrying its thrusts, however artfully made. On
hearing the slightest noise, for which they are all on the watch,
wild turkies conceal themselves in the grass or among shrubs, and
thus frequently escape the hunter and sharp-sighted birds of prey.
Wild turkies are very tenacious of their feeding grounds, as well
as the trees on which they have once roosted. Flocks have been
known to resort to one spot for a succession of years, and to return

No. 133.] 159

after a distant emigration in search of food. Their roosting place is
mostly on a point of land jutting into a river ^vliere tliere are large
trees, and where tliey can seclude themselves more effectually from
their enemies. Thie most wily and destructive of these, after all,
is man; he avails himself of his reasoning faculties, studies the
habits of the wild turkey in a way which no other animal does
or can, and whether with tlie gun, the trap, or pen, he makes
greater havoc among them, and thins their nunibers faster than
all tlie wild animals of the forest together. Audubon and others
say, that no position, however secluded ordifhcult of access, can
secure them from the attacks of the artful and vigilant liunter,
who, when they are all quietly perched for the night, takes a
stand previously chosen by daylight, and when the risi]ig moon
enables him to take sure aim, shoots them down at leisure, and
by carefully singling out those on the lower branches first, he
may secure nearly the whole flock. The presence of the hunter,
while making this slaughter, nor the report of his gun, seem to
frighten the turkies in the least, although the appearance of a
single owl or other bird of prey would be suflicient to alarm the
whole flock. This fancied security or heedlessness cf danger
while at roost, is said to he characteristic of all the gallinacious
birds of North America. Pens is another mode of taking them, more
common and more destructive, even, than shooting them. These
are made of logs, close and large enough to contain almost any
number. They are baited by grain of various kinds, though
mostly Indian corn, and enticed through an opening left for the
purpose, the grain or feed being liberally spread on the floor
within, and for some distance outside. One or two leaders will,
in this way, sometimes lead in and secure a great many, say a
hundred or more. In proportion to the abundance or scarcity of
food, and its good or bad quality, they are small or large, meagre,
and cf an excellent or indifferent flavor; in general, however,
their flesh is much more delicate, more succulent, and better
tasted than that of the tame turkey. They are in the best order
late in the autumn, or in the beginning of winter. The Indians
value this food so highly when roasted, that they call it "the
white man's dish," and present it to strangers as the best they
can ofler. This shows what the l^idian, the native of the coun-

160 [Assembly

try of the wild turke}^, thought of it as food, and how greatly he
estimated it. It is highly probable that the wild turkey cannot
obtain such suitable food in Mexico as he can in the United
States. Hernandez and other writers and teachers say, that their
flesh is harder and in all respects inferior to the domestic bird of
that region 5 a strong circumstance to show that the United
States is tlie original native land of the wild turkey, especially as
the latter is considerably larger and superior in the delicacy and
flavor of its flesh to the tame one of the Union. Among the
benefits conferred by America on the rest of the world, the gift
of this noble bird should occupy a distinguished place, as unques-
tionably one of the most useful of the feathered tribe, being capa-
ble of administering largely to the sustenance and comfort of the
human race.

On this account it has been eagerly nought by almost all na-
tions, and has been naturalized with astonishing rapidity through-
out the world, al-most universally constituting a favorite banquet
dish. The turkey, belonging originally to the American conti-
nent, was necessarily unknown to the ancients, who in this, as in
many other instances, were deficient in some of our common as
well as most essential articles of food. Readers unacquainted
with the fact may well be surprised to learn, that although the
introduction of this bird into Europe is comparatively modern,
its origin has in some measure been lost sight of, and that natu-
ralists who stood high in the last century, and who lived much
nearer to the time of its first appearance, have expressed great
uncertainty concerning its native country. Thus Belon, Aldro-
vandi, and others, thought it came originally from Africa and the
East Indias, and endeavored to recognize it in some of the domes-
tic birds of the ancients. These gentlemen supposed it was men-
tioned by some ancient authors, but they mistook for it the
humida Meleagris of Linnc^ wliich is no doubt an African bird,
now almost naturalized in America, in a wild state, so that it
would be more reasonable for the latter country to regard this as
indigenous, than that the old world should lay claim to the tur-
key. It would be loss of time to combat the arguments advanced
by some authors who have deceived themselves in attempting to
deprive America of her just title to this bird, since they have

No. 133.] 161

been fully refuted by the eloquent Buffon, the unrivalled natu-
ralist of his day, who unqualifiedly gives America, as the true
place of its nativity.

The first description of the turkey was given by Ciriedo, in
1525, in the summary of his History of the Indies. This bird,
it is said, by several good authorities, was sent from Mexico to
Spain, early in the sixteenth century ; from Spain it was intro-
duced into England in 1524; France, some years after, whence
they spread into Germany, Italy, &c. A few, however, had been
carried to the latter country by the Spaniards some years previ-
ously. The first turkey eaten in France, appears to have been
serred up at the wedding banquet of one of her kings, in the year
1570. Europeans conveyed them to all their colonies, and thus
were they gradually introduced into Asia, Africa, &c. The French
distinguished them by the name of coq et poul dUnde^ (cock and
hen from India,) because they supposed them natives of the West
Indies. Subsequently, for the sake of brevity, they called them
Dindon, a name which is still retained. The English name is
even worse, as it conveys the false idea that the turkey originated
in Asia, owing to the ridiculous habit formerly prevalent in the
old world, of calling every foreign uncommon object by the name
ofTurk, Indian, &c.

There are two Encyclopaedias printed in our country, both quite
voluminous works, the one called Americana^ the other American ;
the former devotes not quite a column to a description of the
wild turkey, and is tolerably fair as far as it go«s, but is rather
short and general, considering the importance of the subject j the
latter does not occupy two lines ; we will give the precise words :
" Turkey_, a large domestic fowl, supposed to be brought from
Turkey."' This laconic history of the bird does not accord much
with th6 first half of the title of the work American. Short, as
it is, it contains a gross error, in giving the supposed native
country of the turkey. He has been styled by some silly, he is
susceptible of very strong lively emotions, which do not accord
with weak intellect ; let any sharp sound like whistling, strike
his ear, and it excites his ire, or any thing red strike his sight,
and he shows both courage and anger on such occasions. The

[Assembly, No. 133.] H

162 [Assembly

great Franklin thought so highly of the bird, that he expressed
regret, that it should not have been preferred to the bald eagle
as an emblem of the United States. We will here insert a letter
written by the old revolutionary patriot, in his plain, clear, ner-
vous style, soon after the question was decided. " For my own
part," he says, " I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the
representative of our country ; he is a bird of bad moral charac-
ter, he does not get his living honestly ; you may have seen him
perched on some dead tree, where too lazy to fish for himself, he
watches the labor of the fishing hawk, and when that diligent
bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest, for
the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues,
and takes it from him. With all this injustice, he is never in
good case, but like those among men, who live by sharping and
robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy ; besides, he
is a rank coward ; the little kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow,
attacks him boldly, and drives him out of the district. He is,
therefore, by no means a proper emblem for the brave Cincinnati
of America, who have driven all the king birds from our count-
ry, lam on this account not displeased that the figure is not
known as a bald eagle, but looks more like a turkey. For in
truth the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird,
and withal, a true original native of America. Eagles have been
found in all countries, but the turkey w^as peculiar to ours. He
is, besides, (though a little vain and silly, 'tis true, but not the
worse emblem for that,) a bird of courage, and would not hesi-
tate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should pre-
sume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on." Messrs. Wil-
son and Bonaparte say, in their work of American Ornithology —
" so far from the wild turkey having gained by the care of man,
and the abundance of food accessible in its state of domestication,
it is inferior considerably in size, and greatly so in beauty ; it has .
degenerated not only in Europe and Asia, but what is certainly
extraordinary, even in its native country. The domesticated tur-
key of America, accustomed as it is to roam in the woods and
open fields, almost without restraint, is in no respect superior to
that of the European poultry yard. The male, wild, when full
grown, is nearly/uur feet in length, and more than five in extent;

No. 133.] 163

(breadth, we suppose, is meant, wings extended.) The bill is
short and robust, measuring two inches and a half to the corner
of the mouth: it is reddish, and horn color at tip : the superior
mandible is vaulted, declining at tip, and overhangs the inferior,
being longer and wider ; it is covered at base by a naked, cere-
like membrane in which the nostrils are situated, they being half
closed by a turgid membrane, and opening downwards ; the infe-
rior mandible slightly ascends towards the tip ; the head, which
is very small in proportion to the body, and half of the neck, are
covered with a naked bluish skin, on which are a number of red
wart- like elevations ; the naked skin extends further downwards
on the interior surface of the neck, where it is flaccid and mem-
brrnous", forming an undulating appendage, on the lower part of
which are cavernous elevations or wattles. A wrinkled, fleshy,
caruncle, hairy, arises from the bill at its junction with the tore-
head ; when the bird is quiescent, this is not much more than an
inch and a half long ; but when he is excited by love or rage, it
becomes elongated, so as to cover the bill entirely, and depend
two or three inches below it. The neck is of a moderate length
and thickness, bearing on its lower portion a pendant fascicle of
black rigid hairs, about nine inches long, and also called the
pectoral appendage." We omit much of this description ; it is
minute and long, but like the whole account of this interesting
bird, is ably and clearly given. The female, or hen turkey, is
considerably smaller in size, being three feet and a quarter long,
the bill and feet resemble those of the male, but are proportion-
ably smaller, the latter being destitute of even a rudiment of
spur. These authors remark, that the female which furnished
the above description, though certainly adult, had not attained
to its full size and most perfect beauty. It was procured in the
month of March, on St. John's river, Florida. The male was
selected from among many fine specimens shot in the month of
April, near Engineer cantonment, on the Missouri. It weighed
twenty pounds, but as the males are very thin at that season,
when in good condition, it must have weighed much more. On
the approach of the first winter, t^e young males show a rudi-
ment of the beard or fascicle of hairs on the breast, consisting of
a mere tubercle, and attempt to strut and gobble ; the second

164 [Assembly

year the hairy tuft is about three inches long^ in the third, the
turkey attains its full stature, although it certainly increases in
size and beauty for several years longer. Females of four years
old, have their full size and coloring ; they then possess the pec-
toral fascicle, four or five inches long, which according to Audu-
bon, they exhibit a little on the second year, if not barren ; this
fascicle though is much thinner than that of the male. The
barren hens do not attain this distinction, until quite an advanced
age, and being preferable for the table, the hunters single them
from the flock, and kill them as being superior to others. The
female wild turkey is more frequently furnished with the hairy
tuft than the tame. The great number of young hens without
itj has no doubt given rise to the incorrect assertion of a few
writers, that the female is always destitute of it.

The weight of the hen generally averages about nine pounds.
Audubon has shot barren hens, in strawberry time, weighing
thirteen pounds, and he has seen some few so fat as to burst open
by falling from a tree after being shot. Wild animals generally
are not only larger than tame ones of the same species, but they
are considerably more tender, and their tenderness continues more
or less through life. If killed at the right season, and when in a
good state, their flesh is more juicy and of a more delicious flavor.
The flesh of deer, or venison, Is more delicate and fine in a wild
state, than when kept and fattened in parks or large inclosures ;
high feed and a domesticated life generally deteriorate their flesh
for the table. It is said, too, they are not so long lived j the same
we should suppose with the turkey. Audubon says male turkies
of thirty pounds are not rare ; he also says he saw one in the
Louisville market that weighed thirty-six pounds ; the pectoral
appendage of this bird measured over a foot in length. Bartram
describes a specimen of great size and beauty, reared from an egg
found in the forest and hatched by a common hen. When this
turkey stood erect, the head was three feet from the ground ; the
animal was stately and handsome, and did not seem insensible of
the admiration he excited. The wild turkey is of a glossy dark
color ; he is generally called b*lack ; he is not black, like the crow,
he is more of a ferruginous or iron color, with small shining cop-
pery bronze spots, especially on the wings and tail. Audubon

No. 133.1 165

says, " In the wild state, a white or even a speckled turkey is un-
known, and we venture to say that a plain black one has hardly
ever occurred." As now characterised and acknowledged, the
present genus of this unrivalled bird is exclusively American, and
by the discovery of a beautiful • species, closely allied to that of
the United States, it now consists of two species. The oculated
turkey [Meleagris oculata) inhabits Honduras, in South America,
and may be distinguished from the common or original species of
North America or of the United States, in its being of a smaller
size, possessing a more brilliant plumage, and principally by its
having oculated spots (something like eyes) on the tail. It was
first discovered by Cuvier, and has lately been figured in that
splendid periodical work, the '■'■ Planchts Colorieesy^^ of Temminck
and Langier. A beautiful specimen has been exhibited in the
Charleston Museum of South Carolina.

Meleagris gaUopavo^ Lin. Common Turkey — "Body black
above the breast, and glossed with violet and gold ; head and
upper part of neck with a blue papillated and hairy skin ; feathers
of the tail brown, varied with black. The female has smaller
wattles, and is incapable of erecting the feathers of the tail, 3^
feet long ; inhabits North America ; bill short and thick, base
covered with a naked skin ; head and upper part of the neck in-
vested with a naked tuberculated skin j a loose caruncle on the
upper part of the bill ; throat with a longitudinal, pendulous and
carunculated wattle, tarsi of the male, with an obtuse and weak
spur." Meleagris oculata of Honduras, as described by Cuvier,
" head and neck naked ; back, rump and breast, golden green,
banded with glossy violet ; primaries white, spotted with black ;
secondaries white ; tail feathers wedge-shaped, griseous, spotted
with black, the top green, shining with violet and gold ^ bill
horny, 3^ feet long."

The color of most wild animals is considerably darker than
the same species in a tame or domestic state ; the former are more
exposed to the weather and sun, no protection except what the
trees of the forest sometimes give them. If the natural color of
the animal in a wild state is red or brown, it is generally of &
much deeper shade. Neat cattle, in former times, when found in

166. - [Assembly

a wild state, were nearly all black, some, perhaps, a shade lighter
than others. Hence the designation of them by all travellers and
writers as black cattle, and this, whether tame or wild, blaels or
white, no matter what theit color ;. and they are so designated by
many writers of the present day. Color, too, is often caused or
changed by the food of the animal ; some vegetables, by under-
going a certain process, will make red or black ; it is a part ol the
organism of some plants to make or give, in the hands of the
chemist, these colors bright and durable. So the change which
plants undergo by the process of mastication and digestion in the
stomachs of animals will throw open the pores and blood vessels,
produce a chaiige of color on the surface of the body, whether
this be covered with hair or feathers. It is well known that cat-
tle feeding on madder, a plant from which the most beautiful red
or scarlet is made, will, after a little while, change color; even
the horns and hoofs will turn red. This is continually shown
now in countries where they raise madder, as cattle, in a certain
stage of its growth, eat it freely. It will also discolor the milk of
cows.

The turkies above mentioned, found at the present day in the
mountains, and woods adjacent to them, of some parts of Penn-
sylvania and New Jersey, are, we should think, not the pure wild
turkey, although they are called so; they are more probably a
cross between the wild and tame. As the settlements advanced
South and west, the wild turkey fled from the Middle States, and
migrated to the wilderness of the southern and western portion
of tho United States. A few, no doubt, were left behind, and
tliese would associate clandestinely more or less with the tame
turkies, on the farms in the neighborhood of the mountains and
f )rests where these wild ones resorted or lived. Hence the jne-
sent mongrel race of turkies, w'hich inhabit certain parts of Penn-
sylvania and New-Jersey, mostly sprung ; they are very tew com-
}iaiative!y,and are yearly diminishing, and will in time probably
disappear altogether. The vigilant and incessant pursuit ol' t! em
by the numerous hunters, will, we believe, ultimately ext( rniiiuife
them. • They are considered, and no doubt are, superior to the
tame one for the table, and will command in our markets a hi: I er
price, and sell much more readily. This of course btimulai. ^ the

No. 133. 1 167

chase and pursuit of them, as they are the most profitable game.
It is well known that in our own State, New- York, we have some
of this valuable game left yet on our mountains, but we think
considerably less than the States abovenamed. In Virginia, and
some States west of the mountains, owing to the greater range the
bird has, there are considerable numbers of the pure wild turkey
to be found ; but as population progresses in this direction, the
turkey will continue his migratory travels further south and west,
and he will become scarce in these regions, if he is not now. The
•wild turkey depends more upon his feet and legs, in both travel-
ling and avoiding his enemies, than on his wings ; he cannot fly
far at a time ; he can ascend the highest trees, and does, if neces-
sary, to escape danger ; he relieves himself by using both alter-
nately, according to circumstances j no animal can run much
faster or longer among trees, bushes and grass.

In writing this article, we have been obliged to use considerable
search in examining some of the best authors on the subject, like
Audubon, Wilson and Bonaparte, Nuttall and some others. The
tliree first named have resided some years in different parts of our
country, and have shewn great industry in procuring information
from the most authentic sources, as well as personal observation,
whenever possible. Audubon's work on American Ornithology
is now well known, not only here, but in Europe ; its great repu-
tation has been earned, not only by its faithful and characteristic
descriptions, but by the splendid and lifelike plates and drawings
it contains of the objects or animals described. It is truly an
American work, and as such should be patronized by every pub-
lic institution in our country that is able to purchase it. It is
undoubtedly a costly work, and very few individuals can afford
to buy it, and not every public establishment ; but those that can
should not hesitate a moment. It would not only be owning a
work of great merit, but spreading wider the good it may do;
Besides, it would be encouraging the American spirit and feeling
which got it up and brought it into existence, Wilson and Bo-
naparte we have obtained the greatest number of facts from, rela-
tive to the turkey ; we ibund them here more together, and more
of them, and under the same head or chapter, and in selecting

1 68 [Assembly

them may sometimes have used their very words, without giving'
credit for them, by the usual marks of quotation. If so, we beg
leave to refer our readers to the book itself, and give credit in
their own minds for the omission, and excuse us for any other
errors we may have committed in writing this article, as there
are probably many. The work last named is also one of unques-
tionable merit.

AMERICAN TAME TURKEY.

The domestic turkey is a very fine bird ; it cannot be other-
wise when its origin is, taken into consideration. This has been
fully shown to be purely American. The main objects to be in-
quired into now, are the qualities of the tame animal, the induce-
ments for our farmers and people generally, who have the con-
veniences, to breed, raise, and fatten them, and the best way of
doing these for profit. It is generally admitted, all over the
world, wherever the turkey has had access, and been prepared
and dressed properly for the market and table, there is no fowl
of the poultry yard to be compared with it for quality and quan-
tity of its flesh, and the delicacy and flavor of taste. The breast
is larger round and deeper through to the breast bone ; the meat
of this is tender and white. The wings resemble it in color and
tenderness, and a part of the breast, if properly cut, is attached
to them. The little bones, joints, and pinions farthest removed
from_ the body, are juicy and delicate; the dark or brown part,
as it is called, including the thighs, back bone and side boneS)
are juicy, rich, and savory in the highest degree, especially the
last two bones. No other bird can compete with it in quantity
and delicacy of nourishing flesh ; the tame goose and duck are
inferior in ^,11 these respects, and besides, their meat is all darker,
and not so inviting ; the epicure can please the eye from the once
as well as the palate, which adds to the relish. The goose and
dack are found more or less all over the world, especially the
northern parts of it. There are many species and varieties of
them. The turkey, one kind only, the North American, differ-
ing somewhat in color and size, according to circumstances. It
is a land bird entirely ; it requires no water to swim and divert
itselt in to be healthy, like ponds, lakes, or good sized streams.

No. 133.] 169

which are sometimes expensive. The animal, young and old,
after the former attains a certain age, in a store state, can be kept
cheaper tlian any other of the poultry yard. It is less trouble-
some in gardens and grounds adjacent to the homestead ; it does
not scratch and disturb the plants of these much. Let its pro-
pensity for roving be indulged, and it will get its living, and a
good one, with occasionally a little feeding, in the woods and
fields of the premises, subsisting on nuts and acorns in their sea-
son, and by picking up the grains which are lost in gathering, of
wheat, oats, Indian corn, &c. Insects of almost all kinds, the
bird is very fond of; of grasshoppers, ^lugs, beetles, &c., he de-
vours a great many. These last not only aid in supporting him,
but the farmer gets rid of a portion of his most destructive ene-
mies. When the flock return home, as they unquestionably
will, in the first of the season, when they begin their rambles,
they should be fed with a little grain. This will induce them to
return regularly, especially to roost, having been accustomed to
do it in winter and early life. Regular kind treatment does
much in forming the habits of most domestic animals, and those
which are naturally docile, are most easily and permanently im-
pressed with anything done by man to relieve their wants and
add to their comforts. Geese, ducks, and common fowls are
continually near the buildings; the last, especially, are very
troublesome to gardens, and all young delicate plants, whether
ornamental or edible, scratching them up and destroying or ma-
terially injuring them, and this unceasingly; it requires one per-
son to be almost constantly watching them. This evil can be
lessened and perhaps prevented by very high fences, made
around the grounds and gardens near the house, or by confining
the poultry in yards by themselves, and if eggs and chickens are
the object, which it is thought are their chief profit, the quantity
of food they consume almost the year round, all these united, it
is thought, make them considerably more expensive than tur-
kies.

If farmers and those who raise the turkey, live in sections of
our country where the wild, or more properly, mongrel breed
exist, or have lately been found, it would be greatly to their in-
terest to try and preserve or increase them, by endeavoring to

170 [Assembly

prevent or lessen the depredations of hunters, and by encouraging
an association between this mixed race of the woods and moun-
tains and domestic turkey. It requires little trouble if they are
anywhere near ; they are extremely partial to each other, and by
certain signs and noises they give and make, are readily brought
together. We have understood, from good authority lately, that
farmers some years ago living near mountains in Pennsylvania
and New-Jersey, where this mongrel race resorted and kept,
have often had their turkey hens return home after being
absent a few weeks, with a fine brood of young turkejs. They
had set and hatched their eggs in the mountains or woods. The
old hen with her young, would stay quietly at home, on being fed
and cared for, until the latter got old and strong enough to travel
some distance and to fly when they would begin to show their
wild propensities, and absent themselves for a few days and re-
turn voluntarily. Besides this, they could easily be distinguished
from the others by their feathers, w^hich were darker and more
glossy. At this period the owners generally made sure ot them
by cooping or confining them. They were handsomer and larger
every way than the tame ones of about the same age, and would
bring nearly a third more in market, if properly prepared, gene-
rally allowed to be superior every way, iicluding flavor.

In several points of our high lands in our own State, including
the Catskill mouatains, we have been infoimed by those who
knew the fact well, that there were many cases within the last
forty years, of farmers living on these mountains, or in their vici-
nity, having their turkey hens return home after a little absence,
with fine broods of young ones of this mongrel race, which added
much to the profit and beauty of their flocks. Indeed we have
been informed within a few weeks, by a gentleman in whom we
can place confidence, that he shot in November last, (1852) on
the Shawangunk mountains, about two or three miles fr<>m the
Delaware and Hudson River canal, two wild turkies, so called in
that neighborhood, large and handsome, with dark bright teatheis,
and fat, it being in the season of nuts and acorns. Tl;is guitle-
man, with others, dined on them and found them a first rate dish.
This shows that the wild race is not yet extinct among us, even
in our own State.

No. 133.] 171

A gentleman told us within a few days, that some years ago lie
was invited with others, at a dinner given by the late Gouverneur
Morris, on account of the British minister, then resident in our
country. Mr. Morris told the latter, before dining, that he should
taste of an American pheasant, which he (Morris) thought supe-
rior, in every respect, to the English. Mr- Morris had procured
one of the New-Jersey mongrel turkies for the occasion, and which
were seen quite often in our markets of that day, and dressed, of
course, in the best style. The minister was helped to some, he
ate of it freely and praised it much. '' Morris," he asked, after a
little while, " where is the American pheasant you spoke so high-
ly ot, I should like to see and taste it ?" Mr. Morris answered,
" that is it you were helped to, and have been eating j S( me of us
liere, on account of the beauty and high flavor of its flesli, call it
the American pheasant ; besides, it is a native of our country, and
admitted to be so now all over the world, or by that portion of it
who know anything of its history, and that, perhaps, makes us
Americans a little more partial to it." The minister replied that
it was as large as two English pheasants, and he supposed it to
be a very tine turkey, as it really was, and equal in delicacy and
richness of flavor to the famous English bird ; as to its being su-
perior, was a different question.

Our domestic turkey, if in fair condition and well prepared,
raak s a dish good enough for anybody; they are universally
sought alter in their season, from November to March, and now,
about the h(jlida>s, (1852-53) are selling readily at from one to
three dollars each, according to size and quality. This price, we
slioulil think, would make them as profitable, if not a little more
so, than any other of the poultry-yard to breed and rear. Within
a week or ten days 3,000 fine looking turkies were driven through
Mercer, Pennsylvania, qui,te a small district of country, en route
f<»r a point on the Erie canal, intended for the New-York market.
Here IS a case to show that our Pennsylvania farmers and friends
think them a profitable class of poultry to raise and fatten for our
markets. This perhaps, too, is only a part of what this little
distiict accomplished in the turkey tiade this season; they
miglit, and no doubt did send some elseu here. The State at large,
at this rate, would, one would suppos,e, supply our markets on

172 [Assembly

the seaboard to overflowing with turkies. It is not the case
though, they are still in great demand, and would be, probably,
if there were five times as many mouths enough for all, and at
good paying prices ; such is the rapid increase of our country in
population. Large cities and towns in the interior, as well as on
the seaboard, must all be supplied, and no doubt are, as every
family must and will have their roast turkey at certain seasons.
Among others, those who raise them must and do consume their
share, and that fully, as none deserve it more and can better af-
ford it. Our*own State, New- York, and many others, no doubt,
raise and send large numbers to our markets every year, in pro-
portion to their size and population, of perhaps nearly or quite as
many as Pennsylvania. We have no statistics or data to found a
calculation upon of the numbers raised in other quarters, but
from what we have heard and seen in travelling in different direc-
tions, we know that most of our farmers, large and small, raise
more or less turkies every year, but many of them not in num-
bers that they ought, and would be to their interest to raise.
Those possessing large farms turn their attention mostly to the
grains, grasses, and fattening of cattle, and make poultry merely
incidental to these branches, considering it rather a small, trou-
blesome business. Profit is the great object in all occupations,
and if fruit, garden vegetables, poultry, &c., used to be thought a
small concern in the Atlantic states, should now, from various
causes, be the most profitable, they loose the character of small-
ness and become great, and should be pursued to a much greater
extent than heretofore. This must and will be the case in time,
and our farmers, like every other class of community, will most
of them adapt and shape their farming operations to meet this
change and new state of things.

The turkey is said to be a proud, vain, silly bird, we suppose
because he struts, gobbles, and shows his feathers, when excited
or provoked by the strong passions of love, pride or anger. Most
others of our brute animals do the same ; that noble one, the
horse, takes pride at times in showing his fine figure by capering
prancing and neighing, not only to attract notice and admiration
from his fellows, but from man. The human species, endowed
with reason, sometimes evince the same weakness, if it may be so

No. 133.] 173

termed, in a desire to show their taste by the cut, style, costly
and showy ornaments of their dresses, v^ public and other occa-
sions. Even men called by some the lords of creation, are vain
of their feathers or shining, outward apparel, and take pride in
displaying tliem. Some of these can do little more than strut,
gobble, and show their feathers ; whereas, if they would exert
themselves a little to shine in intellect, they would receive more
sincere smiles of approbation from the opposite sex, whose notice
they are ambitious of attracting, than they do. Many of our ladies
can readily and correctly discriminate the really useful from
the merely ornamental, and are sure to bestow their rewards ac-
cordingly. Mental accomplishnientSj too, will be remembered
longer; they make the deepest impression, they do not wear out
in a day, but last for years and sometimes ages.

Sdeciion of the Turkies for breed. The largest and best
looking should be preserved for the purpose ; the male especially
should be stately and erect in his movements — not go with his
head drooping — it shows a want of spirits and perhaps of health.
The soft fleshy excrescences called caruncle, about the head and
neck, sliould be full and prominent, and of a red color. The ap-
pendage that hangs over the bill, long and thick, tapering as it
descends to the end ; the pectoral appendage consisting of long
hairs, hanging from the breast, should be of a good length, and
dark in color ; these are usually not very thick. The color of the
turkey is important ; this should be dark bronze ; as little white
or light specks about it as possible ; this is the natural color of
the bird ; it descends to him from his ancestors centuries ago; it
is the most hardy and healthy for him. A turkey much speck-
eled, or pure white, is not so hardy as the dark ones ; it denotes
weakness, and those who are experienced in rearing them, say
they are not so strong generally as the dark, black ones ; nor will
they endure as much hardship. Hens — these should also be the
largest of their class, plump and animated, possessing a bright
eye, dark colored. Those with w^hife feathers, are generally
considered inferior. The hen breeds when a year old, or the
spring succeeding that in which she was hatched. She is not in
her prime until two or three years old, and will continue in vigor
for three or four years after. Whether it is proper for the owner

1 74 [ Assembly

to change his store stock for breeding purposes every two or three
years, must be left to his discretion and experience ; one male at
least should be kept for every dozen hens.

Laying Season. This commences usually about the middle of
March ; the hen shows this by a peculiar uneasiness, and occiisi-
onal cry, and strutting with an air <if self-satislaction, and prying
into bye and out of the way places, evidently in search of a fit
place to deposit her egg. At this time, the hen requires a little
care and watching, to keep her about the shelter or barns and
stables of the homestead, in preparing in. corners and out of the
way places, under cover, with a little dry straw and leaves, to in-
duce her to occupy one of these for laying. Leaves have their
influence, although the idea may be laughed at. It is one of the
hundred habits descended to her from her wild ancestors ; these
had only leaves, perhaps a little dry grass, to make their nest of.
Some extra feed at this time, might be good, given near the pla-
ces of the prepared nests ; all will help to keep her at home, and
prevent her from going out to find a suitable place herself for
her nest. It is generally in the morning she lays ; some every
day, others every other day. When she is off the nest, it is per-
haps best to remove them, except one, and keep them in some
cool, dry place in the house ; this will secure them from vermin
of the neighborhood, until the number is complete, which is gen-
erally from twelve to eighteen, then restore them to her. The
best feed for them at this time, and it is thought all times, is any
of the grains, ground or not. Indian meal is very fine, mixed
with a little water. The wild animal is very fond of Indian corn,
no stimulating feed ; oats and hemp seed are rather of this sort.
During the whole time of laying, the male must be carefully kept
from the hen, at least when she is on her nest laying, otherwise
if he finds her there, he will ill treat her, drive her away, and
break her eggs ; also, a habit of the wild breed, but a bad one.

Tmitntion, or Setting and Hatching. The turkey is an intense
setter, and shows great care and anxiety about her coming pro-
geny ; none of the feathered race more, and some not as much so.
The egg is a delicate substance, easily injured or broken, and de

No. 133.] 175

stroyf d ; heuce the constant watching, covering and guarding
them from external injury. Water and some light feed should
be kept near her, or where she can have easy access to it ; she will
defend her eggs courageously against assaults at this period. Her
time of setting is from twenty-eight to'thirty days. A few hours
after the chicks show themselves, they should have a little nour-
ishing feed thrown or put near the hen and nest ; they will soon
begin to pick at it, from her example. After they have all left
the nest, they should be kept under shelter for a few days.
Nothing the young turkey is more afraid of, and more hostile to
his constitution and habits, than wet, c.iused by rain or dews;
grass in this state, is very pernicious to ihem. They should be
kept under shelter for some days after they come ; this is often
in spring, in March or April, when the gains are cold ; let them
go out sunny and pleasant days, but sheltered at night at this
season. Feed should be regularly given them, not much at a
time, but often, and of the most nourishing sort. Indian meal
mixed with sweet milk boiled is best ] wheat flour, with the bran,
barley, &,c. ; no stimulating food or drink, like a pepper corn ; a
little alcohol in gin or brandy fur the turkey chicks to strengthen
them. Some mothers are weak enough, (rarely though w^e hope
and pray,) to give their infants a little of these for some pur-
pose, equally destructive no doubt to both. Aconite is some-
times given to grown persons when very ill and weak, in very small
quantities, to give strength, not less poisonous though, if they cop-
tract love for it from habit. Eggs boiled pretty hard and cut up,
mixed with onions, shalots, &c., are nourishing and healthy for
the chicks ; they will improve fast in strength and size on these
and similar things ; boiling concentrates an egg, and brings its
rich ingredients closer together, and the little things will swal-
low more nourishment with less bulk. The albumen, or while
of an egg, is very nutritious ; it contains among other valuable
materials, which form its compound, gluten, oxygen, hydrogen,
and az(jte ; it abounds in bones, muscle, membranes, &c., and is
one of the most important and common of all the animal substan-
ces. The grains are most of them good for the chicks, some bet-
ter than others. Wheat flour mixed with the bran, and a little
milk; wheat contains more gluten than any other grain; the

' 176 [Assembly

bran also contains considerable of it. Buckwheat and barley are
all good, propel ly managed. Scraps of meat from the table, cut
up with the fat of mutton, veal, &c.

Indian corn, the turkies love better in any stage of growth, and
seem to do better on it, than any of the breadstuff grains; this
love for it has descended to them from their earliest progenitors,
this has for ages grown wild in the forests of America, or culti-
vated by the Indians, and both the corn and the turkey, no doubt,
natives of this continent. The corn could at all seasons, when it
was fit, be approached by the turkies and consumed without any
hindrance ; this, with its nutritious qualities and fine flavor, no
doubt, made these wild birds, ages ago, so attached to it, and that
same love of it has been transmitted to their degenerate descend-
ants of the present day. The best way perhaps, or one of the
best ways to regenerate these last to a certain extent, would be
to give them a little corn meal, boiled in sweet milk, two or three
days after they left the shell, and go on increasing it a little, as
they gain size and strength. Onr people differ considerably in
managing young turkies when they first come, as they do in many
other things ; all we can do, is to give advice according to our
own views and the best of sources of information, derived from
books and practical men.

Rearing, Keeping and Fattening. After the young turkies get
nearly or quite half grown, they begin, under the guardianship
of the old one, to work a little for themselves, in the w^ay of
procuring food; they frequent the fields and grounds adjoining
the house, eat grass, buds and seeds of young early plants ; begin
to catch insects, worms, bugs, &c., and with adroitness. Until
the season gets a little advanced, though, they should be kept
about the homestead as much as possible, induced to roost near
it; this can be effected by a little feed, thrown to them every
evening when they come home. After they get more than half
grown, they will begin their rambles .farther from the house, and
continue them the season through ; it is in vain to try to check
them in this, nor would it be right to do it ; it is one of the habits
inherent in them ; their health as well as sustenance requires it.
In this they are of use to the owner, in picking \xp a good deal

No. 138,) 177

of their own i'ood, In destroying insects, and in numbers and some
of the worst kind when they abound, such as grubs, beetles,
grasshoppers, &ic. We saw the fine efiects of this, on a few farms
we visited in July, two or three years ago, in the interior. In one
neigh borliood, swarms of grasshoppers were laying waste almost
every thing green. One farmer told us he had common fowls,
in tolerable numbers, and but few turkies, but these would seem
to make much head against the enemy. This gentleman told ug,
he had a Iriend living without the line of march of the invading
foe, who had a large flock of turkies ; he had seen the efficiency
of his own, few as they were ; he borrowed them, brought them
home, and put them on his place, in a few days he was compar
atively clear of the grasshoppers ; they saved his corn and second
growth of grass, besides other plants. He told us, his common
poultry kept about the yards and gardens near his house, but the
turkies scoured the fields at a distance, and appeared to find and
tace the enemy In every nook and corner of his premises, and
devour hira. To talk of destrojing mischievous insects entirely,
Is idle ; no man who knows any thing of their character, ever
pgretended it could be done; all we can effect is, to lessen their
number, and thereby mitigate the evil. Turkies should be in-
duced, if possible, to come home every night the season through,
to roost on trees or other pretty high objecta near the house ; this
will instil into them the habit, and prepare them for late in
autumn and winter. In nut and corn time they will frequent
the woods, iu quest of one or two of their favorite feeds ; indulge
them, the season is short, it will put new life in them ; will make
them almost think of ages back, when all around was a wilder-
Qe8*5, and these fruits al)ounded, and could be fed upon nearly
without stint or molestation. Some farmers think poultry of all
kinds are troublesome and expensive, and especially turkies; they
will not pay ; they roam at seasons all over the farm and neigh-
bourhood, tread down and devour the grain and grass. Most
animah do this more or less ; even cattle sometimes brefik inclos-
ures and injure grain badly, and at all times trample down and
eat grass ; common fowls and other poultry do the same, only
•vbout the house though. D()es this more domestic poultry travel
over the farm and destroy myriads of insects in evexy part of It,
I AiaembJy, Ho 13;j.j 12

1*78 [AsSEMliLY-

pick up the grains scattered in gathering, and not only live but
get almost fat by their industrious rambles'? Tlie?e too, not being
so much at home, do not infest gardens, yards, &c., as much as
others, and they are more sought after, and will bring more in
market. Turkies, after running at large till late in autumn, must
be fattened or prepared for market, except such as are to be win-
tered or kept for store. We think the best way is to confine them
in pretty large pens, with fences rather high, and also high
p<^rches for thera to roost on, higher than other poultry ; they
require it ; it is on<3 of their hereditary habits.

Turkeys are voracious feeders, give them plenty of feed and
they will fatten quick— all kinds of grain are good for them, esps-
cially Indian corn, barley, buck- wheat ground or unground, feed
should be changed often and the shape of it, given as meal or
flour, moistened with water or skim milk, scraps of the house,
dry crumbs of bread, bits of meat, all mixed up and made fine,
and stirred up together witli the flour and meal. Certain fruits
are good, sweet apples, peajs, nuts &c.; these for a change, both
healthy and fattening : the small fruits are good early in tlie sea-
son both for young and old turkeys, strawberries, blackberrie?,
whortleberries &c. Some people in Europe, perhaps some in our
own country, cram their turkeys in the season of fattening them^
with a delicate machine made for the purpose, and this after they
have eaten all they would voluntarily. We should doubt the
profit of this system. We think it unnatural, it is a forced pro-
cess, and the food, after the crop is thus stuffed against the will
of the animal, cannot prepare its various secretions in the stom-
ach, and that part which goes to make flesh and fat assimilates
to the body healthily and naturally. A few years ago, we met
with a French gentleman who appeared to be conversant with
this system of cramming.^ as he called it. In a certain district in
France, they reared the turkey altogether, fattened and prepared
them for the Parisian market. They did this almost exclusively
on hickory nuts, raised for the purpose, large, thin shells, and full
of rich meat. After tlie turkeys had eaten as much of thefe as
they would, ihey crammed theui every day with the nuts. This
was done, he said, not only to make them very fat, but to fatten
them very quick, and thereby gave expense, as there was no feed

No. 133.] 179

*
the bird was so fond of. He had seen turnkeys there ofteD, thai

weiglied from 20 to 30]bs. Tltey were known throughout Pariig,
sought after and bought with avidity. NotwithsJaiiding this, if
correct, it is here thought the fat and flesh of the turkey cannot
be so healthy and fine flavoredj as when he eats what he chooses at
a timcj and appetite and digestion go on regular as nature prompts.
There is a book lateljT published, called ^^Browii's Poultry Yard^'^
an excellent work, written by an Eastern gentleman, and where
all keepers of poultry would find some good hints, and probably
new ideas and suggestions, as to the best mode of keeping, rear-
ing and fattening poultry of all kinds, and especially the turkey.

We can truly say, that nothing would give us greater pleasure^
than to be the means ofputtingour readers, or even some of them,
in channels which would be sure to lead them to the best informa-
tion on our subject, and who would be stimulated thereby to help
increase the numbers, and improve the qualities of one of our most
valuable and beautiful American birds.

;addb,ess

Deliveriid at the Castle Garden, on 0|)t3mng tlie 2'5th
Annual Fairof tho Americaii Institute.

By the Hon. UkN'kv Mkios.

Ladies and Gentlanen — At ihe request of iho ^'anagers of the
'-J5th Annual Fair of the Institute, I will endeavor to speak for
fiiem what I kuow to be their views and feelings in reference to
the establishment and illustrious progress of our beloved country
in all tlie u.^efsil and delightful arts ; for, as our Stato organized
fhe Institute to j)romote, by all honest and honorable ways and
means, agriculture ; ye«, fellow citizens ! that grandest art of all,
on which all else depend as their fuundatiou, strength, comfort,
nnd most pleasing in the sight of God — that comes first — next
commerce ! that rapid, cheap, Mr communication and exchange
can be made by the farmer with the maker of the plow, and the
maker of the club axe, the greatest work of art for such a world of
forests as when we first landed on this great continent shnded it
i'rom the light of the sun. Here were pre^entetl jobs for Hercu-
les ! American genius and strong arms, and the vision of a future
Kepublic animate<l their souls and untiring arms. The huge woods
once browsed on by herds of mammoth?, and whose mazes
Hoarked out by their enormous feet, made roads for the red men ;
these were all to be opened to the light of heaven, to prepare the
way for the white fac^s coming from the east ; or, as the Indians
said, they rise with the sun out of the eastern ocean. All this
work depended on the club-axe. We, of modern timc«, have
forgotten, and most of us never saw the poor axe of all antiquity ;
!t was called the pole-axe. Its head was thin, and its blade long
and narrow ; its aim very unsteady, and its blow light. Our
Yankee axe did more work in a day than the pole-axe could in
a week. This, and Ihousands of other ingenious and novel in-

No. 133.J 181

ventioQS, rapidly placed the lauds in order fur culture ; hewed
timber down for houses, and barns and fences. Before this ad-
Fauc€d guard of the Kepubllc, all the obstacles have nearly dis-
appeared. The red man will soon be with the raamraotbj-, and
the few wolves that remain clear out at onc€ and forever, when
they hear the shrill, frightful gcream of the locomotive steam
whistles. And already have the republicans made some 20,000
milea of railroads, so that no vermin in our broad land but heare
with consternation its terrible unearthly voic^, and prepares te>
quit with all celerity, and breed no more. The Institute wa*i
organized, too, to promote manufactures ; and beliold here some
of the results, in the glittering instruments of labor, and thei?
wonderful products of every description. The human race uevec
before had such noble ones, not only dignifying hard labor by
giving to it a most beautiful arm in appearance, but of the best
form and make ever known. Such scythes as those in youd«*i'
case would have been selected as imperial swords by the old
emperors.

Such cloths of cotton as we now make, never, sfinc^tho deluge,
have been made, for evenness of thread and excellence of w<^v-
ing, not fc)r any price whatever; such cotton cloths as we now
buy by the thousand acres, if you will, for six cents a yard, a
cloth worth more than the old, ten for one. Well, fellow-
citizens ! to speak these great truths about American progress is.
ea!=y to one wlio feels deeply as we do its grandeiu'. We had oac<>
a father, as he said, and now a rival^as we all know. It is a haril
fought game that is still playing between John Bull and us, arid
a much harder one was fought and won by our fathers over hirn.
After all, I like him; competition is the life of business. He
works like a bull-dog for perseverance, but he is too short in the
legs to keep up with us ; and he sees that alre^idy, and his great
sheet, the Times, Is now telling bim much about it.

You are all young, compared with myself, and are in fuJi
rigor. Go on — yon will never be beaten in the cause to which
you devote yourselves. God has given yon a mighty inheritance |
go on and fill up the destiny! You and John Bull must sKake
Lands. He says his people beat their drums all around a great

182 [AsSEMBLT

circle of the eartli— j our d)-iim3 will roll louder (lian hia., Go
on, the work is honest, is honorablo ; your heads and hands were
formed to invent, to judge, to decide, and to labor. Under the
great command of God, let there be "action, action, action," with
perpetual reference to his will ; do it lor the good of your brother,
and to the glory of the Almighty.

Among many important new things you see in this exhibition,
one v;ill probably be eminent. The royal premium of |3j000,
placed in the treasury of the American Institute by Mr. Ray, has
brought here numerous inventions for safety and comfort in rail-
road travel. There is strong hope that by their means the hazard
of that delightful mod© of travelling will be reduced to zero,
while the comfoi't will rise to the Indian summer.

And you will not fail to remember your hall of Americau
fruits. I have never seen so large and so excellent a collection.
I could not help w^'.ispering a question in th-^ ear of her servant,
Peter B. Mead, whether Pomona herself had not beon with us on
this oecasioji for once. i

Add on to my life another lease as long, and I shall see, (un-
less there shall be among us gin enough to turn the will of the
AliX'ighty against us,) such a Lingdora as no human imagination
has ever cojiccivtHlj or can now conceive. Strain your eyes to
the futiirej as lioss k Craig do througli their luige telescopes on
"unformed malttr, on the nebula of unfuthom.-dde distance ; you
cann-'t make it out ; but you are bound by every tie that binds
you to God, to yi;Ui'>clt', lo wife, children, and fellow-citizens, to
work it all out, tiie vejy best way you Cclu. And the hour will
come in which you will look tack with rapture to your ou'n ac-
tion in such a glorioua seme ; one wlilch will embrace about eight
Chinas, of a thousand miles ;5quarc each, and ail tilled with schools
for temporal knowledge, and a temple to God for every thousand
souls — 0?, look at it — som.^ ttvo millions of chrklinn churchtsl

ADDRESS

Of the Hon. James Dixon, of Hartford, Ct., delivered
before the American Institute, Oct. 21, 1852.

AMERICAN INDUSIUY,

Mr. President end Gentlemen of the Institute — Permit me, sir, to
congratulate you personally, on the. prosperous condition in which
you to-day find the institution, founded a quarter of a century
ago, by yourself and your fellow laborers in the cause of Ameri-
can industry. From small beginnings, it has grown, under your
auspices, to he truly national in ifs influence and initsmagrttude,
-and you may now have the pleasure of beholding throughout our
country, exhibitions of a similar character, cf which yours was
the forerunner and the parent.

To you, gentlemen, I beg leave also to offer my cordial con-
gratulations, that ou this twenty-fifth anniversary of your exist-
ence, your chair is again occupied and honored by the distin-
guished president of the American Institute.

The prominent idea which impresses the mind of the spectator
of your exhiLition, is the wonderful advance of our country in.
the industrial arts. The skill, the enterprise, the invention of a
great nation, competent to create within itself all that necessity
may demand or luxury desire, have arrested the gratified atten-
tion of thousands. The triumphs of art, the wonders of science,
prove that while our territorial boundaries have been extended
by conquest, the heart of the nation is at the same time alive with
a prosperous and healthy growth.

I desire for a single moment to turn your thoughts from the
contemplation of this display of the successful industry and Inge-
nuity of a powerful and advancing people, to an occasion which
freseuted a far different impression of our national greatness, and

184 [ABs.«2!ffjB.i,y

particularly of ttke relative pcwoj" and hnport^nce of thi? com-
mercial emporium.

On the 21st day of'Octoberj 1775. stventy-seren year^ ago this
day, during the second session of the fourteenth Parliament of
Great Britain, a debate arose in the House of Lords on the sub-
ject of the measures proposed in the King's speech, relating to the
American colonies. The Journal of the House of Lords informs
ns, in lofty and royal phrase, that " His Majesty being seated on
the throne, adorned with his crown and regal ornaments, and
attended by his officers of state, (the Lords being in their robes,)
commanded the Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons
know it was His Majesty's pleasure they attend him immediately
in this House ; who being come with their Speaker, His Majesty
was pleased to say, that the present situation of Atiurica had de-
termined him to call tlum thus early together.-' In the debate
which followed, scarcely a doubt was suggested by a single noble
Lord, that the rebellious colonies would bo speedily reductni
to unconditional 8ubmis>ion ; but an apology was made for the
course pursued by the Province of New- York, to which I desire
to c-all your attention, as?, a striking illustration of the vast and
almost inconceivable change which has since taken place, in the
relative irar>ortauce of the State and city in which we aie now
assembled, A distinjijuished member of the House of Lords,
Earl Gower, rose and said, ^' that the Administration had t»een
deceived and misled, and that o<jrisequently the measures taken
were by no means proportioned to the natiire and extent of tho
service ; that the accounts receive<l from the southern colonies
had led to this mistake, and that several other events had hap-
pened which it was Impossible to foresee or prevent. Jn particu-
lar," he said, " the Province of .^ew- York had been overatced, and
compelled by a party of insurgents from Conructicut i/Uo rmasureif-
they would never otherwise have adopted.'''

Such, gentlemen, was the relative position of New-York and
Connecticut seventy-seven years ago, in the opinion of a well-
informed British statesman. The change which has sinc« taken
place fills the mind with astonishment. What was then a pro-
viuci^J town, has become a great commercial emporium. Her

No. 133.] * l»r>

Rliips explore every elirae, and out«aJl tho«¥5 of the "Mistress of
the Seas,"' in her own waters, under the very eyes of a successor
ot the monarch to whom I have refi-rred. The Province of New-
York, now the Empire State of our confederacy, was then a wil-
derness ; and the great city which now stretches is beauty and
In strength, its giant proportions on eveiy side, could then be
overawe<l by a band of insurgents from Connecticut!

This great change furnishes abundant food for thonphf. It has
Bot been confined to this city and State, but o::r -^hi It- country
feels to its remotest bounds the impulse of atlvaiicing civilization
and wealth. What has caused the vast relative change which is
so forcibly illustrated by the scene which I have recalled to your
recollection? What has felled our forests, settled our prairies,
constructed our canals Jind ra)lrf»ads, and enabled the old States
to furnish a population for tlio new, without being themselves
depopulated? What has made New- York one of the wonders of
the world, and built cities in our Western wilds larger than
New- York was at llie commencement of the century 1 and from
what source must we expect continued growth and prosperity *{
To a few consideratiojis suggested by these inquiries, I pr«pose
to invite your attention.

The political lndepen«{ence of this country, not yet declared at
the period to which I have alluded, of course tended greatly to
our national progress ; but, gentlemen, there was another kind of
independence, resulting from this, which has been' equally effec-
tive, so far as ii has existed, in stimulating our growth. I allude
to our independence, as yet only partial and incomplete, in all
that the diversified employments of labor, here, on our own soil,
can do, in Manufactures and all the industrial pursuits, and in the
successful commerce created thereby, to supply the wants of our
own people. To secure this, was a leading cause, and not th©
least valuable end of our Revolutionary struggle.

The subject, then, to which I shall invite your attention, is The
importance of indepcndmcc in all the % idu- trial pursuits, in advan^
ring the growth and sustaining the prosperity of this J^'ation. I
teel certain that I need not apologise to yoa, gentlemen, for the

136 |Ai}8EMBLY

selection of sudi a sui)Ject, The purposes of your Iu^titAlt^on,
as declared in your cliarter, authorise its choice, and free mo from
the suspicion of attempting to pervert this occasion to a partisan
use. You are incorporated " for the purpose of encouraging and
promoting domeLtic industry, in this State, and in the United States,
in Agriculture, Manufactures, and the Arts, and any improvement
mada therein." Such is the language of your charter. An at-
tempt to enforce the importance of national independence iji the
great objects for the promotion of which you exist, cannot be in
appropriutti h) tiiis occasion.

In exaii!'.;' ::; tijis subject, permit me briefly to review tlie ear-
ly conditiuii of th'.s country in respect to the Industrial Art3.

The immediate cause of our Revolutionary struggle was un-
doubtedly the right of taxation claim^ed by the British Govern-
ment; but there were even then far-seeing men who felt that we
had more serious grievances, ' The Stamp Act and tlie tax on tea
IV ere not the greatest evils to which our colonial condition expo-
sed us. Dependence in manufacturers and in com.meroe was evi-
dently a far more important consequence of that condition, and
to hold us in subjection in tho.so res])ects w^as the great C'bject of
-the British Government. Thi3 was avowed by Dr. Johnson, in
his celebrated tract entitled ^'Taxation 7x0 Tyranny, ^^ written in
1775, at tlie request of the Government, in reply to the Resolu-
tions and Address of the American Congress. He argued that
the ascendancy of Eritisli commerce with America could only be
retained by keeping the Colonies in subjection. ^' That our com-
nierce with America h profitable," he snys, " however less than
ostentatious or deceitful estimates have made it, and that it is our
interest to preserve it, has never been denied, but surely it will
most elfoctually be preserved by being always kept in (jur own
power; concessions may promote it for a moment, but superiority
only can insure its continuance." In the same remarkable pro-
duction, after showing conclusively, as he supposes, that the re-
Bult of the quarrel with the Colonies will be conquest and contin-
ued supremacy, he indulges in a pleasant and ironical supposition,
that the English Government may j;>ossibly be checked in their
career of conquest, and reduced to peace upon equal terms, or

No. 133.J 187

driven " as he adds, "from tho Western Ci. iiUnent, and forbidden
to violate a second time the happy l)orders of the land of liberty."
'^The time," he sneeriugly contiaiies, '' is now perhaps at hand
which Sir Thomas Browne predicted, between jest and earnest —

*' When America shall no more send outiior treafiarc,
Bat £p«ad it at home in American ploaaure."

" If," he adds, with a sarcastic irony, the point of which has
been turned by the result in a direction, quite diiferent from that
intended, " we are allowed upon our defeat to stipulate conditions,
I hope the treaty of Boston will permit us to import into the con-
federated Cantons such products as they do not raise, and such
manufactures as they do not make, and cannot buy cheaper from
other nations."

It is thus evident that in 1775, the great point of advantage to
be gained by subjecting the Colonies was supremacy in commerce
tmd manufactures. In the preceding year, 1774, an act had been
parsed which bore the following significant title, «An act to pre-
vent the exportation to foreign parts, of utensils made use of in
the Cotton, Linen, Woolen and Silk manufactories of this King-
dom," in which it was provided that after the first day of July,
1774, only two years before our Declaration of Independence, no
Buch utensils sliould be exported to the Colonies, under penalty
of a forfeiture of the utensils and the sura of X200 sterling. Even
Lord Chatham, though, a firm friend of tho Colonies, supported the
bill, and declared he " would not willingly permit the manufac-
ture of a hob-nail among them."

The war soon commenced. During it.s continuance, the great
want of the army was clothing. Manufactures were in so feeble
Q condition, though we had a population of nearly three millions,
that it was extremely difficult to supply the wants -of the troops
in this respect, and their sufferings in consequence were extreme.
Ytt ihe commercial non-intercourse, occasioned by the war, fur-
nished H degree of protection under which manufactures might
have been expected to spring up. But a great obstacle was found
to exist in the want of utensils, occasioned in part by th»? act of
Parliament to which I have alluded. The manufsicti'.rcs aimed
At in this acl were exactly those in which we were deficient.

IBf jAsPEJMBty

It is difEcuTtfor us, now. to realize the comparatively helpless
aod destitute condition ol" the country, at the period of tlie De-
claration of Independence, in respect to manufactures and the
mechanic arts ; we presented the spectacle of a dependent people,
out off from our sources of supply. A multitude of human hands
were ready to labor for the supply of the wants of the country j
but the skill, the capital, the utensils, were wanting. And yet,
while the war continued, there was, as there always is under such
circumstances, an artificial prosperity, founded upon the absolute
necessity of the country's supplying its own wants. A state of
war has always been found to stimulate the energies of a nation,
by driving it to the use ot its own internal resources, and com-
pelling \t to employ its own labor. This explains the apparently
anomalous fact that our country has enjoyed greater prosperity
under circumstances seemingly adverse, than under those most
favorable. Hence, during Ihe Revolutionary war, real estate rose
iu value, our industry was protected by the existing relations of
the country, agriculture flourished, and our c-ondition, notwith-
standing the necessarily low state of our*mauufactures. wa« bette*
at the close of the war than at its commencement.

The condition of the country after the restoration of pf^cc —
when the peculiar causes of prosperity, Just alluded to, had
ceased to acr — led such strong- heiir ted, clear-headed men as
Washington to fear that we had won our independence in vain.
We were suddenly deluged with British goods : the manufactures?
whicli had come into existence by the protection afforded by the
v/ar, were at once destroyed ; our specie was exhausted j real
estate lell so low as to ruin all who had bought land upon credit;
agricultural products were without a market, and universal dis-
tress pervaded the country. This state ol things led !o the for-
mation of our Federal (Constitution. Under the old confederation,
as is well known. Congress had no power to a&urd protection to
our labor. Some of the States atte.'upted to levy duties on foreign
goods, but their laws were defeated by the refusal oi' other States
to concur in their provisions. While Massachusetts and Connec-
ticut were willing to unite for this purpose, Rhode Island persisted
in making Newport a free port of entry, whereby the commercial
bu.siiies9 of that city was great !y loereased, at the ex.pense of

No. 13a. J 189

Boston and other neighboring jv-irts. To remedy the ev.il, th<^
good people of MafiSachtisctts,and Connecticut, seriously proposed
to make a partition of Khode Island, and annex it to their respect-
ive territories — a mode of enforcing " law and order," to which
the citizens ot that spirit<-d and T)atriotic State would not very
readily have ^ahmitted. The revenue laws oi' i\e\v-York and
Pennsylvania were also rendered unavailing, by the refusal of
New-Jersey to adopt similar legislation. Perth Amboy was made
a fVee port, and at one time )iad an extensive commerce, and was
likely to l>eoome a powerful rival to New-York. These collisions
between the States resulted in the abandonment of all attempts
to protect Americ.m labor under the confederation. The advantage
which would be likely to result to their own manufactures, did
not escape the attention of the British statesmen of that day.
Lord Slieffield, in his " Remarks ufwu the Commerce of the United
States," exposes the wishes and policy of the HritLsh Government,
on this subject, .^s tbllows:

"It Js certain that the confusion of the ^Vmeriran Statef can
now only hitrt themselves. They must pay Europe in the best
manner they can for clothing, and many articles for which they
are not likely to have the credit they had while in more settled
circumstances. If one or more States should prc^hibit the mami-
tacture of any particular country, they will find their way to
them, through other States, by various means. The difficulty
xrill only raise the price on the consumers in the State where the
articles are prohibitecl. The British manufactures found their
way into every part of the country during a most rancorous war,
and the most strenuous American manufactureis admit, that no
impost or excise law will, for a long time, be regarded in America.
In the meantim*^, Britain will have nothing to apprehend. The
United States will hardly enter into real hostilities with Britain.
Britain need not quarrel with them at all ; but shoukl either hap-
pen,, *ome ^/owf //iVq/m, cruising between Halifax and Bermuda,
and between the latter and the Bahamas, would completely cx)m-
aiand the commerc<e of this mighty continent."

Thp>se ugret^ahle acticij)iitious of his Lordship were nut more
iadly disappointed by the adoption of tlie Federal Constitution,
than by o*:r naval victories in the Ia»st war with Great Britain.

ISO [ASSEMBX-Y

The stale of things which existed at the time of which I speak,
could not long be endured. The present Constitution was at
length formedj and one of the first acts of the first Congress
of the United States, which assembled under its provisions, ex-
pressly asserted the principle of levying duties for ihe protection
of Americiiu Industry. It was intended, as was declared in its
preamble, " Co provide revenue for the support of the Government^
the paxfrnenl of the debts of the United Siatesjandfor the encourage^
ment of American manufactures.''''

It was on the 4th day of July, 1789, that this law was enacted 3
a law which was in itself a Declaration of Independence, scarcely
less important in its influence upon the industry of the Nation,
than that which had been X)ublished to the world thirteen years
before, by the patriots of the Revolution. It was signed by
George Washington, President of the United States, who had
himself been a member of the Convention which framed the
Constitution. The fidlowing members of Congress, who voted
for the bill, were also members of the same Convention, viz :
James Madison, Oliver Ellswortli, Roger Sherman, William Sa-
muel Johnson, Caleb Strong, Elbridge Gerry, Nicholas Gilman,
John Langdon, William Patterson, Thomas Fitzsimons, Robert
Morris, Richard Bassett, George Read, Abr;&ham Baldwin, and
William Fell. These men certainly were capable of judging
whether the Constitution they had just framed, empowered them to
pass such an act, and their decision, as a cotemporaneous expo»
sition of t)ie Constitution, is certainly entitled to great weight.

The protection atfarded to manufactures by this act proved in-
sufficient. During the war in which ail Europe was so long in-
volved, we became the carriers of the world, and on the whole
we enjoyed an unexpected degree of prDSperity. Congress at dif-
ferent times raised tlie rate of duties &o as to afford some slight
degree of protection ; but the impression seems generally to have
prevailed, that we were not prepared to become a manufacturing
people. In 1789, '91, ami '97, small additional duties were laid.
In 1800 aa increase of 2^ per cent, was made, and again in 1801,
ai addition of:.?? per c-3at. to the ai udloretn duties then existing,

Wo. 133. J 191

for tlic purpose of rait-ing what was called the " Mediterranean
Fund," which was set apart l'orca*ryiiig on tlie war wiih Tripoli.
This duty ceased iu 1808.

At tlie commencement of our second war with England, our
loanufacnires were fJouiid to be in an extremely low condition.
The war gave them protection, and they flouri.shed of necessity
during its continuance. At its close, another iniiux of foreign
goods deluged the country, and thousands were irretrievably
ruined. The distresst'S of that day are within the nie.mory of
many now living. Although the return of peace had been greet-
ed throughout the Union with every manifestation of joy, the re-
vulsions which followed caused an amount of suifering which the
horrors of war h-dd failed to produce. In the first six months
after the cessation of hostilities, woolen goods, of the value of
$17,000,000,, were thrown into the United States. The whole
umount of importation for the fiical year ending September 30,
1815, although the war continued during the Urst quarter of that
year, reached tlie sum of $113,000,000, while the exports of the
same year were but $52,000,000. This immense balance against
us, of course, occasioned great commercial distress. In a speech
in the British parliament, Lord Brougham — then Mr. Brougham
— after remarking upon the excessive amount of exportation to
this country, occasioned by the peace of 1814, adds, *' that it is
well worth while to incur a loss upou the first importation, in
order, by the glut, to stifle in the cradle those rising manufac-
tures in America, which the war had forced into existence con-
trary to the natural course of things."

This reutarkable language exposes the past and present policy
of the Brilish manufacturers and British Government with res-
pect to the industry of this country. Independence, on our part,
in raanui'dctures and the arts, in considered by them " contrary to
the nalural course of thingi-.^^

Witli the hope of relieving in some degree the diistre.ss which
then existed, the tariff of 1810 was enacted. It is a remarkable
fact tl.iit Southern statesman were then the strongest advocates

i 99. [ AssEaiBLT

of proteetion. Mr, Caihoua himself delivered a speech In sup-
port of the protective system, which has never been surpassed in
ability ; and the arguments by which he sustained his opinions,
all the powers of his own mighty intellect, matured by time, and
strengthened by application and exercise, were never able to re-
fate.

1 have thus glanced at the early history of our legislation on
this subject, before it had most unfortunately become a party
question. Up to the period to which I have traced the history
ojf protection, and even later, men of every shade of political
opinion had agreed on this subject ; and it is a little remarkable
that the only President from Washington to Jackson, who did
not call the attention of Congress to the necessity of protecting
American manufactures, was John Adams. He is known, how-
ever, to have been in favor of National Independence in this as
well as in all other respects.

But it was not by legislation alone, that the founders of our
Republic attempteil to secure and complete our independence in
manufacturer and the mechanic arts. They went further, and
abstained from the use of foreign fabrics. General Washington
was inaugurated in a suit of American broadcloth, made in Hart-
ford, in the first woolen factory established in the United States,
Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison were so deeply impressed with
the importance of sustaining our independence in manufactui-es,
that they wore at one period of their lives American cloth exclu-
sively. Mr. Jefferson expressed his sentiments on this subject as
follows : "The grand inquiry pow is, shall we make our own
comforts, or go witliout them at the will of a foreign nation 1 He,
therefore, who is against domestic manufacturer, must be for i*e-
ducing us either to dependence on that foreign nation, or to be
elothed in skins, and to live like wild beasts in dens and caverns.
I am proud to say," he continues, " I am not one of them. Ex-
perience iias taught mc tliat manufactures are now as necessary
to our independence as to our comfort; and if those ulio are of
a dififerent opinion will keep pace with me in purchasing nothing
foreign, when an equivalent of domestic fabric can be obtained,
without any regard to difference of prioe, It will not be our fault

No. 133.] 193

ifvredonot have a 'supply at liome equal to our demand, and
wrest that weapon of distress from the hand which, has so long
v¥antoDlj violated it."

With such heartfelt earnestness did the author of our Decla-
ration of Political Indep^dence, express his sentiments on this
subject. He had then (1810) witnessed the effect of two wars;
he had watched the growth of the country, and knew the causes
of its prosperity and adversity. lie ha I lived to see great and
astonishing changes in the population and extent of our Union,
but died before the miraculous improvements and inventions,
which signalize our day, were discovered and brought to perfec-
tion. During his administration, a New-England turnpike road,
scarcely forty miles in length, was thought worthy of being made
the subject of a special report to the general government, by Alex-
ander Wolcott. He de.scribes it in glowing terms, and says, " he
may venture to predict, without incurring the risk of being consi-
dered visionary, that the time is not far remote when the whole
distance between New- York and Boston can be traversed on a
tmrnpike road. This is all," he addS; " that can ever be expected."

Mr. Jefferson was, in his time, called a dreamer ; but in no vi-
•ion of his wildest dream did he foTesee the wonderful advance
whicji tliis day witnesses in the industrial independence of our
nation.

Such, then were the opinions, and such the practice of the wise
aud liberal statesmen, who laid the foundations of our Republic.
With them only one sentiment prevailed with regard to the im-
portance of manufactures and the mechanic arts, in administering
to the wants of social and domestic life, and in promoting the
^lory and prosperity of our nation. They felt thatonr independ-
ence was incomplete while our wants were supplied by the labor
of a foreign qountry, and that the cause to sustain which they had
pledged their lives; theirfortune8,and their sacred honor, was not
yet fully triumphant.

The age in which we live has been signalized by an event which
teaches us that nations are now struggling in the field of labor, for

[Assembly No. 133. J l^J

the mastery wliicb they one c conte?ted on the field of battle. The
great ladustrial Exhibition of 1851 was a monument and a proof
of the dignity of labor. Crusades, tournaments, military exhibi-
tions, have had their day ; labor now claims and receives the
homage of the world. But it is labor/trained to scientific perfee-
tion, and educated to perform its diflknlt and woiderful task
with consummate excellence. One result of the Exhibition was,
that the nation which most cultivated science and art in any par-
ticular branch of manufactures, was so far in the ascendant.

The first step then, towards industrial indef>€ndence. is to en-
noble labor by educating it.

He is a blind and inattentive observer who does not perceive
that in this age of the world, the competition of labor is, as Dr,
Playfair has lately declared it, " a competition of intellect. Frona
the earliest times, useful labor has been held most in esteem by
the most intellectual and cultivated nations. The name of th«
first artificer in brass and iron, was deemed worthy of being re-
corded in Holy Writ. The son of Jupiter is represented by the
Greek poets, toiling at the anvil, and forging the shield of Her-
cules. Among rude and untaught nations labor was divorced frcBi
intellect. But gradually knowledge and inventive genius tame
to be more and more mingled with its efforts ; and now that all
the powers, all the feculties of the human mind are devoted to
the supply of human wants, labor, to reach the highest excellence
in its productions, must be in some degree skilled in the scientifie
principles involved in the industrial arts. Hence it is, that tb«
governments of those nations of Europe which most excel in th«
preducts of human ingenuity, have adopted it as a principle of
state, that industry must be supported by a competition of int©]-
lect; while in many of them schools of labor and industrial uni-
versities abound, in which the sciences connected with manufa*-
tures are taught.

The surplus fund of the great London Exhibition, amounting t®
up-^vards of Xl 50,000 sterling, has been devoted by Prince Albe^ri
and the Royal Commissioners, to the establishment of a great oen-
iral institution oi arts and manufactures. The institution \b to
contain laboratories and workshop*, a museum and library. Le©--

No. 133] 195

tiires will be delivered on the scienc^;s connected xrith the difibi-
ent branches of manufactures, and well informed and skilfal
workmen will superintend the chemical operations in the labora-
tory, and the mechanical labors of the workshop. PracticjLl meja
are no 'longer influenced by the contempt of abstract science which
formerly prevailed amoig them. They begin to se«, with Br.
Playfair, that " practice and science must now join together in
solemn union." Liebig has told them that " from the schools ia
which natural sciences are taught, a more vigorous generation of
artisans will come forth, through whom the resources, the wealth,
and the strength of empires will be incalculably increased."'
Humboldt, too, has testiiied that '' those nations which remain
behind in manufacturing activity, by neglecting the practical ap-
plication of the mechanical arts and of Industrial chemistry to th«
transmission, growth or manufacture of raw material, must inevi-
tably tall from any prosperity they may have attained ; and this
while those states in which science and the arts of industry lend
each other mutual assistance are seen pressing forward in the i-aee."
When this comes to be generally fell, labor will be ennobled, and
placed in its true position. ■

What would be the character of a nation whose artisans were
skilled in the principles of science, involved in the products
of human ingenuity, displayed in your exhibitions ? These have
added vastly to thcAvealth of the country ; but the argument ijB
favor of independence in manufactures, drawn from their pe-
cuniary profit to a people, is by no means the most important.
The question should be, not how shall we make money^ but how
shall we make men ? Not by the wealth of a nation alone, can its
greatness be measured, but by the character of its inhabitants.
A complete and perfect manhocni, strong in its capacity, well
trained, self-reliant, more abundant in performance than in pro-
mise ; this js the need of our nation. How shall this be attained*?
How better than by training up the artisans of this new world to
an ac-quaintance with the scientihc principles which lie at the
foundation of their arts? Is this impossible 7 Not if it be true
that the highest excellence cannot be otherwise reached. By
some means this highest excellence will be reached. The day af
mediocrity is ever. Your annual 'exhibitioi], the gref.t Lt-'iidofi

196 [Assemble

Exhibiton of 1851, and the Crystal Palace for the exhibition of
the industry of all nations, now approaching its completion in this
eity, are compelling labor to satisfy itself no longer with partial
merit. The hand that can fabricate what the public taste now
demands, must be guided and governed by a brain capable of
mastering the mysteries of the science on which its art is founded.
The quick eye, the ready hand, tlie dextrous touch, will then
lighten and facilitate labor, and relieve it of somewhat of its irk-
someness.

Give us a true and complete national independence, instead of
looking to foreign nations for the most beautiful, finished, and
perfect products of human labor, an,d you shall see the best, most
fniitful and most cultivated minds, seeking employment in those
industrial arts which enrich and adorn our country. Have you
not already noticed that the young men who annually leave our
eolleges, are less and less inclined to flock into the so-called
learned professions ? Have you not observed that they are more
disposed than formerly to become architects, engineers, artists, in-
vcKtors, hand-worker^Sj as well as head-v/orkers ? Give them but
the field ot labor; cease to look abroad for the luxuries which
prosperity has converted into necessaries ; give to American la-
bor tlie privilege of doing American work, and you shall have a
race of artisans, skilful, educated, scientific ; competent not only
to build your cities, discover your inventions, adorn your temples
and palaces, but also to understand the policy and advise the
measures of your government ; able alike to defend your institu-
tions from the assaults of the foreign invader, a»d the arts of the
domestic dema^o^'ue.

-o^o'

THus is taken the first step towards the elevation of labor.
Another is to increase its compensation. Mankind Lave a habit
of graduating the rank of labor by the recompense it receives.
How shall this be increased 1 *

The tendency of national independence in manufactures and
the mechanic arts is to place the laborer on the vantage ground,
and enable him, to a reasonable extent, to make his own terms.
The rate of wages, like every thing else for which aprice is paid,

No. 133.] 197

depends on the demand «ind supply. Increase then the demand
for labor. Mnitipl j and diversify employments — build factories-
construct iiiachinery — manufacture every thing which the circum-
stances in which you are placed will permit — pursue ever^ branch
of the mechanic arts — bring forth the mineral Avealth which lies
dead and useless in your mountains — diversify your agri cultural
pursuits, and thus 3'ou create a demand for labor. You change
the relative position of the employer and the employed. Com-
petition is in favor of labor, not against it. Its pecuniary return
is consequently increased, and reaches the highest point which
the profitable employment of capital will permit. \Foreign pro-
ductions give place to those of our own industry. Tbe immense
competitfbn existing between employers, "created by national
independence, in the industrial arts, causes the demand for labor
which I have described. But let us reverse the picture. Admit
a deluge of foreign goods — perhaps the refuse of the European
market. Our own manufacturing establishments suspend or
greatly curtail their operations. The building connected with
manufacturing ceases ; machinery is no longer in demand ; the
mechanic arts languish -, our iron slumbers in undlsttirbed repose
in its ancient resting-place ; the unemployed labor of other
avocations is concentrated upon agriculture, which becomes the
principal employment, and, as an inevitable consequence, the rate
of wages sinks to its lowest level. The laborer no longer stands
on the vantage ground he before occupied, but instead of making
his own terms, finds his labor brought to a glutted market, and Is
obliged to submit to the great law which lessens the price as the
supply is increased.

Another effect of the independence of which I am speaking,
will be to improve, mentally and physically, the entire mass of
the people. The great aim of the present age is. the improvement
of the individual man. It is thus that humanity is to be advanced.
Formerly the Man was nothing — the State was every thing.
France was great and glorious in the splendid reign of LouisXIV. ;
Init a Frenchman was utterly insignificant. All that is now
changed. To raise, to instruct, to qualify for usefulness each
individual of the race— this is the end now to be reached. To
give manhood to man is better than to extend our limits on tTie

*

198 [Assembly

laap of the world. The first step towards this is to give him
emplayment. Idleness is our worst foe. Surton tells us, in his
A'natonry of Melancholy, " Idleness is for the wisej" but there
are rery few in our day wise enough to bcaf idleness. Without
labor, there can be no manly strength in any conimunity. It was
to insure the results that would follow from labor, that the earth
was made to bring forth tliorns and briers spontaneously, while
the food of man must be extorted by ceaseless industry from its
Tuawilling soil. The primeval curse has thus become one of our
riclaest blessings. Shall labor be confined to one occupation, or
sliall it choose from manyl

Consider the difference between ;i people devoted to one pur-
suit, and a community skilled in a diversity of employments. In
1^ pastoral state every man is a shepherd ; in the savage, a
limiter. Ignorant of every thing but their own employment, a
nation confined to one occupation is only one step from total
igaorauce. What interchange can liere be of ideas ? IIow can
knowledge be imparted from one to another 1 But let employ-
ment be diversifitd, and now a e<-)mmerce of ideas commences.
New thoughts, though rare as comets, may then be elicited, and
give birth to new things. An 1 so we find in all history, that any
nation devoted to a limited rasge of pursuits, has been weak,
dependent, spiritless. The universal voice of inankind has de-
oideil agriculture to l)e the noblest, as it is the most necessary of
empl')ymdnts. But what could be more unwise than for a fhole
people to be devoted to this pui^suit ! Admit, if you pleff.c, that
in a wciiniary point of view, this might be for some nations the
most profitable occupation. Suppose that the soil of tliis entire
Union ^w^re adapted to the growth of cotton, and that by no other
busiae.-s could so much money be realized by the nation, as by
the growth of tJiis st;n)le for the supply of the world. What
would be the result of tJie abandonment of every other leading occu-
pation, and the devotion of all the energies of our people to thisi
Instead of tlie strength of mind and body which we now witness,
we should behold a weak, narrow-minded, and unskilled race.
There would be no action and reactioa — no collision of ideas —
m.o emulation — no improvement on old modes — no scientific ad-
Tan ee ; but the minds of men would stagnate like a motionless

Vo. 133] 199

untroubled pool, and the movement of the race would be back-
ward. The same might be said of any other single employment
to which a nation may be confined. Ignorance, prejudice, bigotry,
must be the inevitable result ; and if this be the effect of a singlo
oocupation, proportionally it is prodiftjod as the range of avocation
is narrowed. As in the human body there are innumerable
functions — digestion, assimilation, secretion, respiration, circul-
ation, accretion— 80 ia the body politic, should all the innumer-
able occupations be performed by which the wants of men are
supplied. A State with but one employment is like a body with
but one function in healthy operation, and all its other powers
paralyzed. With every added branch of industry, you restore
the use of a power, until at last, when within our own borders
human industry exerts its strength and exhausts its ingenuity in
every occupation which the wants of the highest civilization can
demand, we have a healthy, full-grown and fully developed
State. Then is presented a field for the growth of the human
intellect — a school in which may be trained and moulded, and
©duoated, not operatives, but Men. How vastly this view of the
subject swells In importance beyond its mere economic aspect.
What if more money might be brought into a Commonwealth, to
be hoarded by the few, if all would buy where they can buy
eheapest, and every occupation but one were abandoned 1 I by
Bo means believe such would be the case, but I grant it for the
Kiomont. Is a population skilled in the industrial arts, inventive,
self-dependent, and competent fully to supply its own .:waiits, of
no value ? Would you improve the condition of your State by
inducing the busy artisans, whose [skilful and intelligent labor
has built up the beautiful cities and villages, which every where
greet the traveller's eye, to al>andon their various occupations,
and betake themselves to one pursuit "? They are educated, iu
the literal sense of the word — educo — having something latent in
their nature drawn out, instead of knowledge poured in; and in
the exercise of their inventive faculties, and in the conseious
strength of a being whose well-trained })owers are at command,
and whose cunning hand can skilfully execute what the reasoning
ilea*] conceives, they become full-grown, well-developed wtw.
Such are the citizens who, in future years, must deleud the free
pern and uphcvld the honor of our nation.

200 |As3JKiMBLY

And here, I tliiiik, we see the error of those who have looked
at this subject merely from the economic point of view. Adam
Smith began by treating on '' the Nature and the Causes of the
WealtTi of Nations,"' and he proved to the satisfaction of many,
looking at the question merely in the money light, that it is the
interest of every people to buy where they can buy cheapest, witk
certain modifications of the doetrine in the cases in which its ap-
plication interfered with British supremacy in manufactures. He
made it the great business of mankind to drive good bargains, re-
gardless of every thing but present cheapness. of the commodity
purchased. If clothing could be bought for less money in Paris
than in New York, every citizen of New York, according to thi*
view, should buy of the Frenchman— otherwise New York loses
the diiference in the price, and is by so much impoverished.
Many are convinced by this reasoning. They say it is unanswer-
able, that it is evidently the interest of every man to buy where
he can buy cheapest — that any system which interferes M'ith this,,
is oppressive and unnatural, and results in a dead loss to the
country.

I desire for the purpose of the argUQient, for a single moment,
to concede all this. Grant that a nation of men, who buy in a
foreign, because the cheapest market, do in the outset procure the
greatest possible amount of commodities for their money, and are
enriched to that extent. It follows, then, that every article which
can be obtained cheaper abroadishould be there purchased. The
theory applies as well to agricultural products as to manufac-
tured articles. If, by any possibility, wheat couW be brought
here cheaper from the Baltic than from Illinois, it would be for
our interest to' eat foreign bread, and leave the wild flowers to
wave over the western prairies. It is impossible by any reason-
ing to distinguish the products of the earth from the manufac-
tured articles, which our pecuniary interests as a Nation should
lead us to buy where we can buy cheapest, if tliis be the true doc-
trine.

Let us suppose this system adopted to its full extent. Picture
to yourselves a nation acting upon this theory. The employment
of their industry of every description depending upon the ques-.,

No. 133.] 20t

tion -nhether ihey can produce as cheaply as other countries, their
energies "would decline — their infellects would dwindle — their
aspiratious would sink — their sentiments would becoioe grovel-
ling, and their souls would waste in torpid sluniber, like the dull
weed on Lethe's oblivions' banks. Where would be the wealth,
of such a people ? Not in gold and silver does the real " wealth
of nations" consist. It is in the muscles, and the brains, and the
hearts of* men. With these developed to their full power, no
people can be poor ; without them, none can bft rich. The wealth
of our own country consists not in its mines of goid ; its banks j
its debts due from one citizen to another; nor yet entirely in
what its labor has already wrought ; its cities, its palaces, its
churches and railroads, and human dwellings filled with all that
ingenuity can devise for the comfort of man ; not in these. Sweep
all these from existence, and leave the energy, the fortitude, the
power to conceive, and the skill to execute ; and more than all,
the lofty and poetic sentiments which exalt, ennoble and purify
our race, and you leave the true wealth of the Nation untouched.
A few years would restore all.

What value, then, has the wealth of a nation which stagnates
in the platitude of a few limited employments — such wealth as
that which corroded ill the cotfers of Spain, when the ores of Mex-
ico and Peru were exhausted to freight her galleons ? Grant
Adam Smith and his followers all they claim, and yet when they
have showu how the Wealth of Nations may be increased, they
have not touched that greatest question, the V/eal of Nations.
Wealth, in this sense, and weal or welfare, are totally different
t'« ings. They leave out of view the noble and lofty sentiments
which are inspired by a feeling of liational independence — the
ideas elicited by a collision of minds occupied in diversified em-
ployments— the useful friction created by various, perhaps jarring
interests, by which the thoughts of men are heated to action, and
made to germinate and expand and bear fruit. All this is noth-
ing to them, but the sole question is. Where can you make the
best bargains 1 Whore can you clothe yourself with the least
gold \ How vain and empty .seems suck an enquiry at this day,
when mankind are every where becoming inspired with the great
idea, that the weal of Ihehuman soul, with its heavenly aspira-

902 [Assembly

tloiig'5 and its eternal hopes, and unspeakably glorious destiny,
is imi:easurably more important than mere material wealth.

Yet even the accumulation of national wealth is now found to
follow with rapid steps upon the path, of a people, whose ener-
gies and capacities are trained to all the employments by which
their wants can be supplied. Only for a brief time, if at all, ev-
en if we take the narrow economic view of the Subject, does ex-
perience show tliat a nation's wealth is increased by buying in
the foreign, 'bee vuse it is the cheapest market. A people whose
capacities are ^b -^rpened and developed by the labor and the skill
necessary to ])rr.(iuce every thing required by its wants, and whose
sentiments are fit v;- ted and enobled by the consciousness of Na-
tional Independence, cannot fail to increase in wealth. Such a
people will cover the land they inh;)bit with churches, and schools,
and commodious dwellings, which shall be the homes of educa-
tion and refinement. How shall you make such a people? This
should be your great question, gentlemen, not how shall you buy
your cloth and iron in the cheapest market. The money aspect
of this question is tlie le^st important. I believe that even in
that aspect it is far better for our country to depend on its own la-
bor for the supply of its own chief wants. But I do not desire
to dwell on that view. Tolitical e<'onomists may prove if they
please that our hope of industrial independence can only be real-
ized at a pecuniary loss. I believe the eontrary — but what if it
were true"? The common practice of mankind shows tJiat liigher
considerations than the question of mere pecuniary profit govern
their conduct. How many things are we constantly doing to el-
evate and enoble humanity, at an apparent pecuniary loss ? Our
sehools are sui)ported by a dead outlay : our churches declare no
semi-annual dividends'; our parks and fountains are not solid in-
vestments ; our rational amusements, and our public festivals,
•and fairs, and exhibitions, and monuments, and sailing yaclits that
beat John Bull, and sieamships that beat the world, are all mere
"/ara/-i(*." Yet they repay to the nation a richer dividend than
ik'd most fortunate placer in golden California — they repay it in
oJiitivat'fd intellects, and religioo.3 sentunents, aaJ happy hearts,

.Ho. 133.] 20U

aad healthy constitutions, and noble memories of departed patri-
ots, and a proud consciousness of national superiority !.

And here permit roe to remark that this feeling of national su-
periority is no slight benefit to be derived from the independence,
the advantages of which I am attempting to illustrate. Time,
which has extended our boundaries to the far Pacific, and built
up wuntless villages and cities through all our vast domain, and
made this great city what it has now become, has at last given us
a history. We have a past. We have memories to be cherished,
as well as hopes to cheer. We can look back upon a national ex-
istence, whose origin is more marvellous than the fabulous ma-
ze^, in which ancient historians loved to involve the birth and
infancy of their own nations. We were cradled in war, and the
warlike spirit, which is perhaps inseparable from a people pos-
sessing what we have inherited and acquired, has more than once
found a fitting field for its display. Our history thus far has been
a struggle for national superiority : this struggle will not soon
©ease; but I trust it may become a fraternal, bloodless strife for
ascendancy in the arts of peace. Whatever cherishes and justi-
fi€Ni a sense of national superiority, cannot but elevate a people
and impart to every man a consciousness that he constitutes a part
of the State. Noble and elevated sentiments like this cannot
4well alone in the human heart. They expel base thoughts qnd
low propensities, and give birth to ideas akin to themselves. As
•or c<iuntry is increasing in population, and expanding in territo-
rial extent, what can tend more to insure that high tone of pub-
lic morals by which our Republic must be preserved ? A people
qualified for self-government is the higliest type of manhood.
An individual who can govern Iiimself has reached a high point
o( moral culture — much more a people. Such a j)eople should
feel deeply the grandeur of the duty, and be j>ervaded with a
kigh sense of national honor. They should feel what our couiftry
ii — her position among the nations of the earth — her duties, her
responsibilities, and her capacities — and how grand and imjwr-
tant the part she is to play on the great stage of human experi-
ence for centuries to oome. Already our flag waves over every
sea. and commands respect for itself and for every American citizen.

20 i [Assembly

We are so near tlie point of natjonal superiority, that it seems to
some already reached. Soon, very soon — for what is the space
of thirt}^, or fifty, or one hundred years, in the life of a people 1
we shall be the most powerful nation on the globe, the umpire
of all disputes, the arbiter of all fates. Let, then, this sense of
national greatness be cultivated and based on a foundation no-
bler and safer than preeminence in war — a supciiority in all that
can exalt the labor of the human hand.

It is important to remark that by reason of our vast extent of
territory, industrial independence is possible to oar nation. Ev-
ery clime, every soil may yield us every product. We have cot-
ton and sugar at the South; water power and inventive skill a6
the North ; wlieat at the West ; iron and coal in' the centre ; riv-
ers on the far Paciiic slope, like those in Eastern Europe,- descri-
bed by Strabo, " whose wintry torrents roll down golden sands j"
and men everywhere capable of developing all our natural ad-
vantages. Such is the country we inhabit. Is it, then, a vision-
ary hope that a people dwelling in such a land, may produce
within their own borders, all that the highest civilization may
require for the supply of human wants I With every function of
human industry in healthy operation — every production of art,
every invention of genius brought here to the highest perfection,
our Nation would be a truly independent and self-sustaining
Commonwealth, a complete and perfect body politic. War might
rage on every side; leagued assailants might attack us on every
quarter; but the grand and perfect machinery of our national af-
fairs would move on undisturbed, and our people would pursue
their daily occupations unterrif.ed and unharmed, in the con-
sciousness of safety and power.

Not that every possible branch of human industry should be
pu^ued in every State. There is a limit to the diversification of
human pursuits. We would not attempt to raise oranges in
New England, and make ice by artificial means in Florida. Na-
ture has given us the true law on this subject, and I apprehend
it is this : Every nation should make for itself everything which
can be produced by the same amount of human labor as else-
where. When more labor is required to produce a given article

No. 133.1 . 205

in this country than in anotlier, tlien, and only then, nature for-
bids the employment, and to force it would be unwise. To raise
tropical fruits here, costs more labor than in the torrid zone ; but
iron and coal can be extracted from our mountains, and broad-
oloths and carpets can be woven upon our looms, with the same
expenditure of labor and sldll which are required in Wales or
Belgium. li the money cost is more here, it can only be because
labor demands a higher reward ; and that such is the case is mat
ter, not of regret, but of exultation. Labor has wants here which
are unknown elsewhere. It demands its hours of leisure; its
oomfortable and refining hcnse ; its means of mental cultivation;
and, above all, ability to educate the children who, while the
father bends in cheerful toil over ilie anvil or the bench, are
laving the foundations of the learning which is preparing them
to become your preachers, your authors, your inveiltors, your
Senators, your Governors, and the Presidents of your Republic,
Well, therefore, may we exult in the fact that labor demands a
higher compensation here than el^^cwhere, as its w^nts are higher
and more extended.

The law to which I have just alluded, viz., tljat nature forbids
the productions which require a greater amount of labor here
than elsewhere, provides for the pursuit of another great branch
■if human industry, commerce.

In a country like ours, internal commerce far transcends in
importance that which is exclusively f .-reign. The sails of do-
mestic commerce are hovering constantly on our coasts ; our
rivers and lakes are alive with unnumbered and nameless water
craft ; our railroads groan under the weight of richlj-frcighted
•ars, and all our millious of liigffAvays are worn smooth by the
wheels of internal trade. All this, stimulated and sustained by
the industrial independence which, to ^certain extent is already
ours, and which must grow to more perfect maturity with tlie
growih of our nation, furnishes the means and the materials of
that vast foreign commerce which is so imi)ortant an element in
our national greatness. As wealth, enterprise, and taste increase,
human wants expand in more than equal measure. Climes far
away over distant seas, lands breathed upon by softer gales,
warmed by a brighter flun, and visited by stars which never beam

2-06 [Assembly

in our nightly skie?, will be explored bj adirentiiroiis feet, to
adorn the beauty, and gratify the taste, and please the senses, not
of a few favored children of wealth alone, but of the great masses
of the people, whose diversified industry may diffuse .univei*£al
competency. Thus would the wealth created by labor, occupied
in every possible employment, react upon foreign commerce, tmtil
no wave should Avash the remotest shores of the earth, but would
bear up our richly-freighted fleets. ^ Need I argue that the com-
merce sustained by such a people, would more enrich this mart
of universal trade, than the comparatively barren and constantly
diminishing business of carrying to an impoverished, spiritles*,
unemployed people, the few foreign necessaries which they were
unable to make for themselves, and which their poverty scarcely
permitted them to- buy ? No greater mistake can be made than
to suppose such a city as this, sitting enthroned as she does, like
a commercial queen, between two great arms of the sea, can grow
in wealth by cherishing foreign commerce at the expense of do-
mestic industry. The ships which repose their huge proportions
bes"de your docks, might rot and moulder there, but for the vast
interior which they supply. The policy which enriches the arti-
sans and laborers of our vast republic, whose commercial metro-
polis is her*?, is the policy which has made this city what it is,
and will make it what it will become. Ever since the foriaa-
tion of our government, through every period of uncertainty and
discouragement, sometimes aided, sometimes depressed by legte.
lation, the genius oi our people has aspired to industrial inde-
pendence. It has been in a measure acquired ; and to this so faar
as it exists, is much of our prosperity to be attributed. It is now
by no means perfect. There j|^ yet human labor unemployed,
whose earnings might swell the demand for the mcrchandixo
which fills the warehouses of commerce. Exhaustless beds of
iron still lie dead and unless in our mountains, where a kind
Providence has stored it away for the use of our people ; yet we
are dependent for tliis great staple on a nation, whose far lightear
yoke of taxation, our lathers could not brook three-quarters of a
century ago, when this city was a village, and this State a wil-
demes?. Which would most enrich this city and her commer-
cial sisters, Pliiladelphia, Boston, and Baltimore — to supply tke
wants of the labor which should forge our own iron, or to c^rry

No. 133. J 907

in a few ship.s the dead weight of so many tons from LiFcrpcol
or Bristol? Which \Tould mcst inspire and reward commerce 1

There is. then, no antagonism betn^een- Home Industry and
Commerce. On the contrary, a healthy, legitimatej and increa-
sing commerce is the result of a full development of all the in-
dustrial pursuits. The abounding trade of this city haf not been
caused more by its favorable position, than by the prosperous
state of tlie vast region whose business seeks this gre^t cetitre, as
the rivers seek the ocean. The industry of the entire Union has
been tributary to this favored island — has built its streets of pal-
aces, and laden the ships which float at its docks. Not without
reason, therefore, does the heart of the whole Nation rejoice in
every exhibition of the naval superiority of this Metropolis.
When her vessels outsail those of England, it is an American tri-
umph ; and when one of her Merchant Princes dispatches a fleet
to penetrate the frost-bound regions of the Frigid Zone, and
through the wintry night, on wliieh for months no morning breaks,
while the true he^rt of the hopeful English wife accompanies
the stars in their unceasing vigils, to search amid polar ic« and
eternal snows, with superhuman endurance, for the long-lost
British Admiral and his imprisoned ships, it is American benevo-
lence which wakes the plaudits of the world.

If I have not dwelt on that other great branch of American in-
dustry, to promote, which is one of the objects of your exist«n«e,
it is not because I am insensible of its importance. Agriculture
lies at the foundation of our national wealth and prosperity.
Like commerc-e, it is nec-essarily protected and stimulated by our
peculiar geographical position, and like that it is best pi^moted
and rewarded by encouraging the greatest possible diversity of
human employments in our midst. All the great pursuits of
American Industry have thus, when properly viewed, the same
interests, and shaie in the advantages which are diffused through
the Nation by a true and perfect industrial independence. They
revolve not in jarring and discordant spheres, but move on har-
moniously, siiffering and prospering together, under the policy
which injures or l>enefits each. Th^ legislation which protects
and stimulates the labor of the Nation, doe«Bot c^^nfine its bene-

208 j Assembly

fits to one brancli of itiduslry ; and he is no friend of our Repub-
lic who would sever the links which connect by identity of inter-
est her manufactures, he/- agriculture, and her commerce, as our
confederated States are bound together, in eternal union, by the
golden chain of mutual advantage.

Bat it*is time that those remarks were drawn to a close.

The Fairs of the American Institute, for twenty-five successive
years, have marked the annual progress of our national indus-
try. While the eye has been gratified, and the mind instructed,
by the present Exhibition, one part of it, and that the most beau-
tiful of all — the display of flowers and fruits — lias sadly remind-
ed us of the absence of oae who, in former years, bore a promi-
nent part in your anniversary festivals. The Genius of beauty
and taste mourns the untimely loss of her devoted and favored
admirer. A thousand homes, whose growing attractions have
been called Into existence by his creative skill, are saddened by
the reflection that his eyes are closed in death. He entered upon
tl^e active labors of life at the time when we were beginning to
learn that utility and ornament are not incompatible. To him,
more perhaps than to any other man, we are indebted for the ad-
vance which has lately been made in public and domestic im-
provement, and for tlie growing love of tlie beautiful in nature
which is every whe^e manifested ; and to us who cherish ardent
aspirations for national independence in all that relates to the
T»ants and pursuits of our people, it is not the least of his claims
to gratitude that he taught us to love and cherish the flowers of
our own valleys and hillsides, aud to prefer the noble trees of
our own/orests to the rarest exotics. His heart was truly Amer-
ican, and his cherished purpose, which seemed to require for its
completion more than the recorded term of human life was to
develop the capacities and enhance the beauties of his native
iand. The architecture which most truly reveals a nation's
taste, and speaks to the popular heart through the affections — the
architecture of home — has received from his hands an impression
of beauty which it can never lose. On every side we sec the ef-
fects of his labors. Cottages, whosesimple yet elegant adornings
teach how truly taste may be independent of wealth ; windows

No. 133.J £09

tempting the eye from loveliness within to the glorious pi-cspect
without ; stately trees that seem to guard like sr utinels the sacred
precincts of homo ; village churches, whose very spires and waJIa
speak of religion to the heart — these, with the designs uncom-
pleted at his death, which may yet cheer the desert that surrounds
our National Capitol, and all the unnumbered charms which his
inspired genius has scattered over our land, will long preserve th©
memory of Downing, fresh and fragrant as his own flowers, m
the hearts of thousands, whose taste has been gratified and culti-
vated by his instructions.

[Assembly No. 133,] 14

CATALOGUE
M^yi^kB o-H A^ri'CsItsn^ bow in ike hlhrMj tif iSj^^) Am^ncaa

Agricultor, The ; folio, New-York.

.Agriculture Francaise, par MM. les Inspecteurs d' Agriculture ;
3 vols. J 8vo, Paris, 1843.

Aiken, J., Letters on Gardening, kc; 8vo, Philadelphia, 1794.

Allen, Lewis F., Rural Architecture, Farm Houses, Cottages and
Out buildings ; 12mo, New- York, 1852.

Allen, Lewis F., Farm Houses, Cottages and Out-buildings ; 8vo,
New-York, 1852.

Allen, R. L., Domestic zVnimals ; 12rao, New-York, 1848.

American Agriculturist, A. B. and R. L. Allen, editors; 10 vols.,
8vo, New-York, 1843 to 1852.

American iSusbandry ; 2 vols,,Svo, London, 1775.

Annales des Haras et de I'Agriculture ; 3 vols., 8ro, Paris, 1815-
1847.

Annales de la Societc Royalo, d'llorticulture de Paris ; 6 vols.,
8vo, Paris, 1841-1846.

Annals of Horticulture and Year Book of Information on Prac-
tical Gardening ; 8vo, lA)ndon, 1846.

Armstrong, John, Treatise on Agriculture; 12mo, -New- York,
1845..

Bailey, A. M., Implements of Husbandry; folio, I^ndon, 1782.

Balfour, J. H., Class Book of Botany ; 8vo, Edinburgh, 1852.

Barlow, Joel, The Hasty Pudding, and an Essay on Corn, by D.
J. Browne ; l2mo. New- York, 1847.

Barry, P., The Fruit Garden ; 12mo, New-York, 1851 .

Berneaud, Thicbaut dc. The Viae-dressers' Manual ; 8vo, New-
York, 1829.

BischolT, James, History of the STie^'p ; 2 vols., London, 18-42.

No. ISS] 211

Blacklock, Ambrof.e, Treatise on Sheep ; ISmo, New- York, 1841.
Blake, Rev. J. L., The Farmers' Every-day Book; 8vo, Auburn,

1850.
Boitard, M., Manuel Complet de I'Amateur des Ros^>8 ; IBmo,

Pari>«s, 1836.
Boitard, M., Manuel des Instraments d^Agriculture et de Jardin-

age; 8 vo, Paris, 1836.
Bon Jardinier Alraanach ; 12mo, Paris, 1851 .
Bridgeman, Thomas, Young Gardners' Assistant; 8vo, New-York,

1845.
Brooks, S. H., Country Architecture ; folio, London, 1847,
Browne, D. J., Trees of America; 8vo, New-York, 1846.
Browne, D. J., American Poultry Yard ; 12mo, New- York, 1850.
Buel, Jesse, The Farmers' Companion ; 12mo, Boston, 1840.
Bnist, Robert, American Flower Garden Directory ; 8vo, Phila-
delphia, 1839.
Busby, James, Principal Vineyards of Spain and France; 8vo,

Philadelphia, 1838.
Butler, Frederick, The Farmers' Manual ; 12mo, Weathersfield,

1821.
Canfield, H. J., Breeds, Management, &c., of Sheep; 12mo, Salem

1818.
Catalogue of Fruits, Ornamental Trees, &o.; 8vo, Flushing, 1844.
Chaptal, J, A., Chemistry applied to Agriculture; 12mo, Boston,

1835.
Child, 1). L., Culture of the Beet and the Manufacture of BeetSu-

gar; 12mo, Boston, 1840. ,

Cobb, J. II., Manual of the Mulberry Tree ; 12rao, Boston, 1833.
Colman, Henry, European Agriculture; 2 vols., 8vo, Boston,

1816-1848.
Gohuan, Henry, Fourth Report of the Agriculture uf Massachu

setts; 8 vo, Boston, 1841.
Communications to the Board of Agriculture ; 7 vols., 4to, Lon-
don, 1804-11.
Country House, the Poultry Yard, Piggery, the Ox and the

Dairy ; 12mo, Ix)nd(in.
^Mltivator, The, conducted by J<t&$n Buel and Lather Tuoker ,

0 vols., Svo, Albany, 183-4-1851.

212 [ASSEMELT*

Curtis, Williauij Practical Observations od tho British Grasses,
&c.; 8vo,»Londori, 1805.

Darwin, Erasmus, Botanic Garden; 2 vols., Svo, London, 1799.

Darwin, Erasmus, Phytologia, or the Philosophy of Agriculture
and Gardening ; 8vo, Dublin, 1800.

Davies, David, Labourers in Husbandry, 8vo, Dublin, 1796.

DaviB, N. S., Text Book of Agriculture, 12mo, New-York, 1848.

Davy, Sir Humphrey, Elements of Agricultural Cliemistry ; 8vOj
Glasgow, 1814.

De la Fond, 0., Traite de rEluctricite ; ISmo, Paris, 1776.

Dickson, A., Husbandry of Ancients; 2 vols., 8vo, Edinburgh.,
1788.

Dickson & Co., Catalogue of Plants, Svo., Edinburgh, 1792.

Donaldson, John, Treatise on Manures and British Grasses; Svo,
London, 1816.

Downing, A. J., Landscape Gardening; Svo, New-York, 1846.

Downing, A. J., Architecture of Country Houses ; ^vo, New- York.
1851.

Downing, A. J., Cottage Residences, Svo, New- York, 1843.

Downing, A. J., Fruits and Fruit Trees of America; Svo, New-
York, 1847.

Doyle, Martin, Cyclopedia of Husbandry ; Svo, London, 1844.

Doyle, Martin, Flower Garden, 12mo, New-York, 1835.

Drake, Daniel, Cincinnati and the Miami Country ; 12mo, Cin-
cinnati, 1815.

Drummond, Henry, Condition of ^ the Agricultural Classes of
Great Britain and Ireland ; 2 vols., 8vo, London, 1843.

Dufour, J. J., American Vine Dressing Guide, 12mo, Cincinnatij
1826.

Duhamel, M., A Practical Treatise on Husbandry ; 4to, LondoDj,
1762.

Ellsworth, H. W., Valley of the Upper Wabash ; 12mo.j New-
York, 1838.

Farmers' Cabinet; 4 vols., Svo, Philadelphia, 1836-1840.

Farmers' Dictionary or Cyclopedia of Agriculture; 2 vols., Svo..,
Edinburgh, 1850.

Farmers' Dictionary or Cyclopedia of Agriculture ; edited by th«
Rev. John M. Wilson , 2 vols., Svo, London.

Ko. 133.] 5il3

Farmers* Friend or a Record of Recent Discoveries, &c. ; evo,

London, 1817.
Farmers' Library, Animal Economy; 2 vols., 8vo, London.
Farmers' Magazine ; 12 vols, 8 vo, London, 1841, to the present

time.
Ferary, P., FJorum Cultura ; 4to, Rome, 1G33.
Fessenden, Thomas G., Complete Farmer and Rural Economist ;
■ 12mo, New- York, 1851.

Fleet, Samuel, Rural Library ; 8ro, New- York, 1838.
Gardiner and Practical Florist; 3 vols., 8vo, London, 1813-44.
Gardner, D. P., The Farmers' Dictionary; 8vo, New-York, 1846.
Gasparin, Count de. Course d'Agriculture ; 5 vols., 8vo, Paris,

1846-1849.
Gera, Dr. Fo., Fabrication du Fromage ; 8vo, Paris, 1843.
Gill, Thomas, Technical Repository ; 9 vols., 8vo, London, 1822-

1826.

Glenny, George, Handbook of Practical Gardening ; 8vo, London,
1851.

Harbury, William, Complete Body ot Planting and Gardening ;
2 vols., folio, London, 1770.

Henderson, Andrew, Practical Grazier; 8vo, Edinburgh, 1826.

Henfrey, Arthur, Vegetation of Europe; 12mo, New- York, 1852.

Hill, Isaac, Farmers' Monthly Visitor ; vol. 3, fol.. Concord, 1841.

Hofify, A. Orchardists' Companion; 4to, Philadelphia, 1841.

Houe],Ephrem,Traite complct de PEleve duChcvalenBi;etagne;
8vo, Avranches, 1842.

Houston, George, Farmers' Sportmaus'. Sec, Magazine ; 8vo, New-
York, 1827.

Hunker, James, Scotch Swing Plough ; 8vo, Edinburgh, 1843.

Jacquemin, Emile, L'Allemagae, i^gricole, Industriclle et Poli-
tique; 8vo, Paris, 1842.

Johnson, G. W., Dictionary of Modern Gardening ; 12mo. London,
1844.

Johnson, G. W., The Gardener; 3 vols., 18mo, London, 1849.

Johnson, S. W., Rural Economy; 8vo, New Brunswick, 1806.

Johnston, C. W., The Farmer's Encyclopedia; 8vo, Philadelphia,
1844.

Johnston, James F. W., Contributions to Scientific Agriculture;
8vo, Edinburgh, 1849.

214 [AsSEMBLf

/ohnstoiij James F. W., Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and

Geology ; 12mo, New- York, 1842.
Johnston, James F. W., The same; 8vo, Edinburgh, 1817.
Johnston, James F. W., Lectures ou the General Relations which

Science bears to Practical Agriculture; 8vo, New-York, 1850.
Johnston, James F. W., Notes on North America; 2 vols., 8vo,

Boston, 1851.
Journal of Agriculture; 8vo, Edinburgh, 1849-51,
Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England : 7to Is.,

8vo, London, 1840-47.
Journal of Agriculture, Edited by John S. Skinner; Svo, New

York, 1848.
Knight, Franklin, Fac Similes of Washington's Letters to Sir

John Sinclair on Agriculture ; 4to, Washington, 1844.
Knight, T. A., Treatise on the Culture of the Apple and Peafj

and on the Manufacture of Cider and Perry; 12mo, London,

1813.
Lathrop, Leonard E., The Farmer's Library: r2mo, Rochester,

1838.
Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and Geology; ISmo, Kew-

York, 1842.
Lectures on the AppliciiLion of Chemistry and Geology to Agri-
culture; 12mo, New-York, 1842,
Leuchars, R(;bert B., Practical Treatise on Hot Houses; 8va,

Boston, 1851.
Liebig, !l^ustus, Cliemistiy in* ita application to Agriculture, &c. :,

8vo, London, 1843,
Lindley, G. and J., Guide t<: the Orchard and Fruit Gaidens ;
, 12rao, New-York, 1833.

Lindley, John, The Vegetable Kingdom ; 8vo, London, 1846.
Livingston. Robert R., Essay on Sheep ; 8vo, New-York, 1809.
Low, David, Domesticated Animals of the British Islands; Svo,

London, 1845.
Low, David, Elements of Practical Agriculture ; Svo, New-
York, 1839.
McMullen. Thomas. Hanu-B(tob of Wines ; 12mo, New- York,

1862.

No. 133. j 215

Magazine of Horticulture, Conducted by C. M. tnd P. B. Hove/j

18 vols., Hvo, Boston, 1835 to the present time.
Malson Rustique, du XTXe Siecle ; 5 vols., 8vo, Paris, 1844-

1845.
Manning, Robert, Book of Fruits ; 12mo, Salem, 1838.
Marshall W., Treatise on Planting and Rural Ornament ; 2 vols.,

8vo, London, 1803,
Marshall, W., Rural Economy of the Midland Counties ; 2 vols.,

8vo, London, 1796.
Marshall, W., Rural Economy of Norfolk; 2 vols., 870, Londoii,

1795.
Marshall, W., Rural Economy of the Southern Counties; 2

vols., 8ro, London, 1798.
Marshall, W., Rural Economy of Yorkshire ; 2 vols.. 8vo, Lon-
don, 1796.
Martinelli, Jules, Manuel d'Agricultui-e ; 12mo, Bordeaux,

1S46.
Massachusetts Agricultural Repository and Journal: 9 vols.jSvo,

Boston, 1801-1826.
Memoires d'Agriculture, d'Economie Rurale et Domcstique ; 40

vols., 8vo, Paris, 1814-1846.
Memoirs of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society.
Memoirs of the Board of Agriculture of New York ; 2 vg1s.,&vo,

Albany, 1821-1826.
Memoii-s of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture ;

5 vols., 8vo, Philadelphia, 1815-1826.

Moll, L., Colonization et Agriculture de I'Algtrit ; 2 voIh.,
8^0, Paris, 1845.

New-York Farmer and American Gardeners Magazine — New Se-
ries ; Edited by D. K. Minor; 4to., New-York, 1833.

New-York Fanner and Horticultural Repository, Edited by Sam-
uel Fleet: 4 vols , 4to., New- York, 1828-1831.

New-York Farmer and Mechanic: 7 vols., 8vo, New York.
1844 to the present time.

Normandie Agricole, Journal d'Agriculture Pratique, d'Econo-
mie Rurale et d'Horticulture : 4 vols., 8vo, Caen, 1843-1847.

Observations on Modern Gardening: 8vo, London, 1770.

Odart, Comte. Ampclogi-aphie ou Traits des C(3pages ; 8vo,* Pa-
ris, 1345.

SI 5 [Assembly

Ferine, Henry, Tropical Plants ; 8vo, Washington, 1838.

Feteholdt, Alexander, Lectures to Farmers oa Agricultural Chem-

•istry; 12mo, Loudon, 1844.

Ditto, ditto, 8vo, New-York, 1846.

I?icard, PAbbe, L'Agricuiture Raisonnee ; 12mo, Niort, 1844.

Mougli Boy, Tiie, 3 vols., 4to, Albany, 1819-1822.

E^qrter, George R., The Nature and Properlies of Sugar Can§j

Sv'Oj Philatlelphia, 1831.
Pfince, Wm. R. & Wm. Pomological Manual, or a Treatise on

Pmits; Svo, New- York, 1833.
I?nnce, Wm. R. & Wm., Treatise on the Vine; 8vo, New-York,

1833.
EiggS; Robert, Experimental Researches; 8vo, London, 1844.
Eeich, G. C, Gartenkalender ; 12mo, Nurnberg, 1798.
M^ivne Horticole, Journal des Jardiniers et Amateurs; 8 vols.,

12mo, Paris, contined to the present time.
liuiSn, Edmund, Tlie Farmer's Register; 10 vols., 8vo, Peters-
burgh, 1333-1842.
Schlipf, S. A., Manuel Populaire d'Agriculture; 8vo, Strasbourg,

1844.
Schwerz, J. M , Culture dos Plants Fourragcrs; 8vo, Paris,

ISiQ.
Schwerz, I. N., Culture des PJantes ct Grains Farlueaux ; 8vo,

Faris, 1840.^
'S<?hwefz, J. N.. Precepte's d'Agriculture Pratique ; 8 vo. Paris,

ISSfi.,
'Sindair.j Sir John, Code of Agriculture; 8vo, Hartford, 1818.
Skianer.jMin S., Journal of Agriculture; 8vo, NeAV-York, 1846.
SmitL^j CJt&rks H. J., Parks aud Pleasure Grounds ; 8vo, London,

1852.
Sl&ith,, Joseph A., llie Farmer's Mine , 12mo, Nev/-York, 1843.
Smith, John, T-reatise on Cucumbers and Islelons, &c., 12mo,

Ipswich, 1833.
:S?poki'3 1). C. H., Tetorinarisches Iland-Buch ; 12mo, Nurnberg,

Spooner, Aldcn, Cultivation of American Grape Vines and Making

of Wine; 12mo, Brooklyn, 1846.
Sproul, John, Elements of Practical Agriculture ; 8vo, London,

£851.

pro. 133,] 217

Spooner, W. C, Veterinary Art, 8vo, Loudon, 1844,.
Stephens, George, The Practical Irrigator; 8 to, Edinburgh; 1829.
Stephens, Henry, Book of the Farm ; 8vo, New-York, 1817.
Steuart, Sir Henry; The Planters' Guide ; 870., New- York, 1832.
Stewart, John, Stable Economy ; 12mo, New- York, 1815.
Stoltz, J. L., Manuel Elementaire du Cultivateur Alsacieu ; 12mo,

Strasbourg, 1842.
Stud-Book Francais, Ilegistre des Chevaux, de Par Sang; 3 vols.,

8vo, Paris, 1838-1843.
Tinelle, Lewis, Hints on the Cultivation of the Mulberry and the

Production of Silk; 12mo, New-York, 1837.
Transactions of the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland ;

8vo, Edinburgh, 1813, to the present time.
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Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural Society ; 10

vols., 8vo, Albany, 1842-1851.
Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Agriculture,

&c. ; 55 vols., 8vo, London, 1789-1843.
Travauet, M., Preservatif d'Agromanie Empirique, ou Lettres

Agricole ; 8vo, Paris, 1845.
Vasey, George, Delineations of the Ox Tribe; 8vo, London, 1851.
Vaiio, C, New System of Husbandry; vol. 2, 12mo, Philad.,

1785.
Veterinarian, The, A Monthly Journal; Svo, London, 1844,

continued.
Veterinary Record, The, 2 vols., 870, London, 1849, 1850.
Volney, C. F., Soil and Climate of the United States, Svo. Phila.,

1824.
Waistell, Charles, Designs for Architectural Buildings; 4to,

London, 1827.
Washington, George, Letters on Agriculture; 4to, Washington,

1844.

Ditto, ditto, Washington, 1847.

Watson, Elkanah, Agricultural Societies; Svo, Albany, 1820.

Weeks, John M., Manual for Managing Bees ; ISmo, Middleburg,

1836.
Western Agriculturist and Practical Farmers' Guide; 12mo,

Cincinnati, 1830.

218 [AssEasdiiaY

Whitmasch, Samuel, Culture of the Mulberry Tie* and the Care
df Silk Worms J 12mOj Northampton, 1839.

Wiggins, Francis S., The American Farmers' Instructor and Prac-
tical Agriculturist ; Svo, Philadelphia, 18-40.

Working Farmer; edited by Prof. James J. Mapes, 4to, 1849,
1850,1851.

Youatt, William, Every Man his own Cattle Doctor; 12mo, Phllo.,
1844.

Youattj W., and W. C. L. Martin, Cattle ; edited by Ambrose
L. Stevens, 12mo, New- York, 1851.

Youag, Arthur, Course of Experioiental Agriculture.; 4 voh..
870, Dublin, 1771.

PROCEEWNGvS OF THE FAEMEES' CLUB

BE-POaiTORT OF THE AmERIC^'.N iFSTirr TR,

351 Broadway, .^i-u- York.

The Farmers' Olub is an organization of the Institute tinder
the direction and control of its Board of Agriculture ; a meet-
ing of which is held at the Repository on the first and third Tues-
days of each month, at 12 o'clock, M. Its meetings aie open and
free to all the members of the Institute and all other persons con-
nected with the pursuit of Agriculture, or who may desire through
its medium to diJBTuse information on the subject of cultivation.

The <liscu3sions at the Club are mainly confined to subjects be-
longing to general Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Pomo-
logy, and chemical developments pertaining to these pursuits.
Written communications on any of these subjects are alyays
thankfully received by the Agent of the Institute and laid before
the Club. Gentlemen from all parts of the Union or from loreign
countries are invited to attend. Translations from foreign Jour-
nals and other works are always acceptable and will be published.

The Farmers- Club of the American Institute was organized in
1843. and held its first meeting on the 22d of June in that year.
The conversations and discussions at the Club are necessarily of-
ten desultoiy, as it is the object of the members of the Institute
to diffuse useful information on the subjects of Agriculture, Com-
merce', Manufactures, aud the Arts, among their fellow men.

220 [ASSBMBI.T

Farmers' Cluhj April 21th, 1852.

Henuy Swift, Escj., ia llio chair. Present 24 member?.

The Secretary said he was pleased to read extracts from the
"Walks and Talks in. England," a volume recently from the pen
of Mr. Olmstead, of Staten Island :

GRASS 11^ ENGLAND.

Prom an Amerlc'in rarrnor in England. Frederick Law OIiCBt cad, of Stalca Island. Nevr-
York, 1352.

" The comoionest grass seed sown in England, what may be cal-
led the staple grass, is rye, or ray-grass, a perennial. It is much
smaller, closer growing grass than our timothy. I think it has a
Gweeter taste, is probably, bulk for bulk, more nutritious, and per-
haps so pound for pound j but I think more fat and muscle can
be made from an acre if sowed with timothy than with rye-grass.
A valuable quality of rye-grass is its early spring grow^ih. A
field of rye-grass will be up some inches, offering a tempting bite
to cattle before a field of other grasses will show a green surlace.
I believe that it ripens earlier too than timothy, and is better for
mowing ground on this account, to be sown wl'th clover, v.'hich is
injured by over-ripeness, if not cut till timothy is in its best state
for hay. I have seen no timothy in England but I know it is
•sometimes sowed.

Rye-grass has stood at the head of tlie mowing grasses, in some
parts of England, for centuries. In districts of light and dry
soils, it is less in favor tlian elsewhere, but I judge becomes of
more value with the improvement of husbandry generally. Mar-
shall (179<5) writing from Gloucestershire, speaks of the general
strong prejudice of the farmers against rye-'grass, which he calls
his iavoiite grass: — "smothering everything and impoverishing
the soil, until it will grow nothing," they say ; and arguing against
them, he makes an observation of value with reterence to the
question of quantity. " If real rye-grass has ever been tried alone
and without success, it has probably risen from too great a quan-

NTo. 133.] 221

tily having been sown. Be it rye-grass or rubbish, f understand
seldom less than a sackful ('three heaped bushels ) an acre is
thrown on, whereas one gallon an acre of clean wiunowed real
rye-grass seed is abundantly sufficient on such soil as the vale 13
covered with. The soil is a rich deep loam."

Clover (red and Dutch) is more sown here for hay, than with
us, though it is much more difficult to make good hay of it in this
climate. It is sowed in the spring as with us, perhaps twenty
pounds to the acre. We commonly sow five to ten pounds. Ar-
thur Young tried about a dozen experiments fo ascertain the most
profitable quantity of clover seed to sow, and concluded his re-
port as follows: "The more seed, as far as 20 pounds per acre,
undoubtedly the better." This is a plain fact, contradicted by no
part of the experiments ; and the great inferiority of five to sev-
en pounds, shows equally clear that such a portion of seed is too
small for an acre. Where land is well manured, less seed is re-
quired : 12| pounds seem the proper quantity on very rich, grav-
elly soil. A bushel of clover seed weighs sixty to sixty-four
pounds. In ground intended for mowing but one or two years,
biennial varieties of the rye-grass are sown, which are of stronger
growth than the perennial. They are also sometimes sown with
permanent grasses, giving on a deep rich soil, a heijvier burthen
of grass the first year of cutting than these would io. For this
purpose I have thought it might be well to sow the biennial or
sub-perennial rye-grass seed with timothy, which does not usual-
ly yield a fair crop at its first cutting, and have twice attempted
to make trial of the Italian rye-grass, but in both cases the seeds
failed of germination.

I saw one field of grass that had been mowed eight years, and
had received a dressing of thirty hundred weight of bones— it pro-
mises lair yet to bear heavy swathes lor some time to come.

The beet in England is said to yield the largest weight in roots
and leaves, of any other root crop known. The climate of the
United States, like that of France, is much better adapted to the
beet and much less favorable to the ruta baga than that of Eng-
land. The beet is much less liable to be injured by Insects os

worms than the turnip or mta baga — though I incline to think
the latter is much more faronred with us than in England in this
respect.

A rapid and early growth of beet is Important — earthing them
up is injuriotis— when the plants are two to three inches high,
thin out to twelve inches apart. When two or three corae up in
a bunch, only one must be left — it will lie down flat at first but
will soon recover. When the leaves early in the fall, begin to dry
pull them off lor the cows profitably. Those gentlemen wlio cot-
tage farm it on a small amount of land, and want a small dairy,
ought to cultivate the sugar and mangel-wurtzel beets for their

0OW3.

WHITE CLOVER

Clieese raisers prefer white clover to all other grasses for their
purposes. The use of bone on pasture, they say, is to make a
sweeter, stronger and more permanent pasture. After the bones
had been put on the pasture twelve yeais, the good effect is
still visible."

BOTANICAL LEARNING AS TO BEETS

By H, M»rG3.

The learned Dr. Lindley in his Vegetable Kingdom, calls the
plants of which the beet is one, Chenopode. As weeds they in-
habit all parts of the world, abounding most in extra-tropical re-
gions. They are exceedingly common in all the northern parts
of Europe and Asia, and are frequent inhabitants of salt marshes.

Some are used as potherbs — as spinach, English mercury.
Garden orach (which is cultivated and used like spinach in some
parts of Europe), and chard-beet ; the roots of others form valu-
able articles of food, as beet and mangold-wur^el, plants now fa
mous as a new sourcci of sugar capable of being produced in
Northern countries.

One of these plants, ohenoiwdium vulvaria or olidum, has an
atrocious odour, has a great reputation as an anti-spasmodic and
eoimenagogue (good for the menses.)

No. 133.] 223

BOTANICAL LEARNING AS TO CARROTS, PARSNIPS, kc.

Dr. Lindley calls them apiace«p. Umbellifcrs, the flower stems
resemble the sticks of the umbrella. They are natives chiefly of
the northern parts of the northern hemisphere, and inhabit
groves, thickets, marshes and waste places. They are extreme-
ly rare in the tropics except at considerable elevation, where they
gradually increiise in number as the other parts of the vegetation
acquire an extra-tropical or mountain character. Hence although
they are hardly known in the plains of India, they abound on
the mountains of the Himalaya — however they are not unconi
mou in the southern hemisphere.

Of the harmless kinds in which, with a little aroma, there is
Ro considerable quantity of acrid humor or gum-resinous secre-
tion, must be more particularly named celery, fennel, samphire,
parsley and the ri)ots of carrots, parsnips and skerrits, and seve-
ral others. Among the gum-resinous species, those yielding as-
safoetida hold the first rank. The fcetid odor of these plants is
supposed to be owing to sulphur, in combination with their pe-
culiar essential oil. AssafoBtida is the milky juice of various
species of ferula, described byKsempfer in his work upon Japan.
Burnes found assafcetlda plants on the mountains of the Hindoo
Koosh, where they are regarded as a highly nutritous food for
aheep.

Some of the^^e plants give very active purgatives. For their
aromatic and carminative (expelling wind) power, the most cel-
ebrated are anise, dill, caraway and coriander, and many others.
Of the poison in this family, are conium or hemlock, and several
more.

Whortleberry is the fruit of vaccinium uliginosum. The fruit
of it is Sdid to bo narcotic, and is sometimes put into beer or other
liquor to make them heady — when fermeute<l, it yields an intox-
ioaUng liquor.

When Hudson entered the north river, the Indians were found
to be provided with dried whortleberries in considerable quanti-
tk«.

H. MEIGS, Secretary

221 ' [AsSEMBB'Sr

Physiology of the Earth, by De Trayanet, Paiis, 1844. Present-
ed to the American Institute, by Alexander Vattemare.

DExtracta tranelated by H. Mbigs.]

In the early ages of Rome, agriculture was considered as the
first and most liberal of the. Arts. The farmers stood at the head
of society, and when one of them had established the cultivation
of a new plant in Italy, he proudly added the name of it to his
own, as victories take the names of the places where they were
gained. The Fabius, Lentulus and Cicero, are surnames of the
farmers famous for hmns^ lentils and chick peas. Seranus was the
surname of him who invented the drill. Some say that Cicero is
not entitled to the honor we give him, and declare that a wart
like a chick pea on his nose, gave him the nick-name; my version
of it is however true. In conformity with the agricultural fash-
ion of that day, Rome flourished while her men were farmers and
began to fall the moment slaves were employed. , The agrilultu-
ral generals of that day cultivated their field in exact lines and
drills as armies were drilled; and the same order and discipline
observed as when in front of the enemy, in order of battle.

As to France, the commentaries of CsesaT leaves us no doubt
that at the same period, she was far better cultivated and far
more fertile (for many ages,) than she ever was since. It was
only about the end of the last century that mind began to turn to
agriculture. It was Loiiis XVI, who first caused a herd of merino
sheep to be introduced from Spain, and founded the celebrated
sheep walk Rambouillet.

Napoleon's aspiring genius conceived a vast plan of social re-
paration in the first place, and a flourishing agriculture, as funda-
mental necessities for the empire.

An agricultural conquest is less brilliant and Itss celebrated
than a war victory—but the one passes away, is forgotten almost
while the other becomes more grand and for ever increasing. In
one age, Austerlitz and Wagram will hardly be remembered,-
while all Europe will continue to bkss the hand which opened

No. 133.] 225 .

sugar to its fields. The day is rapidly approaching wlien agri-
culture will be loved, worthily appreciated, and wisely and nobly
practised. It will become an art greatly superior to all others,
because it is 'not only a pleasure and a glory to man, but all man-
kind have their well-beinj by its means.

Agriculture considered as a mere mechanical action is one thing
and the other is its chemical operation — for the Chemist is the
farmer after all. The scientific study of the soil, to repair its losses,
supply its wants for varieties of plants, ke. A trueiarmer may well
be compared to the Physician, and his land to the Patient. He feels
the pulse of his land, gives the requisite medicine, diet, rubbing,
brushing, exercise, Sec."

WILD BERRIES.
Mr. Van Wyck. — Most kinds of the Whortleberry or as it is com-
monly called huckleberry, grows altogether wild in the United
States on rough rocky ground, there are many varities. The two
kinds most in use and most abundant are the black huckleberry
and the dark blue, the former are small, sweet and palatable, the
latter are larger; they grow on higher bushes or stems, a little
tart and more pleasant and more sought after than the others.
Eoth are considered wholesome, nourishing and of a delightful
flavor, especially to eat with sweet milk in hot weather in sum-
mer. Tlie bushes they grow upon are some seasons loaded with
them and they last a good while, often till near the middle of
•September. On some parts of Long Island, there are a good many,
and they are to be found in greater or less quantity in most of our
uncultivated grounds. Children can pick them faster and easier
than grown persons. High dry lands are best suited for the kinds
described ; some of our mountains oftenabound with them. Many
are brought to our markets, every season and readily bought at
fair prices. There is a species called the Swamp or tall huckle-
berry,ta stout shrub, growing from five to eight inches high, yield-
ing many large berries one third of an inch in diameter, purplish
black when ripe. It is said by some, these are fine for eating.

BEET.

The Beet is also before us for consideration to-day. The three
principal kinds which are most used and cultivated not only here,
[Assembly No. 133.] 15

226 [Assembly

but in Europe are, first the long rooted whicli should be sown
in a deep rich sandy loam. 2nd. The short or turnip rooted, for
the growth of which, a shallower soil will do. 3rd. The green
leaved red rooted, requiring a depth of soil. equal to that of the
long rooted ; there are several varieties under each of these heads,
which will not be of much use to notice. Besides these there are
the white beet and the mangel-wurzel. The first has become
celebrated throughout Europe .and it may be said, the world, as
the Sugar Beet, from this has been manufactured in France and
some other countries, by their able chemists, sugars both brown
and white of the best kind. This valuable vegetable was brought
into use by Napoleon, in his long war with the English and others ;
he was shut out, from tlie tropical regions, wliich produce the
cane, heretofore almost the only source of sugars in the greatest
perfection and -abundance. The genius of Napoleon triumphed
over this difficulty, as it did many others, with the aid of science
by the acute and learned chemists of France, sugar was manufac-
tured from the Beet in quality equal and some think superior to
any other, and in quantity sufficient to supply the greater part
of Europe. Many nations of the continent continue to make
and use it, to this day, to the great advantage of their agricultural
and manufacturing industry. Our northern and middle States
might use this beet (as they can and do grow it) in the same way,
if they saw fit ; perhaps the time may eome when they may find
it their interest to do it. Beet tops are good as a green, fine to
eat as spinach or as winter salad, or as asparagus.

It is supposed to be a salt water plant, as it grows near the sea-
shore, or when surrounded by salt water. St. Helena is said to
produce it in larger quantities than any place in the world. If a
little cultivated, from. 50' to GO tons per acre have been obtained.
Sedge or salt water grass is a fine manure for it ; common salt is
good, about G or 8 bushels to the acre. The soil should be trenched
or ploughed very deep, subsoiled, well pulverized in every res-
pect, and manured higlily with the most suitable manures, to
produce heavy crops. Several kinds of the best have been
anal ized, including the mangel-wurzel, by Davy, Herepathj and
other eminent chemists, and they have all been found to contain
much more nutritive matter than the Swedish Turnip — more than

No. 133.] 227

as much again. Mangel- xvurzel is generally raised for stock, ai-
though they are all good, but this perhaps is easiest raised —
more obtained from an acre — all require the best of tillage.
Mangel-wurzel may be grown on stiffer soil than some other
kinds, and more so than the Swedish Tuvnip. The beet fattens
cattle quicker than the turnip ; it has been several times tried in
England, considerably to the advantage of the beet. The latter
has been found to be better for milch cows on many accounts ;
the beet it is also said are never injured by insects, while the turnip
is continually subject, when first planted, to be laid waste by them,
and often more than once the same season — another important
advantage. The turnip, it is said, will stand the cold better, but
the beet is not what may be called a tender plant, and this diffi-
culty may be easily guarded against, by a little earlier gathering
and housing of the beet. Should the tops remain uncut, the plant
will stand considerable frost. On old pasture ground trenched
up, enormous crops of mangel-wairzel have been raised. The
ordinary yield on good land, well tilled, is from 20 to 30 tons per
acre. When the Regents Park was forming in London, a part of
- it was trenched, the mangel-wurzel sown thick upon it, and such
was the produce, that it was sold at auction ; cow keepers in the
neighborhood bought it at the enormous price of c£80 per acre.
It is said, if cows are fed too freely on them, they get too fat and
will not give as much milk.

Prof. Mapes, has not furnished the secretary with his notes,
and therefore what he said will not be fully reported. He re-
marked that Judge Van Wyck had given a good account of the
beet. The Romans named it Beta from the resemblance of the
seed to tlie letter B. That we have seven varieties of the sugar

I beet. That it is an exceedingly exhausting crop to the soil. The
bassano beet (by Charles Dow'ning,) has its concentric rings

I white in the centre; that it is entirely superior as a table beet.

1 The long, smooth, finfe, colored beet, commonly grown, is by
some called the Lazy Man^s Beet. Of the mangel wurzel, Mr.

' Rennie of Jersey, has raised seventeen tons and a half on an acre.

I I have raisfcu seventeen tons on an acre. Seaweed is a good

1 manure for beet. I am on the edge of the salt grass, and I use

I j that an(l muck from tlic same, freely and v.ith great profit. The

228 - . (Assembly

beet lias very long roots, and if critically examined, is found to
have them attenuated as fine as hair. Beet flourishes best on old
manmrings. Mr. Wiltse fed his famous ox freely on hes.{s partly
soiired before given.

It is injurious to beets to take off their leaves while they ere
growing, but carrot tops may be mowed off without harm to the
root. The beet takes all the season to become perfect. The pro-
fessor explained the operation the pedic acid of the carrot and
the peristaltic motions of the bowels of the animal fed with car-
rots, causing its dung to become almost like that of man, entirely
digesting the whole feed.

The Professor said he would bring to the club some of his Al-
sace clover for distribution.

Dr. Richard T. Underhill of Croton Point, presented the club
for distribution several hundred grafts of his fine greening and
fall pippin apples. And cuttings of his celebrated Catawba and
Isabella grape vines,

The Hon. Thomas Ewbank, Commissioner of Patents, present-
ed seeds consisting of many varieties. The flour corn, a very
roundish white kernel ; a small and a large Lima bean, fine giant
cellery, Osage orange, horn carrot, &c., &c. They were distri-
buted.

"^ The thanks of the club were unanimously given to the Hon.
T. Ewbank, and to Dr. Underhill.

Prof. Mapes proposed as next subjects, the carrots and parsnips.
Carried unanimously.

The club then adjourned to Tuesday, May 4th, at noon.

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

No. 133.] 229 ^

Farmers^ Club^ May 4, 1852.

Austin Chui-ch, M. B., in the chair, Henry Meigs Secretary.

The Secretary read the 'following translations and papers, pre-
pared by him : —

CARROT AND PARSNIP.

Madwn Rustiqne — Carrot — Dawena — Carotta.

The carrot crop is an excellent preparation for almost all plants
except colza and winter barley. It is proved that carrot will
yield well on the same spot for several years, but is a great
exhauster. Its light foliage does not allow it to derive any great
portion of its nourishment from the atmosphere. It is more
impoverishing than the potato. Carrot does not cover the earth
like the potato vines ; and weeds come freely among them. Flax,
turnip and rye, associate with carrots in growing better than
other plants.

It is a well known fact, that, for carrot, the soil must be well
amended ; and it is also true, that fresh dung gives to the roots a
disagreeable odor, and causes them to fork. The ground ought
to be well manured the year before, so that the carrot cannot come
in contact with undecomposed dung or manure. One may em-
ploy pulverized manure, such as pigeon dung, oil-cake, poudrette,
animal black ; and in order that these may act more effectually,
they should not be scattered over the whole surface of the ground,
but put into the drills. It is generally agreed that the ground
should be dug or ploughed as deep as possible, and thoroughly
harrowed. Then let the weeds come up, and then harrow them
down repeatedly before you plant. This will save you much
trouble at the future weeding, for young plants will have had a
good time to grow. Take the carrot seeds and expose them to a
hot sun, or to artificial warmth, until you find that you can, by
rubbing them between your hands, get lid of the rough paits
about them which hang on ^and make them cluster. The first
weeding must be done by the hand. The foliage of the carrot
has an odor which drives away almost every kind of insect. In

230 [ASSBJMBLY

some districts, however, the slugknaws them pitilessly from their
birth. In Anjou they have found it necessary to sprinkle pow-
dered lime over the soil at planting. Ashes answer the same

purpose.

PARSNIP (PASTINACA SATIVA J.INx\iEUS,)

Is cultivated at less expense tliau the carrot, and has one
immense advantage over it — to wit, that it does not suffer at all
in the most intense cold, when left in the ground. Beer is some-
times made from it. They should be kept in some dry place, in
heaps, and so will keep a long lime. They will nourish and fat-
ten stock of all kinds — horses, oxen, cows, hogs. The roots are
first fed to them raw, and when it is found that the animal begins
to lose his relish for them, we boil the roots ; then the stock eat
them with avidity. Some farmers give their hogs nothing else
the whole winter, and when hay and other forage is out or scant,
they feed with parsnips, and it is found that their milk and but-
ter becomes better and more of it.

In planting the carrot we cover it lightly with earth ; but with
the parsnip, we cover it at least one inch and a half deep. The
seed does not keep well over one year. It is troublesome to sow,
on account of the wings or lib] es on the seed. The parsnip has
not yet been very extensively cultivated.

LETTUCE.

Malso'n Rustique. — No country in the world consumes so much
salad as France. A popuLir saying is that a French soldier wants
cothing to live on but soup and salad. Among salads, lettuce
holiis, beyond contradiction, the first rank. Ii was unknown in
France before the reign of Francis First. The first seeds of it
were sent from Rome to Paris, to Cardinal d'Estrees, by Rabelais,
in 1540. Rabelais' letters prove this. In 1562, lettuce was
introduced into England, and before the end of the centiu> was
common in all Europe. The white Batavian and cabbage Bata-
vian grow very large, but for want of a good taste they have been
banished from gardens. They, at first, were highly valued for
the table ; now they are raised for the hogs who are extremely
fond of them ,

No. 133.J 231

DANDELION— DEKT DE LIOx^ (LION^S TOOTH)— PISSEN-

LIT.

For some years past this has been sought for much in its wild
state. It is now cultivated for a spring salad, and is deemed one
of the most wholesome. It has been remarked that the best are
8uch as the moles in their work had covered a little with earth
about the time of their beginning to grow.

PREPARATION OF SEEDS FOR PLANTING.

ItRoyai Agricaltural Society of England— A Weekly^ Council. Mark Lane Express, Mafcfa

22d, 1852.]

Mr. Martin, of No. 4 Hanover Square, informed the council of
the progress made in this country to test the efficacy of the late
M. Van Oost's Belgian method of preparing seeds before sowing,
not simply by steeping, but by enveloping each seed in an artificial
husk of powerful manuring matter, adapted to sustain the plant
after the means employed to give increased activity to the germi-
nation of the seed had taken effect.

Malendie remarked '' In no single instances where the seed was
prepared by M.|Van Oost or since his death by myself agreeable
to the receipt left by him, has the prepared seed failed to vege-
tate ; the plant in most instances, during its progress to perfec-
tion, has shown a greater luxuriance of growth than the unpre-
pared, straw brighter, stronger, with a larger portion of the silicate
of potash — the produce and quality equal to, and in some instaa-
c^ superior to that grown on land high farmed (so called).

CARROTS.

Prof. Mapes observed that carrots as a feed for horses was
found to be about equal to oats, that one bushel of them and one
of oats were as good for the horse as two bushels of oats only.
Carrot is not injured by having some other plants growing among it.
I sow long radish seed with my carrot seed — when the radish pro-
tects the young carrots, and its spread of leaf helps to keep down
some of the weed — and|whe-n I pull out the radish, I find that the
hole it leaves are good for the carrots — leaving spaces easily
crowded in by the growing root of the carrot, and in the mean-
time while the radish was growing I found thj^t its long root

232 [Assembly

brought up moisture to the surface and was in that waj' a benefit
to the carrot. The land where you eow carrot ought to be sub-
soiled deep — Pjr its roots run down deep.

Jackson of Lake Cham-plain wanted to raise carrots on an exten-
sive scale and asked my advice as to the best method, and I
recommended the sowing oats with them, as the oats came off soon
enough for the carrots to perfect themselves. The last time that
I saw him, he informed me that he had followed my advice and
had obtained a large crop of carrots. . For this root you must
manure highly.

I keep my carrots through winter by piling them foot to foot
interlaced and put them in dry places. I am now taking mine
out perfectly sound, piled in that way, they keep almost as well
as the parsnip. We must not use putrescent new manure for these
roots — for it makes carrots have what are termed fingers and toes.
If you put on such manures one year before you sow carrots on
the land, with this care, with deep ploughing, and deep sub&oil-
ing and clean weeding we got a beautiful shaped and first-rate
carrot, with new putrescent manures we have much inferior car-
rots. Long orange carrots have given nine hundred bushels on
an acre. The long Altringham carrot gives eight hundred bush-
els an acre. The white Belgian gives eleven hundred bushels on
an acre, this carrot is only equal to the long orange. The pars-
nip is cultivated much the same way as the carrot — it should be
planted early, freeziag instead of injuring it, does it good. It is
a superior food for hogs but not for cattle. I get fifteen hundred
bushels otf an acre.

Dr. Antisell doubts the doctrine of the MaisonEustique, as to
the repeated crops of carrots being profitably raised annually for
several years on the same spot. The quantity of phosphoric acid,
lime and potash taken away by eight hundred bushels of carrots
ia one season, from an acre is too much for that. Each succeed-
ing crop will demand an equal supply from the soil, and that
cannot be advanced by the land unless you supply it. The pars-
nip does not require so large a supply. The carrot takes off' in
one season some three hundred and thirty pounds of the indis-

No. 133.] . 233

pensible materials I have mentioned. The unfitness of new
putrescent manures for root crops is ascertained. They give out
more ammonia than is good for them. The ammoniacal manures
are hardly fit for root crops. The phosphate of ammonia is goc4
after a year's application to the soil.

The Chairman adverted to the success of carrots sown with
Tje.

Mr. Lyon said that England has raised hoenty tons on one
acre.

The Chairman; eighteen hundred bushels of parsnips have been
raised on one acre.

Judge Van Wyck; Jersey has raised 1450 bushels on one
acre. Twenty or thirty years ago, carrots and^arsnips, were very
little grown in Great Britain as field crops, the expense of raising
them, such as plowing, subsoiling, trenching and manuring very
high, were too great, the produce would not indemnify the farmer
for his outlay. Besides, they were considered as very exhausting
to the soil, more than any plant raised, cabbage perhaps excepted,
scourges which no land could bear even for a short time, without
being reduced to sterility. The agricultural periodicals of that
day or some of them, speak of these vegetables in this light. It
was owing no doubt considerably to prejudice against these roots
and in favur of another that such language was held. Turnips
were then considered far the most profitable root for the farmer ;
they served as good food for his family, and the best for most of
his domestic animals. They were considered both healthy and
nourishing, more so, than any other of that day, they were not
considered as an exhauster of the soil, but rather to improve it by
properly cultivating them. Great Britain had been long in the
use of them, nearly or quite a century — they suited their moist
climate. They reclaimed by them much of their barren heaths
of which this crop left the land in a fine state for producing most
of the grains and useful grasses, rich crops of which in a few years
followed, and large districts of country so unprodHctive, that they
would hardly keep animals alive, much more fatten them, were

234 [Assembly

made fertile. It Is not to be wondered at that the British popula-
tion were strongly prejudiced in favor of this root and against in-
troducing new ones for field culture, even to a partial extent.
Similar prejudice exists in our country in favor of Indian corn.
It is grown in every section of our immense country and to such
an extent, that it exceeds in quantity all the other grains together
— no better bread than it makes for man, both healthy and nour*
ishing and u^ed in so many different ways — a large majority of
our population live upon it in part. As feed* for animals of every
elass it stands fir<5t-rate, its stalks, blades, husks, &c., if properly
managed are c^jn^idered equal to the best hay.

The prejudices against root crops must be overcome gradually,
as they have been on the continent and especially in Great Britain,
If our farmers should be convinced in time from the experiments
made in difterent neighborhoods, under their eyes, that the roots
such as beets, carrots, parsnips, &c. are more profitable plants for
them to cultivate as field crops, than Indian corn, there will be
no difficulty in introducing them partially. Less corn will be
planted and more roots, as to our farmers giving up the former,
or even to any great extent, is out of the question ; they are too
fond of it as food for themselves, and they know too well from
long experience its value as feed for all their animals, from the
largest ox down to the smallest chicken. From the same cause
too, they can calculate with more certainty the hazards against
their raising a good crop of corn, with proper tillage. Carrots are
very fine for milch cows and horses, but I have never heard of
their being used to any extent to fatten animals on for the market.
Parsnips, it is said, are good for milch cows, and to fatten swine
on, but I doubt whether they are as good as Indian corn for the
last purpose. It has long been admitted by the best judges, that
Indian corn makes the firmest and sweetest pork, and fattens the
animal faster than any other material- The beet, I should say
is a more profitable root for our farmers to raise, than carrots or
parsnips ; they do not exhaust the soil so much, and, although
they require good tillage and high manuring a fair crop can be
raised at lass expense and labor, than either of the others. The
beet too can be used for a greater variety of purposes than carrots

No. 133 ] 235

or parsnips. All of them are considered as originally salt water
plants; salt water products have been found to be the best manure
for them. The Islands of Jersey and Guernsey have produced
the greatest crop of carrots and parsnips, having the full benefit
of the ocean in air and manure. On the sea board and near our
great cities and markets, where the most suitable manure for these
plants can be easily and cheaply obtained, and the best prices for
them all, without as much labor and expense, as they would cost
on farms located farther in the interior, here they might be in-
troduced and perhaps pretty generally cultivated.

Mr. Meigs proposed clover as the next subject. Adopted.

A tin case, neatly covered tightly, with strong paper, full of
ecdinary seeds, put up in fine conditipn, sent by the Honorable
Mr. Ewbank, Commissioner of patents to this club, were distrib-
uted among the members.

John W. Chambers, Clerk of the Institute, delivered to the club
the potatoes of South America, with the tollowing report.

SEED POTATOES FROM CALLAO.

In November 1850, Captain Phineas Windsor, of the ship An-
gelique, recently arrived from Callao, at Baltimore, forwarded to
the American Institute of the City of New-York, potatoes of four
different kinds, said to be the choice^ of all Peru, also specimens
of the wild potato of Peru. The specimens having arrived late
in the season, and having also made sprouts from one to two
inches long, it was deemed advisable by the officers of the Instit-
ute to place them in the hands of eome ojardener for preservation
and propagation. They were accordingly placed in the charge of
Mr. William Kent, of Prospect Hill, Long Island, who furnishes
us with the following statement.

" After receiving the potatoes from the American Institute, I
placed them in my green house. They were very much shrunk,
and had long tender shoots from the eyes. The produce is from
those shoots. The shoots before mentioned, I placed in small
pots, and early in the season I turned them into the garden. They
made good plants and seemed to grow three or four times. On

236 [Assembly

examining tlie roots I could fmd no tubers, and it was not until
late in the season' that they were dug. These I have kept separate,
in diy earth and are numbered 1 , 2 and 3 ; the whole product
about half a peck. William Kent."

On motion of General Chandler, unanimously voted to call the
potato, after Captain Windsor, the Windsor potato. And th«
thanks of the club were also unanimously voted to Captain Wind-
sor and to Mr. William Kent, who has first naturalized them to
this State. And to the Hon. T. Ewbank for seeds.

Gentlemen to whom these potatoes were consigned, were all
agreed to try them faithfully, and, if successful, to return one
half of their several products to the Club for further distributioa.

Next subject, Clover.

The Club adjourned to the ISth of May. There were present
at this Club about twenty four members, among them Mr. Darra-
cott, of Boston, Dr. Antisell, Dr. Enderlin, Prof. Mapes, &c.

Farmer^ s Clubj May 18, 1852.

Hon. Harris Scoville in the Chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary.

The Secretary read the following papers, prepared by him : —

CLOVER.

I am fond of quoting Dr. Lindley, whose great work. The Vege-
table Kingdom, is truly so.

He places clover among that class of plants which yield beans
of some form or other, and calls them all I'abacesB, or bean plants.
Leguminous plants.

They are herbaceous plants, shrubs or vast trees, extremely
variable in appearance. The most common feature of leguminous
plants is to have what are called papilionaceous (butterfly ) flow-
ers ; and where these exist, there is no difliculty in recognizing
them, for they exist nowhere else.

Another character is to have a leguminous fruit : and by one
of these two characters, all the plants of the order are known.

N«. 133.] 237

It is remarkable, however, that one or other of these distinctions
disappears in a great many cases. There are very few double
flowers among them. The species are distributed as follows :

In the Equinoxial Zone, there are . . . 1,602
North of the Tropic Zone "... 1,312
South of the Tropic Zone " ... 524

This li?t has been enlarged much. This order of plants is not
only among the most extensive that are known, but also one of
the most important to man, whether we consider the beauty of
the numerous species, which are among the gayest colored and
most graceful plants of every region, or their applicability to a
thousand useful purposes. The cercis which render the gardens
of Turkey resplendent with its myriad^ of purple flowers; the
acacia, brazilletto, logwood and rosewood of commerce, the labur-
num, the classical cytisus, the furze and broome, the pride of the
otherwise dreary heaths of Eui^ope j the bean, pea, vetch, clover,
trefoil, the lucerne ; are all so marty leguminous species. The
seeds of many of these papilionacese are articles of common food,
by the name of pulso. The most remarkable among them is the
arachis hypoga^a, or under growid kidney heanj whose pods are
forced into the ground after the flowering has been accomplished.
This and the voandeza are very largely cultivated by the African
negroes, who call the arachis mvnduli. Tiie seeds abound in oil.
The more common kinds of pulso are peas, beans, lentils, pigeon
peas (cajanus), &c. Beans cannot be given to horses in much
quantity without bad effects.

I add some remarks upon the alfalla, of Peru. A cask of the
seed was presented, by Cap<ain Glen, of the U. S. Navy, to Prof.
Mapes, who gave them to the Farmer's Club for distribution. I
planted a little last summer. Its growth was slender. I sup-
posed tliat our winter would kill it, for it was from Peru, where
frost was never known ; where it attains six feet in height, and
may be cut for cattle several times in the year.

Tliis spring I was charmed at beholding my alfalfa rising •
through the snow, among the very first plants to show life. It is

y

2?8 I Assembly

now, May 11, 1852, sixteen inches high, and has a deep, power-
ful, and healthy root. No clover in my vicinity has yet reached
five inches in height. When we consider the unwonted severity
of the past winter, in which the ground has been frozen five feet
deep — deeper than ever before known — it is deemed a great gala
to add to our pastm-es such an alfalfa as this. The situation of
my specimen is unfavorable to fruit growth. We, hope that som«
enterprising merchant will import the seed for large plantiugs.

TRIFOLIUM, TREFOIL— THE THREE-LEAVED GRASS.

There are more than' forty-six species of it, seventeen of whicfe
are natives of Great Britain. The most remarkable are trifolium
alpestre — the long leaved purple clover, or mountain clover. Its
stalks are stiif, straight, and very simple. It grows in dry, moun-
tainous, woody places, in Hungary, Austria, and Bohemia, &g.',
but is not said to be a native of Britain. 2d. Trifolium medium,
grows in elevated, dry situations, or in woods where the soil is
clayey or chalky, in England, Debmark, Scotland. 3d. Trifolium
melilot officinalis. The stalk is erect, firm, branched ; grows two
to three feet high, loves grain fields and way sides ; flowers small,
yellow, pendulous, obtusely oval and serrated. This plant has
a very peculiar, strong scent, and a bitter, acrid taste. Cattle,
however, like it. Its flowers are sweet scented. It communi-
cates a most loathsome flavor to wheat and other grain, so as to
render it unfit for bread. 4th. Trifolium pratense (meadow
clover), or red clover, is the one most generally cultivated for
cattle. It abounds in every part of Europe, in America, and
even in Siberia. 5th. Trifolium repens (creeping clover). It is
known to be excellent fodder for cattle, and its leaves are good
rustic hygrometers, for in dry times they are always relaxed,
flaccid, but erect in moist or rainy weather. The alfalfa, or
lucerne of Peru, lately introduced by Captain Glen, of the U. S.
Navy, grows in Peru to the height of a man, and by an experi-
ment made by the Secretary, it bears the last very severe winter
as well as any grass whatever. The plan of sowing clover with
grain is extensively used, but he that wants a true crop of it will
sow it by itself.

No. 133.] 23f

Lucerne ought to be sown in drills, "two feet apart — espcdaliy
this alfalta. The yield per acre of the repeated cutting is very
great. Hoeing between the drills is very advantageous to the
crop.

Clover gives to the farmer in its lovely growth, beautiful crests
and delicious perfume, a full reward for his labor, before he puts
it into his barn to feed his stock. The seed of the red clover at
England weighs sixty four pounds a bushel. The seeds of the
French red clover are small, plump and higlily purple in color.
The seeds of the white clover are very small, of a rich, golden
color, weigh sixty-five pounds a bushel. The seeds of the yellow
clover are of a dull greenish yellow, weigh sixty-four pounds a
bushel.

The trifolium incarnatum, (blood red clover) has a conical
flower of great redness of color, is sold by florists in pots as a
flower; is much cultivated in Italy — does not bear our winter
well— can only be depended on as an annual — grows two to three
feet high.

In the regular rotation of crops, clover should come in every
fourth year, according to some English practice. The Belgians
renew it in every eighth or tenth year.

When clover is intended to be left to ripen its seeds, it should
be mowed off early, or fed off by sheep in May. As the first crop
of clover is seldom free from seeds of other plants, which rise
among it, the latter are destroyed by mowing or feeding off, then
the clover which grows more rapidly than most other plants, rises
again without any mixture of weeds. When clover blossom is
thoroughly withered and its seed nearly ripe, mow it and leave
it on the ground with as little shaking as possible. Four to five
bushels of tiie seed on an acre is a usual crop. Our common
clover seed require to be clean of its husk. J. Rittenhouse, has
invented a mill for tliat purpose, which costs about sixt^- dollars.

The seeds of the Ijicarnatum do not r&quire the mill ; they
grow as well in as out of their husks.

240 [Assembly

The BoKhard clover (melilotus major) rises from six to ten feet
high, is coarse — may be cut Ibnr or five times in cue season —
must be sown in drills — must be kept free from weeds — is peren-
nial— does well in Virginia — its stalks when ripe make-good hemp^
when prepared in the same way that hemp is. Two pounds of its
seed are enough for one acre. 'Alsike clover is supposed to be
a hybrid between common red and white clover — is very hardy,
stands well the winter of Sweden, is perennial, runs close to the
ground.

COTTON.— LINDLAY'S VEGETABLE KINGDOM.
Tlie cotton of commerce is the hairy covering of the seeds of
several species of gossypium.

Royle's Illustrations and Wright's contain excellent accounts of
this plant and of the various species used in commerce. (Vide.)

POTATO.— SOLAJNACE^.
The number of the species is very great in tropical America.
In this order of plants it is an anomaly that the deadly Night-
shade and Henbane, as well as the wholesome Tomato and Potato
belong to it. The leaves and berries of the potatoes, however,
are narcotic, while the tubers are wholesome. This is the case
with other succulent roots of the dangerous families, such as the
casava among the Spungeworts. Besides, as De Candolle justly
observes, " II ne faut pas perdre de vues que tons nos alimens
renferment une petite dose d'un principe excitant, qui, s'il y etait
en plus grande quantite, pourrait titre nuisible, mais qui y est
necessaire pour lear servir de condiment naturel." i. e. We must
not lost sight of the fact, that all our aliment contains a small
dose 0^ some exciting principles, which would, if there was a
great quantity of it, be injurious to our healths — but the little
dose, like a condiment is natural and proper.

Or as a small dose of Cayenne pepper is good and a large one
dangerous.

Among the solanaceaj are also found tobacco, atroi)a, belladonna,
and stramonium. The worst of the whole race is found at the
Cape of Good Hope, that is the acocanthera venenata, a large bush
wilh fragrant flowers. A decoction of the bark reduced to a jelly,

No. 133.] * 241

is used by the Hottentots to envenom tlieir weapons. It is said to
be a fatal poison and is used by the same people to impregnate
baits for wild beasts, with its juice. The stramonium or thorn
apple is a violent narcotic, wlien taken into the stomach — but in
the hands of a skillful physician is a valuable medicine in mania,
epilepsy, convulsions, tic-douloureux, &c. When smoked it pal-
liates the distressing symptoms of pure spasmodic asthma.

Henbane as a common biennial weed is a powerful narcotic at
th3 time when its seeds are forming, but comparatively inert at
at other periods. Its capsules and seeds are used in medicine
and operate much like opium, but when much used is apt to pro-
duce insanity. Every part of atropa belladonna is poisonous.
Children and ignorant persons have eaten the beautiful looking
and sweet tasted berries of it, for they are very alluring. The
effects produced are like intoxication — violent gestures, laughing,
great thirst, difficulty in swallowing nausea, dilatation of the
pupils of the eye — eyelids drawn down, redness and swelling of
the face — stupor or delirium, low feeble pulse, paralysis of the
intestines, convulsions, death. Hahnemann and Koref say, it
protects persons from the contagion of scarlatina.

Buchanan says tliat tlie Scots mixed the juice of belladonna
witli the bread and drink which by their truce they were to sup-
ply the Danes, which so intoxicated them that the Scots killed
the greater part of Sweyno's army while asleep. An extract
made from the leaves of our common potato is a powerful nar-
cotic. It is serviceable in chronic rheumatism and in painful
affections of the stomach and the womb.

Capsicum belongs to the family ; its fruit and seeds are power-
ful stimulents. Cayenne pepper is another. Melongena or egg
plant belongs to the same house. The mandrake and the kan-
garoo apple are harmless, beautiful, and fragrant. They, too,
are of the family.

Any person who will examine the common potato ball, and
compare it with a tomato, will see how justly the botanists have
made one family of them.

[Assembly, No. 133.J 16

242 \^ * [AsSKMBLj

FOSSIL TREES— Australia.

Lime is used to improve the soiL Tlie fossil trees are burned
to make tlie lime.

A fossil pine forest, on the eastern coast, in Lake Macquarrie
inlet, has been recently discovered by the Rev. B. Clarke. At
the base of a mountain range, composed of conglomerate and
sandstone, with subordinate beds of lignite, terminating on one
side of the lake or inlet, an alluvial flat extends to the water's edge,
covering the sandstone rock, which is found in situ (in places)
beneath. Throughout the whole of this plain, stumps of fossil-
ized trees are seen projecting out of the ground, presenting the
appearance of a forest in which the trees are all cut down to the
same level. At the distance of some yards from the sliore, a
reef is formed by vertical rows of the petrified stems, which pro-
ject above the surface of the water. Many of the fossil trees on
the shore have the remains of their roots extending into the sand
stone rock below the alluvial detritus, and like those in the
island of Portland, are in some instances surrounded by an accu-
mulation of sandy rock, which forms a mound of a higher level
than the rest of the stratum. The trunks stand, generally, about
three or four feet above the surface, and are from two to six feet
in diameter. The wood is silicified, (flinty,) and veins of chal-
cedony traverse the substance of the trunks between the concen-
tric rings and medullary rays. In several examples, from sixty
to one hundred and twenty annual circles of growth were observ-
able. Beds of lignite occur both above and below the fossil
trees, in the neighboring hills, and many localities along the
eastern coast of Australia present similar plienomeria. These
stumps are burned to make lime to put on the land.

The occurrence of the trunks and stems of dicotyledons in a
carbonized state, has been heretofore described. They are also
found silicified in many localities. The most beautiful specimens
I have seen are from the Lybian and Egyptian deserts and were
collected by my friend Captain Head. In tliese the most delicate
vascular tissue is permeated by chalcedony and jasper, and some
of the vessels are injected with silex of bright vermillion. and of
blue color, traversing the cellular structure, which is of a rich

No. 133.] 243

yellow. Fragments of these trees are scattered everywhere
among the sands of the desert ; but the most interesting locality
is a sterile irregular platteau, which reposes on marine limestone,
considerably above the level of the Nile, about seven miles east
by soutli from Cairo. This district is called the petrified forest,
from the immense quantities of silicified trees with wiiich it is
covered. Many of tlie trunks are scattered over the surface,
among rolled and angular fragments of dark grit, and pebbles of
jasper, chert and quartz. The large trunks occur in greatest
numbers on dark colored knolls, where they lie, like broken
stems of a prostrate forest, crossing each other at various angles.
Two of the largest measured forty-eight and sixty feet in length,
and two and a half and three feet in diameter at the base. With
but two or three exceptions, all the specimens examined micro-
scopically, possess dicotyledonous structure. No traces of seed
vessels or leaves have been discovered. The situation and con-
dition of these silicified trees indicate great change in the rela-
tive position of the land and sea in that part of Egypt ; the trees
must have grown on the dry land formed by the bed of a former
ocean • this must have been submerged and covered by beds of
sand and rolled pebbles, and lastly, the Whole series of deposits
were raised to their present situation, the retiring waters having
removed the loose portion of the once continuous strata that were
last formed, and dispersed them over the surface of the Lybian
and Egyptian deserts.

ASPARAGUS*.

The Maison Rustique (Farm House,) says, that it is met with
in a wild state in Sicily, in Italy, and in all parts of Low Pro-
vence, comprised between the sea and the mountains, from Tou-
lon to Antibes. That it is fond of the banks of rivulets unculti-
vated, and of ravines. In size it is not larger than a quill, but
grows as tall as the cultivated plant. That its taste is very high,
and incomparabj^' more delicate than that of our cultivated aspa-
ragus, even than the very best raised in our gardens.

CELERY

. Is not much used in France, and that only as a seasoning for
soups and salads. It is increasing' in use lately. Celery is an

244 [Assembly

indigenous growth of France. It is growing wild in the marshy
parts of the mouths of the rivers Rhone and Var. Nature en-
dowed it with its peculiar properties, for it is the same after cul-
tivation as when wild. All along the Mediterranean shore of
France, the provincial peasants call it, for its excellence, the
good herb.

WATER CRESS.

The proverbial healthfulness of this is such, that in the spring,
it is cried through our streets by the title of la sante du corps —
the health of the body. The consumption of it is greatly increas-
ing, so that, instead of looking to the natural rivulets and basins
of water for it, it is now systematically cultivated. Vast cress
ponds are made to secure a supply for Paris. The process was first
established by M. Carp on, Mayor of the Commune of St. Leanard,
near Soulis, in 1811. The place being prepared with a bottom of
good soil a few inches deep — pieces of the plant are put in and
readily take root where the water is upon them.

MUSHROOM.

I take much pleasure in extracting from such excellent author-
ity as the Maison Rusiique presented by Alexander Vattemare to
the institute, the following article, relative to the raising of the
mushroom.

It is known (or ought to be) that a mushroom, good and whole
some to eat at its proper state of growth, becomes poisonous, if
collected some hours later. There are three eatable mushrooms
in the neighborhood of Paris. One of these, the mousseron, so
closely resembles the Efhle, that mistake is very easy and dan-
gerous. And it is no less singular than true, that the mushrooms
called cebs and oranges in the south of France are good to eat
and wholesome there, but mortally poisonous if grown in the
climate of Paris. We recall the very celebrated'^case of the Card,
Caprara, Leg of the Holy See, who gathered some of these oran-
ges in the forest of Vincennes, — and, in spite of the representa-
tions made to him of their poisonous character, determined obsti-
nately to eat them, observing that the French lost, through mere

No. 133.J 245

prejudice, one of the most delicious dishes. He and his Italian
cook ate them and died.

The principal difficulty is in obtaining cheaply enough the white
of the mushroom of good quality. We can always get the white
naturally contained in good dung of the horse, ass, or mule, and
to get abundance of excellent mushrooms. When you have
established a good bed of them — take great care in picking them.
Take hold of the stem gently, and turn if round, and so separate
it from its root, and then other plants will grow from it. Mush-
room beds require very little humidity, and a temperature as
even as possible, at not more than 12° nor less than 10*^ centi-
grade, or 50 to 55 Fahrenheit. The dung must be taken after
dry feeding of winter — green food destroys it.

One mode is to take the dung of cattle 2 parts, of sheep 1 part,
and of horse 1 ; mix them well and even, pass the mixture
through a hurdle. The white thus obtained is better than that
gathered from wild mushrooms, or irom old beds.

Beds for growing them should be made of one half of light
soil, making the beds from one foot to one and a half feet thick,
without putting any of the white in them, the beds themselves
will be transformed into an entire mass of white. From dung of
animals fed with green food, no mushrooms can be got. MacPhail
made his mnshroom bricks out of a mixture of cattle dung, sheep,
and horse dung, in equal parts, and a portion of fern leaves
bruised, — water is added to make it capable of being moulded
into the shape of a brick. He then makes a hole in the centre
of each brick, and puts into it a small fragment of the white, and
then put over it the piece of brick taken out in making the hole.
The bricks are then put into a heap, in such a way as to leave
room enough about them all, for a free circulation of air. In a
little time each brick will become a mass of white — which may
be immediately used to furnish beds. Although this singular
substance is of so delicate a nature, yet it may be preserved for
many years in its productive energy, provided it is^in a very dry
place. The mushroom flourishes best in obscure cellars, in caves,
old quarries free from humidity- -from wind, and quiet places.

246 [ASSE-\3BLT

rUN'GALES. FUNGI. AGARICUS. MUSHROOM.

"Erom Lindlctfs Vegetable Kingdom 1 take the following:

A mushroom ip Kamchatka is freely eaten by the people to
procure an agreeable intoxication, yet it is one of the most poi-
sonous. It is called Amanita Muscaria, from its use to poison
flies. The inhabitants of the northeastern parts of Asia use it
for the same purpose as other nations use brandy wine, arrack,
opium, &c. These fungi are abundant there, about Wischna,
Kamchatka, and Wilcowa Derecona. They are gathered in the
warmest months, and hung up by strings to dry ; some diy on
the ground, and are said to be more narcotic on that account.
The common mode of taking this fungus is to roll it up like a
pill, and swallow it without chewing, because if you do, say the
Kamchatkans, it will disorder the stomach. The eifects appear
in an hour or two, highly exhilerating and durable. The people
preserve their urine for future drinking, as it produces the same
effects on them. Five persons taking this from each other in
succession became intoxicated. Mr. Drummond has sent from
Swan river, Australia, spawn of a large field mushroom, as much
superior to our mushroom as our improved peas are to the old
sorts.

A curious kind grows on the living branches of South Ameri-
can beach trees — which is used for food during many months — at
Terra del Fuego. The Australian mushroom, called, Mylitta
Australis, attains a weight of more than two pounds, and is called
native bread.

THE DAHLIA.

Maison Rustique, Paris 1845.
Presented to tho American Institute by a Vattemare.
Extracts translated by II. Meigs.

Grafting on the Tuxers. — This operation was tried successfully
in 1828, by Mr. Blake, of England, four j^ears after it had been
tried by Mr. David, at St. Cloud. It was proved to give a plant
in all respects the same as the parent, but much smaller. Mr.
Augustin Legrand has so perfected this process that by it, one
can reduce at pleasure, a dahlia, to an half or a third of its usual
dimensions, so' that in the small dahlia we enjoy as its beauties in

No. 133.1 247

a small compass. The method is to take a shoot of the required
dahlia, and insert it in a tuber of any other dahlia, seedling or
otherwise. The shoot ought to have four leaves formed on it.
It is then inserted as a wedge in one side of the tuber, the tops
first being cut off', or it has been done by inserting it in the solid
middle of the cut tuber. Some have tied up the graft with the
usual means employed in ordinary grafting, but it seems that if
the grafted tuber be placed in the ground, and the soil a little
heaped around, and coveing the cut tuber and its graft a little —
it will grow. The perishing of the tuber does not hurt the graft.

The advantage of the graft is, above all, the speedy reproduc-
tion of it. The graft is generally rooted in eight or ten days.
The grafting can be done in the fall, when you can choose a
beautiful one — only give the graft suitable protection from the
•weather.

The Dahlia succeeds best in a light sandy and not very rich
soil — such is that of Mexico from whence the dahlia came. An
airy por-ition suits it best. It does not love trees or buildings to
be near it. It likes a sloping better than a level surface.

CHRYSANTHEMUM, {Gold Flower.)

This beautiful flower was brought from China to Europe about
the year 1 790. The primitive plant the author of all the varieties,
is still esteemed among the finest, it is of a very deep brown pur-
ple color. We have now from that, hundreds of varieties of
flowers. These varieties are multiplied from the seeds. All the
flowers whether double or otherwise bear seeds. These should
be planted in a shady and sheltered situation. Although these
plants like free air and expos.ire, they do not yield good seed in
a close situation — but they bear seed with difficulty unless at the
period of flowering they are kept in perfect repose. The angle of
tAvo walks with a good exposure is good for them. The stems "
and l^ranches must be tied to supporters — and the flower branch-
es should be tied quite close to the flower, woolen yarn is good to
tie them with. The seeds should be sown immediately after
they are gathered. The plants grown from seed sown in Novem-

248 Assembly

ber, and the plants protected in winter, will flower in the follow-
ing October, 11 months.

This plant presents a vegetable phenomenon very well worthy
of the attention of physiologists. The stems will make roots at
any age of the plant. Put the cuttings in good garden soil suit-
ably watered and shaded, until the stems have formed their roots,
then young and old stems, herbaceous or woody, with either
leaves or buds, or flowers on, considerably advanced, will all
of them form roots and flourish.

In order to get the largest sized — take in the month of March,
the longest and most vigorous stems, place separately in large
pots filled with good garden soil.

HYACINTH.

For a great length of time the Hyacinth was cultivated in its
original simple form, until in or about the year 1710 a Hollander
by the name of Peter Voerhelm obtained the first double Hya-
cinth. This flower has but one advantage over the Tulip and
that is fine odour. The colors are much less varied than the
Tulip. The yellow one is scarce. Commonly we find in an as-
sortment only three colors, the red, blue and white. It flourishes
in sea air — when removed from the sea coast to some distant in-
land, the onion will perish in four or five years. Some of the
seedlings will flower in the fourth year. The seedling while
young must never be watered. When they flower, it is found
that hardly one out of five hundred are worthy to be placed in a
fine collection.

The Dutch make a secret of their Hyacinth soil. However
the components used in Holland and in England are applicable
to any compact clayed soil rich and light by adding sand. Take

Of rich garden soil 4 parts.

Sand 4 "

Mould with cow dung 3 •'

Rotten leaves 1 "

12 parts.

No. 133.] 249

ANEMONE.
The seed of this flower should be sown in August. It will
come up in about two and a half to three months and not sooner,
very often it will remain in the ground all winter and come up
in the following spring. The seeds can only be obtained from
the single flower — for the double ones are all petals. The seed
is covered with a down which renders it troublesome to plant.
We remedy this by mixing it with fine sand and then rubbing it
for a length of time in our hands and thus rub off the down.
This flower does better in boxes and pots than in the open gar-
den.

ASTER.

Who does not know the Chinese Aster under its common title
of Queen Margaret 1 This beautiful plant so rich in its flowers
so varied in colors so like the plume — it is indispensible to our
parterres. Flowering in succession for two months without inter-
ruption. Even the firsts frost of autumn do not stop the flower-
ing of some of the more robust kinds.

jYoie hy Meigs. — The exhibition of Asters in Boston, has been
exqui:^itely beautiful in my view and those of my garden were
more admired than any other flower.

PELARGONIUM.

The name given to this kind of flower by a German botanist
by the name of Burman is derived from the Greek word sygnify-
ing the bird called a Stork, because it is supposed to resemble
the bill of that bird in the long conical pointed capsule which
contains the seed. This plant is a true conquest of human art.
The original flower does not approach the beauty of those num-
berless sorts obtained by hybrid crossing. These flowers require
great care. The finest one in the best of health and most splendid
flowering — perishes in a few days if neglected. They are almost
all from the Cape of Good Hope originally — wild ones are found
in some parts of Australia and Polynesia and latterly in St. He-
lena and the islands of the Canaries, the number of botanical
species is great. In 1824 Decandolle counted 369. Ii: 1839 Rob-

250 [Assembly

ert Sweet counted no less than 730 kinds. The odor of the Pel-
argonium does not reside in its flowers for they are constantly
without perfume — but ^t is in the leaves of the plant entirely.
It is agreeably only in a few species. In their conservatories
they should begin to get the sun at about eleven o'clock in the
morning. Light (says Neumann) is a part of the very existence
of the Pelargonium.

This plant is propagated both by seeds and slips. Erom the
seeds come new varieties. When you have made choice of two
varieties which you desire to cross — you must reserve the strong-
est plant of the two to raise seed, and, at the moment it is in flow-
er, take away very carefully all the stamina, without wounding the
style, then cut off neatly, without any tearing, the style of the
flower which is to fecundate the first, leaving nothing but its
stamina. When the flower is perfectly opened, take off" the mu-
tilated flower, hold it by its stem delicately, and rub its anthers
very lightly over tlie style of the plant whicli is to bear the hy-
brid seed ; after doing this to as many flowers as you please, take
off the residuum of the flowers to . give strength to those which
you have fecundated. After the operation, place the fecundated
plants in a sheltered place, and away from the rest of your ..Pe-
largoniums.

CALCEOLARIA {slipper flowers,)

are shaped a little like a slipper or a pocket. Introduced into
Europe in 1773, and almost forgotten until 1830. There are now
about two hundred varieties : they came originally from Chili and
Peru, and were first cultivated by the English — soon after in
France, and then over the rest of Europe. Propagated by seed
for new kinds, and by slips for the same kind. The seed must
be sown as soon as collected ; after sowing, comes up in 1 5 days ;
the best soil for it is pure heath earth ; the seeds keep com-
ing up sometimes for six months and more ; the plants should be
picked out when very young. It is very much infested by in-
sects, and must be smoked well with tobacco.

In 1832, Messrs Young, of Edinburgh, sold some of their first
hybrid calceolaries for ten dollars each.

No. 133.] 251

SUBSOILING.

Prof. Mapes adverted to the singular result of subsoil plow-
ing on the crops of Mr. Cleaveland of Jersey. He had, in pur-
suance of my advice, subsoiled his land and found the crops rath-
er worse for it. This fact was not to be doubted, and it w^as a
most singular exception to all other cases I was acquainted with.
I therefore thouglit it necessary to examine his subsoil carefully,
in order to know the cause. I caused careful analysis to be made
by my faithful chemist, I\Ir. Bradley, who found absent in a re-
markable degree the ordinary amount of phosphoric acid, and
one or two other requisite elements. By adding which to his soil,
my friend Cleveland will find his crops all right, and the depth of
tillage by the subsoiling as good as others find it to be for grow-
ing and sustaining a crop.

Clover plowed in is a well-known fertilizer : the truth is that
it is made up from organic matter almost entirely. Its ashes be-
ing but barely one per cent of the whole, the rest is carbonaceous
matter from the atmosphere. It appears so, by a late analysis
made by Prof. Way, which is undoubtedly correct. Dr. Ander-
son says that a crop of clover will remove from an acre of soil,
about twenty-three pounds of phosphoric acid ; that an experi-
mental clover field, of 1849, had received for the first time in
1817, a dressing of superphosphate of lime, with great improve-
ment of the crop. The red kellis hard pan of ray farm abounds
in potash and soda, and well plowed and subsoiled, soon make a
fine soil. Clover throws off much excrementitious matter. Its
deep roots bring up moisture. . The decay of the clover turned
in a carbonization, — it becomes charcoal carbon, it finally coats
every grain of and — thus rendering the soil black.

A naturally sandy soil through which water will descend 2 ft.
will, by free ploughing in of clover, become retentive of the
moisture and of the grass, and it also will retain the elements of
organic b6dies, and let nothing but pure water leach down
through it. The clover crop takes up water very freely, and one
acre of it will, by evaporation, give hogsheads of water in one
day to tlie atmosphere.

253 [Assembly

Affer twenty years of cultivation the soil constantly has in-
creased in weight although so much clover has gone oflf continu-
ally so that the farmer is always increasing his amount of soil by
ploughing in the clover. Still there is a higher value in old
wood soils, peats, &c., where these can be got cheaply enough, the
farmer should rely on them — when these are too far off he must
stick to his clover. Peas are very good for ploughing in — the
haulm is tubular so that when buried, they form so many pipes
for the circulation of the air and render the soil absorbent like a
sponge. In a crop the weight of it does not determine its value
for feed — for it is ascrtained that in the useful qualities for milk
and for firmer bone in the calf, some crops are worth twice as much
as others, and that is owing to free supply of phosphenic acid in
the first — and not in the second case. With it the English farm-
ers know that their Swedish turnips are double in value.

The Professor has not furnished the Secretary with any notes,
and therefore the errors must be charged to the Secretary.

Mr. Van Wyck. — The subject of clover as professor Mapes has
observed is an extensive subject; it embraces matters more or
less connected with the grains and grasses generally, there are
many varieties of the clover. The principal ones, most in use
here and in Europe are the Trifolium Pratense^ Trifolium repens
and Trifolium mediura. They are scientifically called trifolium^
from their generally possessing but three leaves, that is ninety-
nine out of a hundred and perhaps more. The first which is the
common red clover, is the one we have most to do witli. This
may be said to be almost exclusively used through our whole
country, where the climate and soil will suit ; it grows most rap-
idly and luxuriantly, leaves the land in the best condition for
producing the grain. The feed it makes is the sweetest and most
nourishing for stock of every kind, it is said to be a biennial or
at most triennial, I have known ir to continue in good lands with
the best of husbandry considerably longer, the first two or three
years it is undoubtedly the thickest and most abundant on the
ground, after this it disappears gradually. In our country it is
generally sown with timothy, the latter in the fall, and the clover
in the spring, the timothy and i'es^ other native grasses of the

No. 133.J 253

most succulent kind, with some of tlie clover, \\ould stand rich
and heavy, from seven to fourteen years, and that every year,
without being disturbed by a plough. From 30 to 50 head of
cattle kept upon it almost constantly the summer through, with
occasional top dressings of gypsum composts of the barn yard, and
all putrescent refuse matters Avhich are knowai to make the best
food for the grasses. This land too, it was pretty well known
possessed the requisite quantity of inorganic or, mineral matters,
such as calcarious, silex or sand and clay. The manure dropped
upon the soil, by the cattle feeding upon it, was an important
item. The grass standing thick and high, would protect it from
evaporation by the sun and the rains soon wash them about the
roots with the various top dressings, and the carbon of the atmo-
sphere and the different manures, and such as the grasses them-
selves contained and made, would retain these ferteliziug ele-
ments for the use of the grass plants as they wanted them. New
Jersey possesses some very good land, but that on the seaboard or
a good deal of it, has always been thin and meager, mostly sand,
very little organic manure used, and of the inorganic to correct
and modify the sand. Within a few years rich marl beds have
been found in many sections of the lands thus located, containing
considerable potash, some lime and clay, this marl easily accessi-
ble has been much used and the soil much impr<jved by it, the
crops of grain and grass greatly increased, larger stocks kept, and
triple or perhaps quadruple the quantity of barn yard manure
made for the land. This was getting the organic and inorganic
manures from the natural, true, and cheapest sources, much bet-
ter than to purchase them in distant places at considerable cost
and some hazard. Rich fields of clover are now to be seen which
produced hardly enough to keep animals alive, much more to
fatten or keep them in good condition.

Mummy wheat with its linnen wrappers (transmitted to the
Institute by the Honorable W. Stanley, of Congress) was distribu-
ted among the members, some of whom supposed, from the ap-
pearance of the grains that it would vegetate— notwithstanding
it has been entombed probably twenty-five hundred years.

The thanks of the club was unanimously voted to the honora
able donor.

254 [AsSEMBLl

Professor Mapes proposed as the next subjectj The uses of mules
in farming.

Adopted. And the club adjourned to the next regular day,
the first Tuesday in June. ^

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

American Institute, )

Farmers^ Club, June 1st, 1853. ^

Judge Van Wyck in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary.

Mr. D. J. Browne presenteclJoan de Cuba; Ortus Sanitatus. Herbs, plants, animals, rep-
tiles, birds, fishes, &c. Folio. Mentz. 1485.

This ancient treatise is in excellent preservation ; abounds in
strong wood cuts. On the subject of mules and asies, he says that
the ass is a vile, deformed and despicable animal, with a big head,
long, broad ears, and a starved lean body, which cannot be any
how made fat. On the shoulder he bears the sign of the cross.
He is an animal hard to handle, hates a load, and is more brutal
and unreasonable than any other beast. He is slow and lazy, but
patient and good at a very difficult road. He eats thistles and
thorns ; being cold uatured himself he dislikes cold. He is.there-
fore not found in Scotia (Scotland) and the neighboring countries,
nor in the equinoctial regions. The female carries her young
a whole year; her colt is rather • pretty while young, but as it
grows older, becomes more and more torpid (torpior). The ass
has very thick black blood, muddy like that of an ox. He and
all other animals which have big heads, are more timid than other
animals ; he will eat thorny plants while soft ones are about him ;
he is a stolid, lazy, luxurious animal. Having the cross on his
shoulders he is weakest there, but the stronger in his loins. His
braying is horrible; he knows the voice of an ox; he has been
accustomed to hear, and remembers a road which he has frequent-
ly travelled. Ass's milk yields but liitle butter, but is good for a
cough, and for spitting blood, and dropsy. Esculapius recom-
mended ass's blood with wine for quotidian fevers, three or four
drops of it in a dose.

No. 133.] 255

Translated by II. Meigs, the secretary.

Tlie mule is called in Latin, mula ; French, mulet — an animal
proJuccd by a lie ass and a mare, or sometimes between a liorse
and a slie ass. The term mule is used to indicate any kind of ani-
mal produced by mixture of dillerent species. The first is best,
that is the issue of the ass and mare, being larger, stronger, and
having least of the ass in disposition. The largest and the stoutest
asses, and the fairest and finest mares, are selected in Spain, Italy
and Flanders. In the latter they liave raised mules of sixteen
and some seventeen hands high. Mules are stronger, more sure-
footed, go easier, are more cheaply maintained, and last longer
than horses. Commonly, mules are vicious, stubborn and obsti-
nate to a proverb ; and v\^hether it causes the ill usage they get,
or is caused by it, is all the same ; it is not easy to settle it with
them,

The largest sized mules were emploj'ed in armies to carry bag-
gage, under the name of sumpter mules ; thi"s employment was
due to their superior strength, hardihood and cheap feeding. In
the days of Popery, many stately mules were brought by Italian
priests from Rome to England ; they have continued since that
time to be used less and less, until at last they were chiefly found
in the employ of the millers. Tlie mule thrives better in mild
rather than in hot climates.

Honor was done to the ass in ancient days at Lampsaca, where
the braying of them saved Vesta from a rape. For this the ass
was crowned in the month of June, and is marked in the ancient
calendar Festum est Yesta? asinus coronatur, — this is the feast of
Vesta, ,the ass is to be crowned, — and ihe saying became Vestse
deliciiim est asinus. — an ass is the delight of Vesta, The learned
name of the race Equns asinuus. This creature submits firmly to
bluws ; he is temperate both as to the quality and quantity of his
food ; he will eat rough, disagreeable herbage, which the horse
and other animals despise ; bat he is more delicate as to his drink,
for he never uses water that is not perfectly pure. As his master
never takes the trouble to comb his hair, he will roll himself on
the turf among thistles, ferns, &c.,as often as he can get a chance,
and he (.loes not care for the load on his back at all, he rolls all.

25G [Assembly

When very young he is a gay,, sprightly, nimble and gentle crea-
ture, but as he grows up he soon loses these good qualities, and
that, in all probability, in consequence of the bad usage he meets
with J for he becomes lazy, untractable, stubborn. He is furious
when in love. The she ass is very affectionate to her young ;
Pliny said that one was known to rush through flames to get to
her colt. Notwithstanding the ill usage he gets, the ass forms a
great attachment to his master ; he smells him at a distance,
searches the places and roads which he used to frequent, and
really distinguishes him from other men. He has a remarkable
fine eye, an excellent scent and hearing. When you put too heavy
a load on his back he hangs down his head and ears ; if you cover
up his eyes he will not stir a single step further ; if you lay him
on the ground on his side, and cover up the upper eye with a
cloth while the other is on the ground, he will stay there, making
no attempt to get up. He walks, trots and gallops as a horse
does ; whatever pace he is at, if you push hinijhe instantly stops.

Pennant mentions a mule produced a jack-ass on a zebra mare.
The ass, like the horse, continues to grow for three or four years,
and lives twenty-five to thirty years and very often more. A sin-
gular question is, have you ever seen a dead ass ? Singularly
enough a smile is excited, for upon reflection very few men ever
saw one. There are two kinds of the race in Persia, one is used for
labor and the other for the saddle. In Syria also two kinds, one
very large and strong, with very long ears ; both kinds are there
used for labor. In America, originally, there were no asses ; the
Spaniards brought them and horses when they came. As these
animals carry so heavy a burden in proportion to their bulk, as
their keeping cost little or nothing, it is surprising that they are
so little in use among us. This creature is less subject to \'^rmin
than other animals. The marks in the mouth are nearly the same as
in the horse. The Spanish mule is occasionally a really handsome
creature; like the Spanish lady, his feet are very small, his pace
active, head up. Among the great things done for his country
by our well beloved Henry Clay, in the farmer way, at his home,
is the rearing of many of the best mules in the land, some of them
as fine as the world ever saw, in all points, and worth larger sums
of money, as working creatures, than any horses, even often to

No. 133.] 257

$700 a pair. We thank Prof. Mapes for having raised this sub-
ject for consideration, and hope that it may be discussed, and
cause a great increase in our stock of quadruped powers, which,
in spite of steam powers, will never be dispensed with for roillions
of persons and places.

Prof. Mapes said that no animal had been so grossly slandered
as the mule, for although the appearance of his head and ears are
unsightly to all but himself, the symmetry of his bcdy and limbs
are far from objectionable. He is more untiring than the horse,
and capable of making greater exertion without loss of health.
Indeed a mule will perform one-third mole labor than a horse of
the same weight, during the same number of hours, in addition to
■which he will work more hours, and is less aifected by heat or
cold, is more sure footed than most horses, and appears to be
alike insensible (while taking exercise) of the severity of mid-'
winter or the excessive heat of summer; whether at the Equator
or Temperate Zone, he is equally serviceable and etfective. He
will subsist on from one-half to two-thirds the amount of food
necessary for a horse while used for labor. Fodder of less 'ex-
pensive kind than that in ordinary use seems perfectly sufficient
for him. In the vicinity of the New-Jersey meadows, mules are
often fed on salt hay costing but three dollars per ton, and about
half the amount of ground feed usually given to horses. With
such keeping they are more efficient than the horse, costing less
than haif to sustain them. They require shoeing less often than
the horse, and are much longer lived. When treattd with kind-
ness the mule is no more stubborn than the horse ; indeed, be-
yond the unsightliness of his head, he has but one fault, and that
is, if left for a few weeks in the stable without work, he forgets
all his former training, and requires to be reinstructed ; with slight
use, however, he retains his habitudes as well as the horse . Who
ever heard of a dead mule 1 Dickens says that " a dead donkey
and a sailor in white top boots are not to be met with."

Neither buyer or seller are apt to inquire closely into the age
of the mule. We now have a pair between thirty and forty years
of age, performing full labor on our farm, without showing the
slightest indication of having passed the prime of their mule-

[Assembly No. 133.] 17

258 [Assembly

hood. In every jiarticiilar, the male for faimers' rise is supei-ior
to the horse. Mules, if badly used, Tvill resent it, and from t^is
fact they have the unenviale character of kicking. They cer-
tainly exhibit bad taste in ohojc€of food, for they will eat agrees
thistle on top of a peck of oats, and qccaslonally will eat tlieir
bedding while f )dder of a better kind placed in front of them, is
retained for a de.sert.

President Tallmadge. The work of Joan de Cuba presents a
very early specimen of good printing, for the art was only in-
vented (that is printing on separate types of metal) about the
year 1450. This work was printed on metal types, and those
good, too, in 1485, only thirty-five years after the first attempt
was successfully made. The singular mark called a cross on the
shoulders of the ass is formed by one stripe of hair lengthwise
his spine, and one crossing it at right angles ; the hair in this
cross is somewhat longer tlian the hair of the animal generally.

Mr. Browne. The numerous engravings in this work of Joan
de'Cuba are done on wood, and are the first used except in the
Bible. Joan de Cuba was a Dutch naturalist, and traveled in
Turkey, Syria, and the Holy Land.

D. J. Browne was requested to add some remarks to those he
had presented from Joan de Cuba, relative to the mule and ass.
He called for the reading of another volume from his library,
the Natural History of Quadrupeds of British and Foreign Pro-
ductions, by James H. Feunell, London, 1843.

The mule cr moj le, is produced by the union of the male ass
and the mare, and is much more esteeuietT^than the hinny, by
which name the progeny of the horse and female ass is distin-
guished, -f

The mules of Spain, and other countries in .which they are ex-
tensively employed, are far superior to those of Britain. They
are often sixteen hands high, ^nd can carry seven or eight hun-
dred pounds weight on their backs. They are patient, indefatig-
able, and unrivalled in being sure-footed, and these excellencies

No. 133.] 259

render them most valuable beasts of burden in mountainous comj-
tries ; and the caution and precision with which a drove of them,
walking with great regularity in a single line, will cross over the
stupendous and awfully narrow passes, or ascend and descend the
almost perpendicular steeps, have excited the astonishmeu.t d%
many a tourist.

The she mule has occasionally, but very rarely, been known t©
produce again with a horse or an assj but there is no instance ob
record of two mules breeding together.

The domestic ass is from the Genus Equns (horse) which com-
prises the asinus or ass, the zebra, Djiggutal, Quagga &c. He k
distinguished by the tail having long hairs at the end only, wheHK
they form a brush, by the mane being short and erect, by onlf
the forelegs having warty callosities, and by the markings being
disposed in stripes.

The migratory herds of wild asses wliich inhabit, at one searSoa,
tJie warm climate of Persia, and at another the southern part<^
the Russian Empire, are supposed to be of the same species as t-he
common domestic ass employed in this more northern region..
But the accounts of wild asses published by various travellers a»-;
so dissimilar, that we may almost question v/hether the original.
species of the wild ass has been satisfactorily ascertained, and
whether several other species do hot remain to be describe*!!.
Bruce in his travels (vol. 4 page 522) mentions' wild asses veij
like ours in neck, head, face anfi tail " only their skins are streaked^
and as inhabiting the same parts of Abyssinia as the Zebra. It is
not unlikely tliat the ass thus indicated is an undescribed spe
cies. Bell in his travels in Tartary (vol. 1 page 221) notices
many wild asses like the common ass except that their hair u
x/)aved white and brown like that of the tiger. The species mentioned
in Ainsworth's Travels (page 41) and in R. K. Porter's Travels
(vol. 1 page 452) is the khur,or wild ass of Persia, Arabia, and
Mesopotamia and is probably indentical with that of the Thebaid
and other parts of the African continent. It is also the wild mule
of the ancients. It has a black mane and no line along the baefe
or across the shoulder. Allied to this would feea to be the her^

2G0 [Assembly

of wild asses entirely of a pale yellow eolor \vhicli Le Vaillant
noticed in Southern Africa and called by the Namaquas the white
Zebra. Lastly there is in the kiang of Thibet or Himalayan wild
ass, described in Moorcroft's Travels in the Himalayan Provinces
(vol. 1 f . 311) and Blyth on the Genus Equns,in the Magazine
of Natural History (1840, vol. 4 p. 371 .) All these wild asses are
large, line, swift.animals, presenting a very different appearanoe
in height, sleekness and vivacity to our poor, domestic and degen-
erated ass whose ordinary personal appearance is too well known
to require a particular description. Mention is made of the ass
in Britain as early as the time of King Ethelred in 866—872 and
at a later period in the reign of Henry Third. But either from
disguise or some fatality the ass was entirely lost among us du-
ring the reign of Queen Elizabetli, Hollinshead informs us that in
his time " our lande did yeeldeno asses " and in Johnson's relations
of the most famous kingdoms (1611) it is stated that England
" bringeth not forth mules nor asses but of horse infinite propor-
tioned." It was probably during the reign of James First, that
the ass was introduced into England for the second time ; for du-
ring his soverignty we renewed our intercourse with Spain, in
which country the animal is in general use and in great perfec-
tion.

It has often been said, and justly, that we know less of the nat-
ural history of those animals which are our most constant com-
panion than those which are so wild and afar off. But this is
easily accounted for from the obvious facts that these animals hav-
ing long since exchanged a life of independence in a state of na-
ture, for one of servitude in an artificial state, retain consequent-
ly but an imperfect notion of their proper habits. Such an ani-
mal has probably no idea of living in a herd with a leader at
their head — never dream of the sandy plains or of any diet rich-
er than hay and oats. What cau we pretend to know of an an-
imal that we hardly ever see in good condition or in good spirits.
Denounced as obstinate and stupid, its very name made a syn-
onyme for blockhead, it is cudgelled from its youth and no one
gives it that fair unprejudiced trial which every British subject
man or ass is fairly entitled to. The songs of the people have
often more influence on the moral conduct than all the laws — and

No. 133.] 261

it is to be hoped that the advice taught in a modern popular song-
will not be entirely lost upon the costermonger (fruit seller) and
the tinker. The " hay " and " gee-wo " may accomplish nearly
all oce might require of a donkey, where every brutal blow may
gain nothing but a kick well merited. A maltreated wretched
horse is often as dull and obstinate as an ass. Indeed if the size
of the brain in comparison to that of the body can prove the in-
tellectual superiority of an animal, then the ass w^ould make a wiser
consul than Caligula's horse did. In the ass there is one part
brain for every two hundred and fifty four parts of the grosser-
materials; while in the horse there is only one part of the former-
to'every four hundred or in some cases to every seven hundred
parts of the other elements.

The ass differs in size and abilities much — according to the cli-
mate it inhabits. In Syria a fine ass is sometimes more valuable
than a couple of horses. Mr. Frazer says that in Bagdad " most
of the learned and holy professions prefer the ass, and so do al2
the ladies. These asses are, I believe, of a particular breed and
from forty to fifty pounds sterling, is no uncommon sum for one
of great size, good blood and fine paces. The favorite color is
spotless white ; they are magnificently caparisoned and have their
nostrils slit, which is said to make them long winded. Heavea
knows their wind is long enough when they bray. The bray of"
an ass is not much admired generally — but the author of a scarce
tract on the nobleness of the ass 1595, after giving us all its
sweet notes, concludes by declaring that the continual braying ot"
five or six asses, form a melodious kind of music, " a song of
world without end."

The ass is an excellent swimmer. In March, 1816, an ass be-
longing to Capt. Dundas, then at Malta, was shipped on board
the frigate Ister, bound from Gibraltar to Malta. During a storm
at sea, all the live stock was thrown overboard. The ass swam
to Point de Gat, and made his way from thence through tha
mountainous country, two hundred miles, to the very stable he
had last left. In a wild state he feeds chiefly upon the most sa-
line and bitter plants of the desert, such as the kalis, atriplice^^
chenopodium, kc. Cornelius Agrippa, compares the domestic

262 ("Assembly

ass to a scholar, inasmuch as is not only patiently endures penu-
' sj, labor, and severe criticism, but it lives on little food, and is
<2fontent with any sorts, be it lettuces or thistles and brambles.
]?ennant says it is very fond of the plantain. Bryant says it has
the faculty of discovering distant waters by the smell. The do-
mestic ass is more particular in the choice of water than food,
and water which a horse will gladly drink, is often not good

enoi]»;h for an ass.

/

(Troilus aud Cressida, act 8, scene 3.) ''• Thersites, would the

^iintain of your mind were clean again, that I might wnicr an ass

The female is much attached to her young, which is a sprightly
Mile creature in its youth, but soon assumes the gravity of its
farent, when old enough to stand blows and other maltreatment.

Obscure dark bands are frequently observable on tlie legs of
M2& young ass, as in other animals of its genus. The Persians eat
^ Sesh. Its milk is considered very w'hohsome. Poppaja, the
wife of Nero, used to bathe every morning in assps milk, which is
adfso thcught a great beautifier and preserver of the skin.

Sagrij or as we call it, shagreen, is made of the hide. The
integumeuts being hard and elastic, form good parchment. It is
^cd for pocket tablets and drums. The bones being very solid,
^em made iut-o ve^-y superior flutes by the ancients. To serve
^e tivo latter purposes of literature and music, is tlie only honor
tfeat awaits the ass when finally released from the brutality of his
ujasttr. Eut t'uougli of the ass, though I am ready to say jvitli
SternCj.that " with en ass I could commune forever." Let every
Bian who lte<'ps one treat it well, and use it as thougli he loved it.

rurURE WEALTH OF AMERICA.

^'dfrantages of cultivatirgTea, Coffee, Indigo- Ti-atc, Mnngc.Tnck, Litchi, Gimva, Ac-, Ac >
aed a review of the Cliina tjacle. 1 vol. 4to, pa;;o3 242, by rnincLs Bonjr.ge, lor fourteen
' yiars resideEt in Iiniia, and tho weet of ChiDa. Kew-York, laJl'.

The amiable and intelligent author is rtcoramended to the In-
stitGte by Dr. Antisell. Wo make the fullowing extracts from
valuable little bock.

No. 133.] 263

TEA.

■ Such is the general inferiority of tea plants, that a very small
proportion of them yield tea worth anything. The difficulty in
general is to get the seeds in good order. The Rev. Mr. Gutzlaflf
is known all over the world by his works, and Mr. Ball, a tea
merchant, and for twenty years a resident of Canton, and whose
word is worthy of all confidence, say that "it has been observed
that the Chinese universally agree, from remote antiquity to the
present day, that only the Bohea mountains produce the highest
flavored teas." They afiirm, moreover, that it is only in the
central division of these mountains, which are known to the Chi-
nese by the appellation of Vuy-Shan, (inner mountains,) where
the highest flavored teas are produced, and that the tea deterio-
rates in quality, until in some of the remote districts the leaves
are thin and poor, and of no fragrance or sweetness in infusion,
and that no labor can make them good.

The seeds that the Chinese would give, even if they had good
ones, would be the most inferior; but the good seeds are not at
hand, and as there are no means oi kaouing the seed of an infe-
rior plant from the best, money would not procure the better
ones. But the jealousy of China is too weH known to suppose
that she would impart to foreigners the means of shutting up her
thirty millions of dollars' worth of export tea. It must be re-
memembered by all who have read the history of the silkworm,
that it was conveyed out of China in a cane by a Jesuit.

The people who make their living on tea trading in China are
innumerable, and through their agency the price is raised to
twenty cents a pound by the time it reaches Canton.

Gutzlaff says the rent of an acre is about one dollar and fifty
cents a year ; a poor man raises on it three hundred pounds of
tea, for which he gets seven cents a pound, or twenty one dollars,
very poor support. The Hong laborers or coolies get $^5 a year;
shoemakers about as much ; tea packers have |3G a year.

Mr. Fortune says of the tta planters. They are a poor, hard-
working people. Their cottages remind one of those we used to
see in Scotland formerly, where cow, pig and peasant lived and

264 . [Assembly

fed in the same house. He said that only the poorest lands are
allotted to the tea. while the rich soils grow rice and sweet po-
tatoes. The tea leaves are raised for two to four cents a pound,
but by the time they reach Canton, bring twenty cents. By the
time the consumer gets it. it stands him, on an average, a dollar
a pound, and that adulterated, old and valueless, when compared
with the China tea leaf, as used in China or Russia. Such is the
imposition of the middleman. Truly and really, the tea drank
at Calcutta, England and America, is not good, nor has hardly, I
may say, relationship to good tea ; that the good teas are drank
by the Chinese ; that they are sent west to Thibet, Nepaul, and
Russia. Rail says, that the Yen-Pouchong costs there, from
f3.75 to $7.50 a pound, and the price of tea in the Bohea district,
which is classed as Pouchong and Souchong, is from fifty-two
cents to $1.15 cents a pound. English and American consumers
have to pay 100 cents a pound for Chinese refuse teas, and tea-
house vsweepings, mixed up with worthless leaves.

If we consider China as having a population of 367 millions —
and they as tea drinkers, the amount produced is indeed enor-
mous. A Chinaman and his family, everything about him is par-
ticularly clean and tastefully arranged, with his cheerful round
face and small eyes. On one side of the room may be seen a
little tea pot, and beside it a tea cup, to which the whole family
have recourse at meals, three times a day, and in the intermediate
time, as they become tlilrsty, or as neighbors visit, this little pot
is again in requisition.

THE JACK FRUIT.

This is fr»m a large tree, growing from 40 to 50 feet high. The
fruit is about as large as the largest sized water melon, and grows
on the. body of the tree — about 30 to GO of them on one tree.
The skin of this fruit is very rough. The natives are very par-
tial to it. It is frequently served up on the tables of the Euro-
peans in India, in pies, &c. The wood of this tree is yellowish,
and capable of high polish ; best in India for printers' blocks.

The appearance of the tea plants in the difi'erent localities w^est
of China, would impress the belief that it has always been indi-

No. 133.] .265

genous there, being found in the deepest forests, where man could
not have resided for centuries past.

The East India Company cultivated, in Assam, a Baree (so
called there), or plantation, called " Chubwa." The produce
was good, as to the quantity — being on an average, 320 pounds
an acre ; but the leaves had an oily flavor about them — un-
pleasant. The company gave it up.

I had four plantations of it in Assam, The first crops of leaves
were passable, but the others felt like chaff in the hand, and
would not fetch a very fair price. The British Ea?t India Com-
pany introduced China seeds j yet, although they Iiad greater
facilities fur doing so than any other government, the seeds they
got from China were worse than valueless, for they all germinated
and grew up a pretty little brush of two to three feet high, full
of leaves and no end to their producing seeds — but the leaves
were small, dry. hard, and so stiff they could not be manufac-
tured. From several thousands of them, I could never make a
pound of tea. The Assam company tried every scheme — even
plucked off all the leaves,"supposing that the new ones, when
they came out, would be soft ; but they came out so slowly, and
still so poor and dry, that the experiment proved a failure.

In the Kamoun mountains^ north-west of East India, the British
government established a tea-garden, in 1835, under the care of
Dr. Jannison ; but up to 1850, they had exported no tea. They
have frequently tried to sell these plantations, but nobody would
buy them. It takes three years to get any material quantity of
leaves from the trees.

INDIGO.
Our fathers cultivated it 80 yea^^ ago, and the British Govern-
ment gave us (their colonies) a bounty of a shilling a pound for
producing it. Our fathers abandoned it for cotton, for which
they got from a dollar to a dollar and a half a pound.

Sixty years ago only 134,000 pounds of indigo were exported,
at the price of 62 cents a pounds. Now the East Indies export
13 million pounds, and it is sold in Calcutta, the lowest one dol-
lar to one and a half— highest two dollars forty-five cents a
pound.

26€ [Assembly

COFFEE.

Ouglit to be introduced among us ; and the Guava, tliat excel-
lent fruit, yielding more fruit than any other. Its jelly is known
and loved all over the world. The tree will flourish in our
southern country.

Lime Tree. — The companion of guava and orange.

Citrm. — Some trees are ever green, but this tree is ever bearing.

Gooseberry tree, nutmeg, bamboo, cane, India rubber, Kaya-
poote oil tree, black gum varnish tree, grapes which we have not,
the joint grass.

Mr. D. J. Browne said that the jack, coffee and India rubber
will not flourish in Florida, and probably not in any section of
our country, unless perhaps in Texas.

Chairman. — The mule is a hybrid^ generated between the ass
and the mare — two different species of animals. Of course, the
mule partakes of the qualities of both horse and ass, to a certain
extent. A few old naturalists used to maintain that tliey were
originally the same animal ; that the latter was a degeneracy from
the former J that they were an uglier animal, neglected by man,
and suffered to run wild; and that they gradually acquired, in
their wild state, all the marks and deformities which distinguish
them. This doctrine is now abandoned, and from careful exami-
nations, they are considered distinct races. The external and
internal conformations of the two are entirely different. Another
and perhaps more conclusive proof is that the mule is sterile and
will not propagate its kind and continue its race.

Heuce some naturalists have thought it immoral to propagate
them In a different way, as contrary to the laws of nature. Asses
are found wild in most hot climates near and within the tropics,
and in some places in great numbers, in South America, Asia and*
Africa, the ancients used them for the same purpose as the mod-
erns as beasts of burden, hardy, patient, and living on little food '
and thiit of tile commonest kind. The animal is mentioned in the
Bible and in several works of ancient history, but the mule is hard-
ly notic-.d, they existed probably, but to a very limited extent, to

No. 133] 2C7

what they do at this day. Both animals with proper treatment are
kind and docile, easily disciplined by man for his various uses,
either to carry burdens on tha back or move heavy loads behind
them. The mule shows much sagacity as well as activity in tra-
velling over rough mountain roads, he will carry his rider safer
and faster, up the highest hills and down ths steepest precipices,
than any other animal. Vlloa the Spanish historian and traveller,
says he never could have performed the long and arduous jour-
neys in South America and collected the numerous and important
facts which he did, without the aid cf the niiTible, hardy and sure-
footed mule. His guides, who knew the animal well, instructed
him to give free rein, not to check him in the slightest degree, his
natural sagacity and experience, would select the safest route in
ascending or descending the most dangerous and difficult passes.
The least inclination of the rider on either side would disturb the
animal's balance and most lil^ely precipitate both into an abyss
where they would be sure to perish. Vlloa states that in arriving
at the foot of a high mountain or the brink of a steep deep preci-
pice, he would stop for a few moments and deliberately survey
the routes before him and make his selection, and he never found
him to err in judgment, he always seemed to select the best, and
of this he had manv proofs. Some of these routes cr paths were
not only rough and narrow, but long and crooked, and when de-
scending, he would slide down upon his fore and hinder feet and
sometimes with great rapidity.

The extract from Cub's natural history is an exaggerated pic-
ture of the dtformities and faults of the ass, written nearly or
quite fonr centuries ago ; it shows evidently the prejudices, which
existed against t]je animal at that day, society was in a rude and
barbarous state, compared with wliat it is at present. All our
ablest modern naturalists in speaking of the ass, give a very
different character of him — his defects, most of these say, are
owing in a great degree to ill treatment and abuse from man, the
latt.T say he ij stupid, excessive hibor makes him so, they say he
is obstinate — no wonder, he is half-starved, he is fed with the
coarsest food, and that sparingly, he is cruelly beaten, because ho
will not freely do the hardest work. Any animal, the horse, the
ox, and even man himself would show similar habits when thus

268 [Assembly

oppressed, rational man only adds another defect under such cir-
cumstances to his asinine propensities or qualities, cruelty. The
wild ass when taken and well treated, is docile and far more use-
ful, he is considerably larger than the tame one, and compara-
tively good looking. The Spaniards have the finest tame asses
and mules perhaps in tlie world, they treat them very kindly and
and are greater favorites with them than their horses, they often
get enormous prices for them, from neighboring nations, and es-
pecially their mules, these are handsome and often 16 and 17
hands high, they make fine, safe carriage animals. Quito, in the
republic of Escuader (Equater), in South America, situated at the
foot of the Andes, a part of it under the Equater, but lying high,
many thousand feet above the level of the sea, possessing a climate
most salubrious and temperate, the year round, also extensive
plains, moistened by heavy dews, and watered by numerous
streams from the mountains, producing the richest pasture and
the best natural grasses in great luxuriance. There the horse, ass
and neat cattle abound and multiply rapidly, these are taken by
man in a wild state, and easily tamed, and sold very cheap to
surrounding countries, where they do not abound, or driven to
the sea board and there disposed of. The ass here it said to be
larger and better looking, than almost anywhere else, docile if
properly managed, and with kind treatment, is made more useful
to man than the horse.

Mr. Browne, proposed the native grasses of America as the
subject for the next meeting. Adopted unanimously.

The Club then adjourned to Tuesday June 15, at noon. Strang-
ers are respectrully invited to the meetings, and admission free to
all.

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

No. 133.] 2C9

Farmerh Ciub, June \ bfh, 1853.
Judge Van Wyck in the chair. Henry Meigs Secretary.
Present, Professors Enderlin, Antisell, Mapes and others.
The secretary read the following papers prepared by him-

ON NATIVE GRASSES.

In the great geological survey of the State of New- York, a work
which was undertaken by Ihe government of the State, upon a
representation of the utility and necessity of it, being made by
the American Institute in 1835, on motion of Edwin Williams, a
well known and worthy member — we find in section Flora, vol.
6, by Professor Torrey, an account of our grasses. It may be
well to state in our vegetable kingdom, we have 1,450 species
of flowering plants, of which 1.200 are herbaceous, and 150
may be regarded as ornamental. Of woody plants we have
250 species, including 80 which attain the stature of trees. Of
plants reputed to be medicinal, we have (native and naturalized)
150 species. The naturalized plants exceed 160 species. Many
of them have been introduced from Europe with grain and other
agricultural products, and among them some of our most trouble-
some weeds. Indeed, throughout our northern States, almost all
the plants that are injurious to the farmer, are of foreign origin ;
and many useful species have likewise been so thoroughly natu-
ralized and so widely spread, that they everywhere spring spon-
taneously from our soil. The grasses of our meadows, parks,
lawns and road sides, are, with few exceptions, naturalized Euro-
pean species. The following are principal kinds : pleum pratense
or timothy ; agrostis polymorphaor florin ; anthoxanthum odora-
tum or sweet scented spring grass ; holcus lanatus or meadow
soft grass; fesluca pratensis or meadow fescue; poa annua, tri-
vialis, compressa, dactylis, glomerata and lolium pratense. The
annual meadow grass poa annua, is the most common of all the
grasses, and the least absolute in its habits.

It is almost the only grass that will grow in towns. Though
an annual, yet it is found in most meadows and pastures, perpe-
tually flowering, affording a sweet herbage, relished by all atock,

£70 [Assembly

and of as great impoitance to birds as w heat is to man. It hard-
ly requires to be sown, for it springs up almost every where of it-
self. It is well, however, to sow a few pounds of it on an acre
when perpetual pasture (not hay) is the subject. The agrostis
stricta is the herds grass of Virginia and the south. The best na-
tural pastures, carefully examined, were found by Sinclair, to
consist of the following grasses : Alopecurus pratensis ; dactylis
glomerata ; festuca pratensis ; plileum pratense ; avenaelatior ;
anthoxauthum odoratum ; lolium perenn^is; bromusarvensis j
poa annua, and avena pratensis ; ten species. The Bermuda grass,
doub grass or cyncdon dactylou. A tall repent grass which
flourishes on sandy lands, is an object of cultivation at theSout^i.
It affords abundant pasturage for sheep, and it binds loose soil
together. The levees of the Mississippi are planted with it.
Many distinguished farmers on the southerly side of that river,
speak very highly ot it^ It is difficult to eradicate. Mr. AfSeck
considers it to be most nutritious ; and in his latitude (Washing-
ton, Mississippi,) it yields three cuttings a year, of the total
weight of from five to eight tons per acre from a moderately good
meadow ; frost Idils it however. The grama grass, native of
Mexico and the West Indies, is small, grown on poor land, bears
a very nutritious seed which it retains all winter, and is highly
recommended for cultivation in the southern States. Captaia
Cook of the United States army, says it is stoloniferons
(stools) and perennial. This must not be mistaken for the gama
or Bufiklo grass. Tripsacum dactyloides, a coarse, perennial, in-
digenous, southern grass growing to four or five feet high; it is ;
very productive, but yet is thought not to be scarcely proper for j
planting. One of our most durable pasture grasses on inferiojf j
soil, is the dog's tail, or cynosurus oristatus. Curtis examined »' |
sod of grass and found in that small compass /owr2'ee;i different
species of grass. In p-istures, if the grass is allowed to go to seed _
they degenerate and go out, but if closely fed off and not allowed
to go to seed} they last good much longer^

WHITE CLOVER.

Trifolium repen?, must be a native, for It springs up sponta-
neously from the soil even when turned up from considerable

No. 133. I 271

depths, where the seeds have probably lain dormant for ages.
In our southern States, Mr. Elliott says, it salivates stock so that
all kinds of stock eat it sparingly, and with apparent relr.ctance.

Medina Sativa or Lucerne, is hardly yet naturalized. The late
worthy Jesse Buel of Albany, was very fond it. It lasts about
ten or twcive years — native of Europe. Tlie Spanish clover
and Eutfalo clover, is the trifoliuni reflexum of Linuseus, is a per-
ennial according to Muhlenberg; stem afoot high, flower head
an inch in diameter, and is common in the western States.

The following table of gi*asses may be useful :

Anthoxanthum'odoratum, or sweet vernal grass, grows 12 in-
ches high, flowers in April, and makes early pasture.

Holcus odoratus, or sweet soft grass, grows 11 inches high, and
flowers in April.

Poa alpina, or alpine meadow grass, grows 6 inches high, flowers
in April, and is good for pasture and lawns.

Alopecuris pratensis, or meadow fox tail, flowers in May ; Is one
of the l>est hay and meadow grasses, and 21 inches high.

Poa pratensis, or smooth stalled meadow grass, or the Kentucky
blue grass, flowers in June j good for hay and pasture ; 18 inches
high.

Avona pubescens, or downy cat grass ; flowers in June ; makes
good pasture on rich soil ; 18 inches high.

Fcstuca hordeifornsis, or barley fescue ; flowerg in June ; val-
uable in most rich lanus ; 18 inches high,

Poa trivialis, or rough meadow grass ; flowers in June ; excel-
lent on most rkh lands.

Festuca glauca, or glaucus fescue ; flowers in June ; a good hay
grass.

Festuca ovina, or sheep's fescue ; flowers in July ; good for pas-
ture and lawn.

Festuca dariuscula, or hard fescue ; flowers in July ; good for
hay and pasture.

Festuca pratensis, or meadow fescue; flowers in July; excel-
lent f .>r hay ; 30 inches high.

272 [Assembly

Festuca coliacea, or spiked festuca ; flowers in July ; one of
the most valuable for hay and pasture; 36 inches high.

Festuca calamaria, or reed-like fescue ; early and prolific ; 40
inches high ; flowers in July.

Festuca elatior, or tall fescue, or Andes grass ; 36 inches high ;
flowers in July j excellent meadow grass.

Festuca fluitans, or floating fescue ; 18 inches high ; flowers in
July ; is a good amphibious grass.

Festuca rubra, or purple fescue j 12 inches high j flowers in
July; good for sheep and lawns.

Dactylis glomerata, or cocksfoot or orchard grass ; 24 inches
high ; flowers in July ; coarse but productive.

Poa angustifolia, or narrow' leaved meadow grass; 24 inches
high ; flowers in July ; excellent for hay.

Poa fertilis, or fertile meadow grass ; 20 inches high ; flowers
in July ; is an early grass.

Poa aquatica, or reed meadow grass ; 72 inches high ; flowers
in July; very prolific but coarse.

Briza media, or quaking grass ; 16 inches higli ; good for pas-
ture.

Lolium perenne, or perennial ryegrass ; 24 inches high ; flow-
ers in July ; much esteemed.

Cynosurus cristatus, or dog's tail grass ; 24 inches high ; makes
a good pasture ; flowers in July.

Holcus lanatHS, or meadow soft grass; 24 inches high ; flowers
in July ; early and productive.

Holcus mollis, or creeping soft grass; 30 inches high; flowers }
in August ; is a valuable grass.

Phleum pratense, or timothy, or cat's tail ; 24 inches high ;
flowers in July ; an excellent hay grass.

Hordeum pratense, or meadow barley grass ; 24 inches high ;
flowers in July ; an early and nutritious grass.

Aira caespitosa, or turfy hair grass ; 9 inches high ; floxvers in j
July ; an excellent lawn and sheep grass.

No. 133.J 273

Arena flavescpus, or yellow oat grass ; 18 inches high ; flowers
in July ; is a valuable grass.

Agrostis vulgaris, or fine bent grass, or herds gras}? ; 18 inches
Iiigh ; flowers in July ; is an early grass.

Agrostis stoloniferd, or florin ; it stools much ; 24 inches high ;
good on peat lands.

All the foregoing grasses are perennial in a good soil. A rich
permanent meatlow for grass or pasture should always contain
several of them. The hay made of thera will generally weigh
about one-fifth part of the grasses out. Grasses are rather re-
markable for the amount of soda or potash in them.. Sprengel
found in one thousand pounds weight of rye grass hay,

Potash and soda, 12.75 pounds.

Lime and magnesia, 8.15 "

Sulphuric acid, 2.50 "

Phosphoric acid, . . .25 "

Silica acid, 24.70 "

Chloiine iron acid, 40 "

This is from grass before it flowers.

Lindly, in his vegetable kingdom fays, that Perjoon in his sy~
nopsis, counts 812 species, being one-twenty-sixth pnrtof all the
species of plants enumerated by him. In the system of Ramer
Schultcs there are 1800.

Lindley says: The distribution of cultivate^i grasses is one of
the most interesting ot all subjects. It is determined not merely
bj climate, but depends on the ci\ilization, industry and com-
merce of a people, and often on historical events.

The value of grasses as fodder for cattle, ie hardly second to
that of grain for human food. The best fodder grasses of Europe
are usually dwarf species, or at least do not rise more than three
or four feet high, and the largest of these are apt to become hard
and wiry.

Some grasses are used medicinally. Quitch or quick grass roots
have some reputation as substitute for .;arsaparil)a. Sugar i.s a
[A5icmbly No. l^.J 18

'-iV^ [Assembly

genera,! product of grasses. The Brazilian grass Gynerium Sac-
chai'oide*!, derives its name from its sugary properties.

Lindley makes the genera of grasses 291, and the species 3,800.
Tea made with florin grass, mixed v,'ith oatmeal and skimmed
milk, have been found useful in bringing up calves.

LENTIL.

The introduction of the Lentil into this country has be«n sev-
eral times urged by the club within a few yeai-s. We are pleased
to see it actually commenced in Great Britain.

Journal of Agriculture and the Transactions of the Highland
an<l Agricultural Society of Scotland, contains the following :

" The Lkntil — A New British Crop. — We spoke in the Journal
of Agriculture for July, 1851, of that ancient vegetable, so oftea
mentioned in the Bible, so prolific, and above all so nutritious,
which M. Guilleiez, a French professor in our city, has acclima-
tized by his unwearied efforts, at great cost, and without any
other reward than the gold medal of this society. While rolls of
tobacco and starch have received pure medals from the juries of
the great exhibition, a new food, introduced into our country at
the very moment when the potato seems to have lost its vitality,
and threatens to disappear from the vegetable kingdom, as many
plants have done before from exhaustion and overgrowth, the len-
til, that made an attractive article of the admirable collection ex-
hibited by Messrs. Lawson & Son, as well as in a separate form,
was passed unnoticed. In 1851, M. Guillerez has seen his disin-
terested efforts repaid, for the fourth time, with a success beyond
his most sanguine liopes, from a spot sloping to the north, and ex-
posed to all the winds, at the back of South Queen's Ferry. He
has gathered 2^ bushels (weighing 167 lbs.) from 5| lbs. sowed,
and the rain in August having spoiled a great part of the crop
which was then budding. The lentils sown between rows of beans
have produced on an average 30.25, and as much even as Gl for
1 ; besides, he had a splendid crop of beans, and also cabbage,
cauliflowers, salsify, beets and leeks all flourished most beauti-
fully, the lentil rows being propped up by stakes. If the lentil

No. 133.J 276

crop liad not been injured by the heavy rain of Avigust, the pro-
duct would have been an hundred fold. Mr. Guillerez tried
them as forage — he cut them off twice, and they grew to the
height of four feet."

It is now some years since we recommended the cultivation of
the lentil, in our Farmers' Club meeting. We were Induced to
do it in consequence of the representations made by a distinguished
officer of our government, who had suffered from dyspepsia for
many years, had seen a Parisian account of the wonderful cures
performed in Par!s by a new vegetable medicine called Erva
Lenic, which he bought at a dollar a package of about a quarter
of a pound, eat as directed in the form of a porridge, and got per-
fectly well. On some investigation, we learned that this famous
medicine was flour of lentils. We sought for the lentils, found
some at a grocer's, whose stout healthy appearance caused us to
ask if he lived on lentils. He replied to us that he sent to Ger-
many for them for his own use, and had been restored by them
to sturdy health from a wretchedly low condition. He then sold
some of them to us at ten cents a quart. We distributed them
frequently among the members of the Club, at their meetings,
accounts of which are contained in our transactions published by
the State. We would renew our earnest recommendation to
Young America, to add to her noble stock of vegetable worth the
mess of pottage of the unfortunate Esau. It is partially intro-
duco-d into Europe — more in Germany than anywhere else.

Professor Mapes requested Mr. Coon, of Troy, to speak as to
his method of making fences of iron. He adverted to the enor-
mous expense of our wooden fences, and the vast importance of a
perfect system of iron fencing, &c.

Mr. Coon described his method- The first plan was to secure
a method of compensation for the expansion and contraction of
the iron rails by heat and cold. This he finds by alternating the
rails, which being secured by nuts on the screw at each end ol
a rail, the space of the post occupied by each end yields sufiicient-
ly. The iron post passes through a cast iron box, which is firmly
set in the earth, and well tempered. Each post is stayed by barSj

270 j ASSEMLBY

one on each side, from tlie top of the post lo the iron box at tho
foot of the post. Mr. Coon spoke of the long known evils of the
old wooden fences, the space they occupy, the accumulation of
SEOW about them, the heaving out of the wooden posts, the short
deration of them, and the near future which will render wood too
expensive in a few years. The iron box at the foot of each iron
post being hollov/, keeps off the oxidati(;n which otherwise would
occur at the surface of the earth. Cost according to size, and
from one or two dollars per rod, upwards.

Professor Mapes— I have had some iron fence on my farm for
the last five years, and do not perceive the least appearance of
decay as yet. Iron fences must be made sufficiently strong to
perfectly stop cattle, and that the animals may see it, and avoid
running against it, to their own damage and that ot the fence, it
iihould be painted white. Great advantages besides will attend
the use of iron fences : the post is readily moved and driven down
In. a new place, and the whole material of such fencea is likely to
remain valuable for an indefinite length of time.

Chairman — D. J. Browne, the proposer of the subject, '^ Native
Grasses of America," not being present, and no one olfering to
speak, although several have been invited, I will make a f'ew re-
marks, byway ot inducing others to assist in the discussion. No
!>ranch of agriculture is more important to the farmers of our
country than the grasses, and in my humble opinion, not one as
much so. The horses, the neat cattle, sheep, swine, wool, dairy,
the various grains, even man himself, all live and thrive, directly
or indirectly, on tho grasses. Tiiey are the greatest source of
manure ; without pasture and forage or hay, very little stock
could be raised and kept on tlie farm. Stock is the great source
fiom' whence our large inland farmers get their manure. Grass,
while growing and falling or trodden down on the land, as much
of it does and will be, especially at the close of the season, decays,
mixes and assimilates with the surface earth, and assists materi;il-
Ijj with the droppings of cattle feeding upon it, in farming what
88 called the surface soil, the bed or matrix of tho whole vegeta-
ble kin (jdom.

No. 133.] 277

Gardners are said to be farmers on a small scale, this is true in
many respects, still there is a considerable difference. Market
gardens aie generally located near large cities, rivers, or the
ocean. Gardners- here get not only the best prices for their pro-
ducts, but they have to depend upon these almost entirely for
their manure of which they require no small quantity continually,
to keep their gardens in a rich productive state. They inakc
none or very little of what is called barn or farm yard manure,
the grasses so far from raising them, they wish to get rid of, thej
hoe, dig them up and destroy them. Hence, generally they hav«
have very little practical knowledge of the best manner of culti-
vating them, they have no interest in knowing much about them,
in their system they consider them almost a nuisance. When-
ever any question is raised by the armer on a large scale, as tG
the best mode of cultivating the grasses and the best kinds of
them, and how he shall improve his farm most by them , the
gardner is apt to shy these inquiries, he is not practically a^
quainted with them, he has no interest in them, he farms it on a
small scale. Let those he says attend to these matters whose in-
terest it is, and whose prosperity in his business depends upoa
them. The existence ol the curculio and plum weevel some
gardeners think visionary ; they are so small they never could see
them, they never could find one. The entomologist discovers
and describes tliem, when it happens they are not so very small j
the gardener then wakes up, opens his eyes, and he can see th^m
to, but it is too late, the enemy has committed his ravages, and
liis fruit and fruit trees are laid waste to him. Thus the gardener
does not alwajs look into matters which it is both his duty and
interest to look into, Timothy grass is important for the farmers
of the northern and middle States, it is a native ; a few doubt its
being a native, but judge Buel, and many others like him, have
no doubt on the subject. It was brought north from North Caro-
lina, where it became distinguished in about 1770, by Timothy
Ileudson, from whom it derived its name timothy, and by which
it has always been known among us. It found its way to England
in about 17S0. The Kuglish, finding- it a very good grass suiting
their soil and climate, they cultivated it much, and soon gave it
a scientific name, phleum pratense, meadow cat's taO, by whicb

278 [Assembly

last it is generally known in England^ This grass, both for for-
age and pasture, has become one of the first grasses of the northern •
and middle States ; it is a perenniel, and mixed with a few other
good grasses, it makes the best permanent pasture. The time for
cutting this grass has been a serious question ; it seems to be now
pretty well settled by the practice of a majority of our best far-
mers, that when the flowers begin to fall is the proper time for cut-
ting it. The reasons given for this, it is thought, are too strong
to be resisted or refuted, and this, notwithstanding the experi-
ments made by Mr. George Sinclair, Woburn Abbey, England,
on the grasses, these went to show that when the seeds of timo-
thy were hard or ripe, was the period for cutting it.

Kentucky blue grass is a native of our country ; it will grow
in many of our western States, but especially Kentucky, from
this it takes its name ; it is excellent for woods, lawns, and clear-
ed open fields ; it is succulent, nutricious and tender ; it makes
the best permanent pastures in all these localities. "When plant-
ed properly, well managed as to feeding, and it gains a fair foot-
hold, there is no eradicating it except by plowing. When tilled
for any of tlie grains, it leaves the soil in the best state for any of
these, and especially Indian corn ; from 60 to 80 bushels an acre
have been obtained of this, without any manure of consequence,
and that from Melds containing 50 to 60 acres, and this after being
kept in grass and pastuuige for eight or ten years. Very little
expense qn tillage, and no manure except what the cattle made
in feeding upon it. The grass grows more nutricious with in-
creasing age, chokes and roots out all weeds and inferior grasses,
inone can grow wliere it is ; it grows all winter, with swch winter
•as they usually have in Kentucky; all kinds of slock can not
only live, but get tat upon it the year round. An eminent Ken-
tucky farmer has said he could rai>e fine fat beeves upon it, and
nothing else.

Gama grass is a native of the south, reaches as far as the Mis-
sissippi, a remarkable grass, all kinds of stock are fond of it j it
grows rapidly even in a southern drought, ami has been known,
and the fact well authenticated in July, to grow forty-three inches,
and was succ»ilent ami tender. In Alabama, it has been cultiva-
ted perhaps with the greatest si;ccess. In the southern section

No. 133. j ^ 279

of the valley of the Mississippi, there is some fine native grasses.
The secretary, in his extracts, has given a favorable account of
tiome of these. In the southwest, western and northwestern
States, there are no doubt many valuable native grasses that have
not been much spoken of or written about, for the want, proba-
bly, of persons on the spot or travelers to investigate or analise
these, and give a good history of their qualities, according to such
analyses. There is a species of white clover common in most of
the northern and middle States, considereda native, and no doubt
Is ; it grows low and thick on the ground, comes up naturally on
most untilled soils, especially where clay predominates j its blos-
soms are white and fragrant ; it is excellent for milch cows, and
gives a fine flavor to their milk and butter. Smooth stalked
meadow grass, floating fescue grass, fowl meadow grass : our
secretary, I believe, has noticed these, which makes it unneces-
sary to repeat their merits or qualities.

RIBBOND GRASS.

This grass if it possesses the fine qualities which it is said to do,
Is likely to bec-ome of great value in our husbandry ; it is no
doubt American. The late judge Buel had such an opinion of
it, that he said it bid fair to become the gama grass of the north.
The value ot the gra^s was discovered incidentalJy, and is thus
told by Mr. Robinson of New Hampshire. A neighbor wishing
to get rid of some of the roots which incumbered his gaiden,
pulled them up and threw them intd an adjoining bog, where
they took root and spread over a large space, excluding every
other plant. The water flowed through the roots at all seasons
yet the turf had become so solid as to bear a cart and oxen. It
makes the best of hay and pasture — produces a great burden and
springs up immediately after the scythe, slock of all kinds devour
it greedily as hay or grass. It is perennial, spreads rapidly and
may be easily transplanted — whether this remarkable grass main-
tained its character as described, has spread and increased much
in its use by our farmers we are not informed

John B. Wlckersham of 312 Broadway New York, laid on the
table for examination hia plan and drawingi* of iron fences, gates,

28 D [Assembly

. rails, &c. of great varieties and in fine taste. He affords a fence
four feet and a half high with fine rails secured by screws at one
dollar a rod^excluding the posts. One of seven rails at $1 ,33 per
rod.

Mr. Fleet i-eminded members in reference to our native vvhit^
Clover. That much tilling of the soil improves the growth of
it, that it willj without culture, come up almost every where
spontaneously.

Prof. Mapes proposed for the next meeting ^Vlieat as the sub-
ject. Unanimously adopted.

The club then adjourned to Tuesday the 6th of July next at
noon.

There was no meeting held in July. a. c,

Fahmkhs^ Club , f
August 3, 1852. I

Alauson Nash, Esq.. in the Chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary.

The secretary said, that the subject of the day was wheat. It
was postponed by Professor Mapes, who is abj^eut in consequence
of the lamented and sudden death of his brother, major Charles
Mapes. That he, the secretary, has been greatly pleased with the
recent work of one of tlie most learned men of the day, Metzger
of Germany, (an intimate friend of our Professor Enderlin,) on
the subject of wheat ; — he then read the following translated by
him.

Maison Kustiqae, the Farm Hoose. (from Vattemare.)

Professor Mapes has proposed wheat as a sul>ject for discussion
to-day. This is always interesting and ever will be, for it is the
first of the gifts of God to man, of the three corn, wine and oil.

"We call grain. Cereals, as the ancients constituted Ceres, the
goddess of grain. These cereals comprehend wheat, rye, barley,
oats, rice, millet, sorgho (resembling brown corn), alpiste, a grain,
resembling dog grass, darnel, floating festuca, and buckwheat, do
not belong to the family, although generally included in the list.

No. 133.] 281

Wheat, or in the latin triticum, in geiman weizen, in Spanish
trigo, in italian grano. The oxdiuaiy uses of wheat are generally
known, but the very best methods of making good bread of it,
are by no means so extensively known or practised. The vernii-
celli, the semoule made of it, sustain immense numbers of people,
while the greater portion of the human race know nothing of them.

Wheat, subjected to cultivation from time immemorial, and
spread over a large portion of the globe, has more than any other
plant felt the influence of the causes, which have a tendency to
cause variations in vegetables to such an extent, that v-.e have to
day hundreds of varieties, and these too, every day changing and
subdividing under our own eyes. Their great number, their want
of fixed character, and above all the confusion in the nomenclature ,
make it very difficult to determine with any precision their var-
ieties.

Did there exist originally one or many species of wheat 7 Are
those original types still preserved in the wheats we now have?
Can we find which they were? These questions will, probably,
never be resolved. Linnaeus, whose classification embraced all
the plants known at his time, admitted seven diflferent kinds of
wheat, then cultivated ; five of them bald and two not. About
the same time Haller made efforts to fix the varieties and establish
their nomenclature. But the first important work on the varieties
of wheat, was executed by M. Tessier, about the year 1780, who
thus rendered the most real service to our farmers. This work
was for a long time considered a classical one. More recently
Mr. Seringe, director of the botanic garden of Lyons, has prod need
esteemed works on the subject, especially on the cereals of Swit-
zerland, and latterly M. Devaux, one of our most distinguished
botanists, has made new and profound researches, on the varieties
of wheat, the results of which have been published in the trans-
acticus of the society of agriculture, sciences and the arts of Ant-
werp. This is one of the most useful sources of information on
wheat. There have been many other works published on the
subject ; we ought however to mention particularly, that of Mctz-
ger, a friend of Dr. Endt-rlin, a member of the Farmer's Club of
• the American Institute, who speaks of M. M«tzgtr in the highest

282 [Assembly

terms, entitled Europceish Cerealian, or European Cereals, wliich
for plan and execution, appears to us to be the most useful and
the most eminently classic of all essays on the subject. So many
■n^orks undertaken on this subject, proves the deep interest of the
matter. The Maison Kustique illustrates the varieties by faithful
drawings. The ordinary wheat, triticum sativum, is bald, ear long
a little pyramidical, it is the most general in France and in Eu-
rope, is most esteemed as grain. The straw holds the first rank
for cattle ; more or less humidity occasions a difference of eight
or ten days in the harvest. This wheat is commonly tender; but
that grown in tii*^ southern par's is often twice as hard as the other.
A variety of this wheat is bald march wheat, a spring wheat.

The white flanders wheat, or blanc, or the ble blaze de lille, or
white tea, or lillie burnt corn, has a larger ear, awhitergrain than
the others, grain oblong.

Talavera wheat ; much like the latter, not so large an ear, has
been carried from Spain to England for cultivation, and is ex'en-
sively grown. First cultivated in England, about (now 1852)
twenty eight years ago. It was formerly more strongly marked
than it is now.

White wheat of Hungary ; ear white, almost square, the grain
white and round, was introduced into England at the same time
with the talavera, and is now much and successfully cultivated
in Blois, France, under the name of Englisli corn.

Fellcmberg Wheat. — A March wheat. Straw and ear almost
as long as the tall wheat, but small grain, polished and white.
Stands well on foot ; a vigorous straw.

Piotet Wheat. — A March wheat. Long grain, tender. One of
the best spring wheats.

White Touzelle. — Very white ear, long grain, yellowish coler,
extremely brittle straw.

Naples White Richelle. — Renowned at the south for its high
^•uality. Ear white ; grain oblong, yellowish white.

Beardhss Odessa Wheat, — Among the various kinds tried in

Xo. 133.] 283

France, at various times, we do not know of auy other than this
liaving been maintained in cultivation. It is more sensible of
oold than our common sorts. Ear of irregular form, yellow,
feebly tinged with pale red ; grain yellowish, and of a very fine
quality. It is both a spring and fall wheat.

Hedge Corn or White Velvety Wheat. — Ear square, very regu-
lar; hulls or glumes covered with a velvety down; quality fine.
Received here from England (now 28 years ago), under the name
of Hedge Corn. This seems to be a vague term, and it has been
given to several successive varieties.

Common Beardless Red Wheat — Is much esteemed in many
parts of France ; is productive. Suited to strong lauds.

Lammas or English Red Corn — Has a clear, red ear, almost
gilded. Finest of the red wheats ; is of a very good quality.
Was introduced into England under great eulogiums, part of
which are merited. But its cultivation, after becoming much
extended, has retrograded, bee-a use the rigorous winters injured it
more than other wheat.

Red Beardless March Corn. — From the north of Germany. Ear
of a pale red ; grain almost hard ; straw long.

Red Beardless Corn of Caucasus. — Ear of a burnt red color,
long, narrow ; grain elongated, of a clear, red color ; of good
quality. When sown in autumn is remarl^ably fast in its growth ;
will probably make a spring wheat. It has one inconvenience :
that is, its straw is thin at the foot and apt to lay down.

Square March Corn of Sicily. — Ear rough, brown, short, square,
close ; grain red, almost hard ; an early variety of March wheat.
Straw tall, and remarkable for the thickness of its upper parts.

Red Velvet Corn of Crete. — Ear of a deep red color, velvety,
•ompactj grain a little angular in form, of a yellow, reddish,
opaque, almost hard. For the number of stalks it gives, and for
its earliness, it merits trial. The ears are interesting for their
beauty.

The Bearded Varieties of Wheat.-— The general character of
tke bearded varieties of th& same species of wheat ii, that the

281 [Assembly

ear is bearded and the hull or glume terminates in a long point.
Theit straw is commonly firmer than that of the beardless sorts.
This makes them better on foot, but after threshing, the straw of
the beardless wheat is more liked by cattle.

Bearded Wiuter Wheat with Yellowish Ear. — Ear closely com-
pressed, beards diverging ; grain reddish or yellowish. Former-
ly very extensive in France ; productive, but it is giving away to
the beardless sorts.

Ordinary Bearded March Corn. — Ear not so large as the last,
more pyramidal ; grain shorter, and a shade clearer in color.
Was formerly extensively grown as a March wheat.

Tuscany Hat Corn. — This wheat is famous on account of its
great employment in the Tuscany straw hat trade. They call
these Italian hats, and they resemble those of Italy so closely
that one can hardly distinguish the difference. This whe^t, when
8own from the seed, gives a strong and coarse straw. It is fine
and delicate when sown very thick on soil rather poor. It has
been so produced in France, but the straw is not equal to that
raised in Italy.

Cape Corn. — This wheat has a white ear, long beard, very
rough and rude, long grain, yellowish white. Is rather a March
than an autumn wheat.

HerrisoH Corn or Hedgehog Wheat. — Ear. compact, of an irre-
gular figure, very numerous beaids, diverging confusedly; grain
short, reddish, almost hard, very heavy. Is an autum wheat,
merits study. Metzgcr mentions a spring variety of it, having a
white grain.

Swelled or Pollard Wheat. — Ear bearded, square, compact, J
commonly having four equal fronts; grain oblong, bossed or ]
vaulted on the back, almost angular. Straw hard, full, especial- !
ly at the summit. Vigorous, productive. Straw tall, strong, j
hard to lay down. All the i)ollards are bearded, but in m.any of ;
them the beard easily drops off when the wheat is ripe. The j
straw is but little esteemed on account of its hardiness. '

Smooth Red Pollard or Big Red Corn — Is from the Gatinais.
Ear brown red, square in some varieties. The glumes or hull^ [:
very smooth and shining ; grain reddi«h, tender.

No 133.] 285

White Smooth Pollard, or White Shoulder of the Gatinais. —
Ear shining. This again is identloal with wliat was called, a few
years ago, Com of laganrock.

Garagnon Corn of the Lozere.— This wheat is used in place of
' rice, for pottages. White, smooth. Beard sometimes white and
' sometimes black ; grain of a fine quality, of a middling size-
Eastern White Petanielle— Is much like the preceding.

White Yelvety Pollard. — Ear square, very regular, very val-
\ vety.

I Red Velvet Pollard, or Big Red Corn, or Red Petanielle, or
i Grossaille, or Grossagne. — Ear very velvety, grain longer and
t larger than the smooth red Pollard.

! Tnrquet Big Corn. — A sut-variety of the preceding, has a thick
' ear, elongated a little, regular square, of an ashy red color, grain
I very large. The most vigorous and productive of the velvety sorts.

j Saint Helena CJorn.— Galled the giant corn of Saint Helena, is

a sub-variety of the re& Petanielle. We have received samples

rom many collections of wheats, under the name of Dantzic Com

. which is identically the St. Helena wheat. No doubt it was

i taken from Furope, originally, to that Island, and now comes

j back to us.

f

j^Mizacle Corn, or Smyrna Corn. — Linnaeus made a speci&s ot

this remarkable wheat, but it is only a variety of the Turgidum.

_ The extraordinary appearance of the car, broad and thick, seem-
ing a mass of ears grafted upon one another, has always made it
interesting to cultivators, many of whom have tried it, and al-

■' most every one had to give it up, after some years' trial, on ac-
count ot the delicacy of its growth and its dislike of winter.
The grain, altliough rounder, more yellow and more beautiful

, than the other Pollards, does not seem to be of a better quality.

i It degenerates quickly to the simple ear.

Blue Pollard, or Comical Blue Com — Is cultivated in England
and some parts of Franco, esteemed for productiveness and hard-
, iness, differs from the other variety Pollai'ds by the bluish color
! of the ears.

286 [Assemble

Blaek Petanielle. — This is remarkable for its height and th«
size and weight of its ears, and by the size and abundance of its
grain.

Hai'd Horny Wheat, (Triticum Durum).^— Ear almost cylinder-
ical in shape, beard very long and rough. Hulls velvety, termi-
nating in a straight point, grain long, angular, very hard and
shining. Belongs to hot climates, grows much better in Afrloa
than in Europe ; does well in southern Spain.

TrimeniajOr Bearded Sicilian Three Months' Com. — Ear almost
quadrangular, long, rather narrow, grain elongated, a little angu-
lar, straw fine and hard.

Poland Corn. — Easily distinguished from all others, by its broad,
large bearded ears, yellowish white, glumes or hulls very long,
like rye, and so glassy as to be almost transparent.

Polish, or Astracan Rye, Cairo, or Egyptian Corn, was received
at the Jardin des Plantes, from Mogador (now), about 38 years
ago. Is too delicate for France. Has a beatiful appearance, and
of good quality. *

Spelta, or Epeautre. — The hulls or glumes do not readily sepa-
rate from the grain by threshing. They pass it through raised
mill stones, to clean off the hulls first. It is considered a hardy
wheat, stands wet well, cultivated chiefly in mountainous, cool dis-
tricts— in Switzerland and the north of Germany. Is sown in
Autumn, yet ripens well if sown in February. Metzger says
some prefer this last period for sowing. Grain a little angular,
of an indifferent appearance, but gives a flour very much esteemed
for its mild and delicate taste. Is preferred to all other flour to
make light pastry.

The beardless Spelta. — The variety of Speltas, bearded or bald,
smooth or velvety, are very numerous.

Black Bearded Spelta. — Metzger says it is vigorous and pro-
ductive, and ought to be sown in Februaiy or in the fore part «f
March

Starch making Wheat, (Triticum Amyleum). — Ear bearded,?
compressed AH of this sort are spring.

No. 133] ii87

Amelkom, or Amylom. — Is productive and of good quality.
Straw esteemed for cattle.

Ingrain Wheat. — Ear bearded, very flat, two rows of grain,
single, resembles, too, round barely more than it does Avheat. It
18 valuable because it grows well in bad calcareous or sandy soils.
Is a full wheat.

We see in the preceding list of wheats, white and red, varieties
of the Triticum Sativum, or wheat proper for sowing or planting,
as the word Triticuni Sativum means ; that those called white
wheats are best of the whole. Desvaux says that hard wheat
yields but seventy per cent of flour, while the tender wheats,
especially the white ones, yield ninety per cent of flour. But the
hard wheats possess some advantages over the soft ones. Bread
from them is more savory and nutritious than from the white.
This comi>ensates in a good degree for the diifereuce of percent-
age. They are preferable for vermicelli and other analagous
preparations. The circumstances which give these difierent qual-
ities are not yet well understood. In general we know that hot
climates, like Africa, make hard wheat and the cold ones soft
wheat.

Linnaius made out of winter and spring wheat two distinot
botanical species. Modern botany denies this. Tessler says that
the renewal of seed cannot be considered generally as necessary
or even useful, and it is not indispensable to sow seed of last
crop. Wheat of 1779 produced very fine crops iu ]787,17S8 and
1789.

Thus far leads the Maison Rustique.

We will add the results of American experience as far as it is
ascertained and recorded. The confusion caused by giving vari-
ous names to the same kind of wheat is as troublesome as it is to
have tlie names of a man Smith. Jones, Brown, or a dozen more.
The attempts made by our Fruit Conventions to re-instato order
out (»f tJie chaotic nomenclature of our fruits have been very val-
uable, not merely to science but to dealers, which the French call
the commerce of it. For the articles are sold l>y their names

288 [Assembly

and very often turn out. entirely different from the buyer's notion
of them,

Featherstonhaugh says that a bushel of wheat weighing 62
lbs., contains five hundred and fifty thousand grains or kernels ;
that when the plant has fairly got out of the ground, a set of up-
per roots are thrown out by it, close to thesuriuc^ of the ground,
which searcli all the superficial parts of the soil in their reach,
while roots which are thrown below, with tlio same activity
search for pabulum down below. These two distinct sets of roots
serve, first, to fix the plant firmly, and next to find nutrition.
The upper set take atmospheric supplies or surface fertilism, and
put out new stems, which are tillered up, and so greatly increase
the product.

A classification of wheat in reference to its varieties in the flour,
bran, straw, and adaptation to soils, is a grand desideratum; but
it will require time and talent, witli much perseverance, to
make such discoveries. There are estimated to be 150 varieties
or sub-varieties. Large premiums have been offered for crops of
spring wheat on a large scale. Those who best understand
the growing of wheat say that spring wheat is preferred to all
other for a grain crop, and that this is owung to the small quanti-
ty of leaf it bears, less, perhaps, than any other wheat, and also
to the short duration of the leaf, which fades and falls do ?7n about
as soon as it has attained its full size. .

Sir Humphrey Davy's analysis of spring wheat, proved that it is
more nutritious than winter wheat, because it contains a larger
proportion of gluten, or half animalized matter. He found it,

Of Sielian ATheat, 6-laten. Starch. IbsoIuUo matter.

100 parts. 21 7.5 5

' Spring wheat, 24 70 6

With respect to the qualities of red and white wheat, it is not
a little remarkable that the same experience we have as to the
more nutritious character of red wheat over white, was stated by
Collumella^ of Rome, more than 1800 years ago, showing that ages
and difference of climate have not altered these conditions of red
and white wheat.

No. 153] 289

Pliny, not long after, said that the trioiestrian (beliewni to be
a spring wheat) is the best ; that its name means three months.
Of the manifold variety we only need about four kinds of bearded j
and two or throe beardless.

As to the kinds cultivated in the United Stafes, the fine sorts,
which so well succeeded in England and northern Europe, gene-
rally very often fail with us, owing to their being slow in matur
ing, which "render them liable to rust and mildew. Wheat from
southern Europe and the Mediterranean seems to be best adapted
to our climate, for they ripen very early., A red Mediterranean
wheat is now extensively cultivated here, and has improved in
quality for flouring. Millers who at first objected to it, and would
only take it at a reduced price when it first appeared, now pay
the same as for other red wheat ; and it is said of it, that it has
suffered less than all others from the Hessian fly, that terrible
scourge of American wheat.

We add some notices of grasses resembling wheat :

Melampyrus, or black wheat, is a branched, spreading annual
plant, 12 to 18 inches high, the seeds of which resemble wheat in
shape and color, but turn black in drying. There are four kinds
of it in England.

1 . Crested Cow wheat — Grows in woods and thickets, and some-
' times in wheat-fields, flowers in July.

2. Purple Cow wheat— Like the former, flowers in July, grows
in wheat-fields, stem a foot and a half high, purple color and stem
gharply angular, flowers large, is well worthy of cultivation, ought
to be named Melampyrus sativum, instead of Avernse ; "that is.
Worthy of being planted, instead of running wild.

3. Common Yellow Cow wheat — Very common in. woods and
bnshy places, especially on clay or loamy soil, flowers in July and

Vugust ; cows very fond of it, and Linnaeus said tha* the best and
yellowest butter was made where it was plenty.

4. Wood Cow wheat — General habits like No. 8; two or three
species of it are in our country.

[Assembly, No 133. | 1.9

200 [ASSEMBLT

Wheat- grasg^ to which our wheat belongs, hus five' species, which
are indigenous to England. They bear the name of, 1st. Sea
Rushy Wheat grEiss ; 2d. Creeping Wheat grass, or Couch grains,
a common pest everywhere ; its root-stooks, however, contains a
large share of nutritive matter ; it is gathered in Naples in large
quantities for horse feed ; it is called Dog's grass, Quitch or
Quick, or Couch, No. 5.

Fibrous- rooted, or Bearded V^^hiv'tt grass, differs essentially from
No. 2; grows two feet higii, and gives a large supply of spring
herbage. 4th. Crested Wheat grass, native of Scotland, the roots
consist of several long, strong, woolly fibres, suited to sandy soils^
grows 32 to 18 inches high, flowers in the second week of July,
seed ripe about the last of Augus.t.

• 5. Dwarf Sea, Wheat grass — Annual, growing on a sandy sea
coast, flowers in June and July, root many long, do\?ny members,
stalk rigid, wiry, branching from the bottom ; two or three inches
high, leafy, very smooth and polished, erect or decumbent.

Alanson Nash, the chairman, said that- he had been highly
pleased and instructed with the reading of the paper prepared by
the secretary. The subject of wheat v.as one of the highest im-
portanceto the people of the Untied States ; he had a work in his
posession which was -a publication by the ancient Romans, in the
days when that nation had overrun the northern parts of Africa,
from the Atlantic ocean to the Red sea, and from the Mediterra-
nean to the Deserts of Sahara, as well as Arabia and Persia to the
Indus, the wl^ole of Asia Minor, Europe, to and beyond the Da-
nube, Including Austria, Gerrcaiiy, and perhaps Sweden and Nor-
way.

The work which he spoke of ahowed what were the number of
Roman princes belonging to this empire. Each province had a
consul and governor or president to govern, who established a
banner or flag emblematical of its natural productions. The whole
of Africa was shown in the days of the Roman Emperors, to have
been the great grain-growing country of that nation. The banner
for this country contained three large ships, loaded with wheat,
coming from Africa to Rome, wlnle the goddess Ceres presided in

No.133.] 291

her' majesty over this part of the Romaa empire, holding in both
hands bundles of wheat, apparently of the red bald-headed variety.
It would seem that the white wheat of modern days comes from
the cool climates pf the north. In Africa we find there were eo
less tlian eleven or twelve provinces to this part of the empire^
including the kingdoms of Morocco, Tunis, Tripoli, Algiers, Lybia,.
Thebes, Kgypt, and "some others. Each of these banners repre-
sented the goddess Ceres, holding in lier arms an immense bas-
ket of bread. At this day Spain also was a large wheat-growing
country ; 'while Germany produced but little, if any, of the seeds
of the grain. Africa is evidently an exhausted country ; so are
Asia Minor, Palestine, and most of tha Turki^ih empire ; that is — ■
the people have grown wheat and grain until it, will grow no
longer. The ingredients of the soil which produced wheat have
become exhausted, and it is so in many parts even of the United
States'. Wheat will produce >straw, but the heads will not fill
with the berries of grain. Our cotton lands, and tobacco lands,
and wheat lands aie exhausted precisely in the same way. New
England now produces little wheat, and the State of New- York
only slrows a production of eleven bushels and less, at the present
day, to an acre, 09 an average. Indeed, some accounts reduc«
the production to the small quantity of seven bushels to the acre
in the State of New-York, on an average crop. Tlie starch and
the gluten, and other combinations to produce the wheat crop from
the soil are evidently fast becoming exhausted with us ; we can
no more grow wheat out of the soil unless we feed it than we can
fdt cattle without giving them food. The phosphoric principle is
wanting, and must be supplied as fist as it is taken away by crops.
Manure that will supply the March, the gluten, and other ingre-
dients composing the grain of the wheat are wanted, and must be
obtained and put into the soil, or we must abandon the culture of
wheat from necessity. The limes, with their various combina-
tions will do tliis, and supply the food for tlie growth of wheat.
Professor Mapes, of Newark, N. J., has a manufactory ot the super
phosphate of lime at his farm. It is a thing wanted, and when
applied to land at the rate of 3001bs. to the acre it is sure to give
a g<x)d crop. He sells this lime at $50 a ton, which will supply
5J acres with a most invaluable manure. We lately, in company

29?. [Assembly

with a committee oi" the American institute, visited the farm of
H. W. Robinson, of Newburgh, to inspect his crop of wheat, con-
sisting 6f 18 acres, growing in tvVo fields. He told the committee
t^at he plowed up his land in the fall and sowed large quantities
of quick lime over the ground, and then plowed it before the
■wheat was sown. The effect of tiiis was twofold- First— The
lime drank up the noxious acids which migiit exist in tlie soil.
Second— It had the effect to destroy the grubs and worms which
attack the roots bf tlie young wheat. At this day it is well known
that the smut and fly as well as the wea\il,aie reproduced by the
parent depositing an egg in the kernel of the wheat, near and in
the germ. This egg must be destroyed, or when the wheat has
become sown and grown, the egg hatches out and produces a mag-
got, which feeds upon the stalk or sprout of the wheat. This
maggot is formed into chrysalis, and hybernates or falls into a
state of cocodnry, like the silk-worm, which then produces a moth,
or'miller, or beetle. In this state the animal assails again the
wheat, by stinging and depositing the egg in the kernel of the
grain. The only remedy yet discovered to destroy these eggs is,
to wash the wheat clean and soak it in lime water from 4 to 12
hours. The wheat if now sown with ashes, will receive another
benefit, inasmuch as the house ashes will kill anybf theeggs which
remain possessed of vitality after the w^ashing in lime; besides,
the ashes will prevent the grubs and worms from assailing the
young sprout of the wheat in the ground. Perhaps it requires a
series of experimeuls to ascertcun how long wheat should be wash-
ed in alkali water to destroy the vitality of the. eggs deposited in
it, as also to learn how long wheat and grains may be soaked in
lime water and asho^s without destroying the sprout or germinat-
ing powers of the wheat. We have known it soaked twelve hours
in lime water without injuring the wheat, yet, at the same time,
effectually destroying the eggs deposited in it. To try an experi-
ment which will demonstrate the truth of our remarks, take a
fresh-laid hen's egg and dip it in a lye of ashes, hold it there 15
minutes or longer. This egg, when set under the- hen, will never
hatch or produce a chicken. The alkali has destroyed the repro-
ductive powers of tlie egg. Such is the effect oji all eggs of the
animal economy.

No. 133.) 293

Mr. Van Wyck. — I shall confine my few remarks on the sul ject
before ns^— wheat — principally to the kinds and manner of growing
them in ovlt own country. Wo grow, generally, the bald and
bfarded wheat, aud the different varieties of these, of which tliere
are a number — the red, white, &c. The grov/th of these and their
quality and quantity, like every product of tlie soil, depends very
much on the tillage, plowing, pulverising, manuring, and consid-
erably on the climate.

Many of the northern and middle states have heretofore raised
much and very fine wheat, and been remunerated for their labor
in price. Latterly, since the western states hav« i.ncieased so
rapidly in population, and raised such' quantities of it on their
naturally rich and virgin soil, that we cannot compete with them
in producing the article. It is calculated that the new states,
west of the mountains, produce more than one half of the whole
wheat crop of the United States, all of which must find a market
on tlie Atlantic side. It is said by some to our farmers of the
Atlantic states, make up for this disadvantage by ameliorating
your exhausted soil ; use more organic and inorganic mailures,
and a better tillage generally, and you will come nearer, in quan-
tity of wheat produced by your competitors of the west; that
your vicinity to the market, and the less expense you are at in
reaching this, will make yen their equal. A better tillage and
higher manuring would, no doubt, help our Atlantic fanners in
other things as well cS wheat, such as grasses, Indian corn, rats,
dairy, horticulture, &c. These would all pay better than wheat;
besides, the increased facilities, within a few years, of getting
things to eastern markets from the west, and especially wheat
and fiour, does not make such a difference between us in cost of
carriage. The western crop of wheat, this year, we' are informed
from the best sources, is considerably greater than ever knowp
before, and of the finest quality ; and it is doubted whether It can
posfibly pay, under .such circumstances, for any increased expense
iu its cultivartion. The prospeci of a fine crop throughout Europe
this yealr will also affect 9ur market, aud with tha present system
of free trade, depress still more the price of the article. It is
highly probably that at tide water with us the price will range

^294 [Assembly

from 62^ to 75 cents a bushel, the latter the highest that will be
obtained, and this, pcrhtip?, for years, and sometimes as low as
fifty cents. The best time for cutting or harvesting our wheat t^
lias not been noticed. I must be indulged with a few remarks
Qn this, as I consider it of some importance. It has been settled
by'expe'riments of scientific and practical farmers in Europe, and
eispecially Great Britain, that wheat cut two weeks before fully
ripe, is the best, for several reasons. It yields the greatest quan-
tity, and handsomer flour, 80 lbs. on the hundred ; whereas, that
cut when fully ripe, gaye only 72 lbs, Thebearded wheat, when
ripe, loses considerably in shelling, by gathering; the bald wheat
not so much ; the calyx or cup which holds the kernel is closer
around it, and holds it tighter. The straw of the earlier' cut
wheat makes better food for stock, and better manure for the
land, more of the juices of the stern and leaves are absorbed 'by
tthe latter while drying and ripening after being cut ; the stiemis
}Qot dryed to mere wood by standing and ripening in the ground.
The practise generally among our farmers has been to let their
wheat get. fully ripe before they cut it; many, latterly, have pur-
sued a different course, and no doubt benefitted hy it ; they have
put the sickle in earlier, a short time before the kernel got per-
fectly hard, and the straw dry as a stick.

• Mr. N'asli being obliged by business to leave the clialr, called
Mr. Chambers to it.

George S. Riggs, one of our members, sends from the country
some of the insects whicli are now devouring the leaves of the
potatoes in Dutchess, Ulster, and Albany counties, and savs that
•R, L. Pell speaks of it as hitherto unknown to us, and tliat it is
the same that attacked his California j)otatoes. The insect is a
black wiiiged bug, of the coleopter kind, the body of a dark ashy
gray. Some members of the club think that it has bee<ii htreto-
fore known ; others had never seen it before.

Andrew Williams, Esq,, of San Francisco, at the request of tho
Secretary, sent to the club specimens of the celebrated redwood
of California, and of its foliage,, which were examined by the
members. Mr. Williams, in his communication, dated 1 5th May,
1852,- says thai; he had examined gome of the trees, and (bund

No. 133. J 295

them to be from 30 to 45 feo! in circumferenf-e, and from 150 to
250 feet high. One had been cut down to make shingles of, and
there were made from it 143j00>) shingles, and the wastage was
equal to 6,000 or 8-,000 more. This tree was perfectly solid. At
the height of one hundred feet from the ground, v.'here the diame-
ter was live feet, Mr. Willijims counted the concentric circles or
rings, and they were one thousand and seventy-seven. At the
height of 120 feet, the body enlarges like shoulders, and here the
diameter is fourteen feet. This is far from being the largest tree.
Near this one is another, which is hollow at the bottom, and in
this hollow five men roomed all last winter. They cut one hole
through the tree for a window^ and another for a door, and one
for a fire place. Near this is what is called the monument tree,
now 17 feet in diameter, notwithstanding about a foot of the bark
and wood have been burned off.

The curled red wood is a remarkable growth, all its timber-
presents curls. The concentric rings on the strait-grained red
wood are very narrow ; they do not average each more than the
twentieth of an inch, and generally, far less. Beautiful furniture
is made out of the curled wood polished. The juice extracl^ed
from the wood makes an indellible- marking ink. The bark of
gome of the trees is from two to ^ven inches thick. The foliage
resembles that of the pine generally. Mr. Williams will continue
to give to the Institute all acceptable information. He i% Que ©f
the oldest members of it, having joined in Oeleber, 1828.

A member of the club wished to have another conversation on
ihe subject of the porat© disease, and to call on a member who
has made valuable experiments in Jersey.

The secretary 'then proposed that as the subject fur the next
meeting. Adopted.

The secretary then read the following, prepared by him, on (he
original agriculture of our New England Indians.

Phil'>fopliIcal Tranf&ctione, I.ondcn, 1731.

Botany and agriculture. To preserve specimens of plants and
llowers, put them between sufficient paper, and then the whole
between thick iron plates, very smooth, screws on the four dt>rn-

i^06 I Assembly

ers to compress. When bread Imd just been taken out of an oTen,
put In the plates for two hours, then with equal parts of aqua
fortis and brandy, with a brush pass over the leaves and flowers,
then take gum dragon, dissolved in water, and with a fine brush
pass it over the backs of the leaves and flowers, to make them
stick to paper. They will preserve their ftesh color for a long
time.

INDIAN CORN.
The corn used in New England, before the English settled there,
was called by the natives meachin, and in some parts of South
America by the name of maize. The ear is for the most part
about a span long, has commonly eight rows of grain or more,
according to the goodness of the ground ; each row usually has
above thirty grains. It is of various colors, red, white, yellow,
blue, olive, greenish, black, speckled, striped, &c. ; white and
yellow are the most common. It has several strong thick husks
on it. . It/grows to the height of six or eight feet. Taller in
Virginia than in New England. More northerly they have a
peculiar kind, called mohausks corn, which, though planted in
June, ripens in season. The stalks are short and the ears grow
near the botteai of them. V^H^en the ground has been a long time
planted, the Indian put under or adjacent to each corn hill, three
of the fishes called aloofes, and they had a double crop. The
English have learned the like husbandry, where these aloofes are
plenty or where they are near the fishing stages of codfish, where
they get the h'eads and garbage for their lands. The land then
is good for Eoglish corn (wheat). The Indians and some English
plant a kind of French or Turkey beans, the stacks of corn ser-
ving for poles to climb, and in the vacant places, between the
hills, the Indians planted pumpions and squashe^s, which load the
ground with as much as it will bear, and many sprinkle turnip
seed between the hills, and so after the harvest of corn, beans and
pumpions, they get a good crop of turnips. They save the stalks
of corn for fodder for winter ; the Indian women make baskets
out of the husks. They cook cotu various ways ; one they pre-
ferred was putting into hot ashes till it turned, inside out, (popped
corn.) This they pounded in a wooden mortar with a long stone
pestle, -to fine flour.. This is their constant food at home, oud

N-Q. 133.] 297

especially when they travel ; (he Englisli oftf n procure it from
them and mix milk and sugar wilh it. They save green sweet
corn by boiling and then drying, ivhich keeps it till wanted.

Fet I have much more to say of gardens, as a match for grana-
ries. Colewort?, cabbages, roots of all sorts, rapes, turnips, car-
rots, parsnips, skirrets, (the sium sisarum of Lindney,) and
potatoes do challenge the procedure before granaries. They jjre
a kind of under ground granary and do often hold out when corn
failgth. The Spanish potatoes require diligent culture. They are
called glander malaceuses, being brought from Vojez ?^Ialaga, a
j^rovince in America. More than a dozen of ;]}eir huge Spanish
ships were brought at one time to Sevile (Seville) in Spain, fully
freighted with these potatoes, and were soon dispersed all over
Spain. The club then adjourpcd.

H, MEIGS, Secretary.

Farmers^ Clal—Jiugust 1 7, 1 852.

Colonel A. 0. IIi:nghton, of Rahway, Mew Jersey, in the Chair.
Henry Meigs, Secretary.

Colonel Houghton observed that he ha4j in common with oth-
er citizen?, been deeply impresstd with the sad condition of the
potatoe crop all over the world, and, like many others, had made
the prevention of it a subject of much tliought and experiment
too. Being appointed one of a committee to investigate, about
seven years' ago, he had assiduously endeavored to find out both
the cause and a preventive. >

After trying various plans he at length (.when the disease ap-
peared in the tops of his potatoes decided on pulling the tops up,
leaving the potatoes in the ground, in order (as he reasoned) to
prevent the disease going down through the stalks to the potatoes,)
and then leaving them there for three weeks. This plan suc-
ceeded, for he found that whrn he had pulled up the stalks ajnd
then dng up the potatoes a few days after, .they rotted, but after
lying three weeks he found theia sound, and that they kept sound
when stored away in a proper dry place. His neighbors were

298 [Assembly

slow to believe him, but now they are convinced. One of them,
my good neighbor Btnjarain M. Price, thus writes to me about it : —

August, 1852.

A. C. Houghton, Esq.

Dear Sir — In answer to 3;our late enquiries respecting my po-
tato crop of 1850, in connection with the lot, I will state for your
information, that I had a patch of about three acres of light loamy
soil. I commenced digging them in the fore part of September,
on Friday, aiul put about forty bushels in a dry place, and, on
the Tuesd;^y fi-llowing I overhauled them, and found I had lost
thirty buijluKs of the forty. I then followed your directions — I
pulled up all tliG vines on the balance of the field, and cleaned
the ground of all weeds &;c., and so left the potatoes in the ground
for some three weeks ; I then dug them up and put them in a dry
cellar, something over two hundred bushels of them. A large
part of them remained in the cellar until the next spring. I do
not thiuK that after this last digging I lost two bushels out of the
two hundred. I sold ihem mostly for one dollar a bushel. I
have no doubt that if they had all been dug at the time of my
•first digging, and put in a heap, I should have lost them all.

Respectfully yours,

EEN'JAMIN M. PRICE.

ColoDol Ilougliton V as arikcd what he believed to be the cause
of the disease, and then he exhibited potatoes and their stalks
just taken np on his farm. The stalks were green, leaves brown,
withered, and full of holes resembling lace. At intervals along
the stalk were dark colored elongated spots. Colonel Houghton
had first observed on his hand (when pulling the diseased stalks)
a minute speck, not distinguishable as a live being by the naked
eye. He called his daughter to look at it. Siie could not distin-
guish it. lie then gave her a microscope of high power, and she
exclaimed — what a beautiful pink worm. This mite leaped, as
some other mites do, with great activity. Colonel Houghton has
since that framd this miie invariably in diseased stalks, and. no-
where else. A minute egg precedes the mite. To the question
what is your reason for leaving the potatoes so long in the ground
after the tops are pulled 7 He replied — that he supposed that
by removing the tops and all the weeds the communication to the

No. 133. J 299

potatoes was removed — that such of them as we re attacked would
soou perish in tlie earih, and could not there afiect the sound ones;
whereas, if all the potatoes were dug up at once, and put togeth-
er, the rotted ones would rapidly spoil the good oneSj and such is
the result of Colonel Houghton's experience for the last five
years.

Professor Mapes remarked that the lacing of the leaves wss
the work of a flyj the leaves heing so injured the potatoes begin
a ne\r growth. I dig them tlien to prevent it. I|; is strange that
the mite in question should bo found in some sorts of potatoes
only. My early June potatoes were never attacked until last
year, together with the mercers and carters. My mammoth nut-
megs are yet perfectly sound. Roots of all kinds are apt to rot
one another. All rotten ones must be removed. This is true of
most vegetables. We always take out the bad ones — nothing
i)ew in that. We sometimes find, them keep well until January
in our cellars, and then begin to fail. In that case we find our
succeeding crop diseased. I have applied in the hills of my po-
tatoes pure charcoal dust from the spark catchers of locomotives.
This has some potash with it. I proved it to be a good applica-
tion by the effect seen in omitting to put it in some hills. It ap-
peared to give entire protection to my potatoes. No one disputes
the beneficial efTccts of charcoal on the potato crop. Salt is also
very good. I put it on to kill the white grubs.

Colonel Ilonghton — I suppose I shall be laughed at for attempt-
ing, in face of such a world of experiment and learning, all of
which have failed to propose my remedy; but, as I im'pliciiy be-
lieve I have succeeded, and with the hope of doing an immcnso
service to my fellow men, I brave the laughing and earnestly ask
others to try my plan.

Professor Ma-pes — This subject is too important and serions to
be a matter of ridicule. Suppose that all plans hitherco have
failed, does it become us to give up in despair? No. Let us go
on with all practice and aU our science, and try again and again.
S4imc of my neighbors put raw muck in the hill or furrow. My
whole potatoes, cultivated flat, giveme a more even growth of Ru-
bers, and more of them. I know more than fifty persons who have

N^o. 183.J 300

(as they believe,) saved their potato crops by pulling the tops up.
Some have tried the plan of placing their feet on each side of the
stalks, and then pulling the stalks up, thus preventing the pota-
toes from being hauled up. But this did not save their potatoes.
Perhaps they then dug them too soon, not leaving them.as long in
the ground as Colonel Houghton does.

Colonel Houghton. — I have tried salt muck on my potatoes,
and no benefit. I have pulled up alternate hill stalks, and twenty
persons can testify that the pulled ones always left sound j)ota-
toes when the others were deceased. I have tried mowing off the
tops, but it did no good.

Professor Mapes. — I have tried that too, and thought it did
good, but others tried it and found no benefit.

Colonel Houghton was asked what kind of potatoes he had
planted, and he said various kinds, and all of them proved sound

by my plan.

Professor Mapes. — The premium of ten thousand dollars, offer-
ed by the State of Massachusetts for a remedy for the potato rot,
is confined t(5 citizens of that State.

Dr. Antisell was requested to offer his opinion of the planj&c.j
of Colonel Houghton. He said, I have nothing new to offer. la
looking for the cause of the disease, much has been done in vain.
The scientific men of Europe have made profound investigations
as to the cause and remedy f^jr this potato malady in vain ; their
reputations have suffered from it; We are obliged to Colonel
Houghton for his communication, but we must be very careful.
He supposes the deposit of a minute egg in the stalk, from whence
the pink colored mite issues, which works its way down to the
tubers. Ifltisan egg, it must have been deposited by the fly
. below, because it will not descend, but must ascend by the means
ol the ascending juices of .the stalk. It does not appear certain
that the egg or the mite, are the causes of the disease. Find out
the fly which makes the deposit of the egg, and then, perhaps,
we may find some preventive. Learned comrhissions appointed
to«research-, have ascribed the malady to air, earth, the plant it-
self. &c. They have r.greed in one thing, that a rupture of the

No. 133.] 301

cells or the tuber takes place. This club sliould use the almost
cautiou in staling causee. Let us more safclj s!ate facts.

Dr. A. rather iudiiied to the opinion that tl^e appearance of
the egg and the caterpillar, were the results of the disease rather
than the cause. While the root was decayed, the stem above was
healthy ; the disease could not have descended from the stalk, nor
have been produced by the caterpillar. '

Professor Mapes mentioned the valuable experiments on potato
culture made in St. Helena, by Beatsou. He planted them at va-
rio.us depths, and various assorted sizes. . The largest potatoes
gave the largest crop, and those planted at six inches depth did
best. A German mode is to bury the stalk all but its top.
When the stalk is twelve inches long, and as. it grows, continue
to bury it in the same manner until it blossom.s. They got a
hundred times as many tubers, but these were of the size of peas
and grapes. '

We occasionally find the whole potato which we had planted
still whole, after producing its crop. It is, 'however, greatly
changed. It is now hard and heavy, but, on examination, we
find it watery, and that all the starch that was in it when plant-
ed, has gone into the new tubers. Mr. Pell, of .Pelham, scoops
out an eye of a potato with a small guage, and plants that, the
piece of potato about the eye being about half an inch in diame-
ter. * I tried this, and got less weight in the crop. My plan now
is to plant potatoes six inches deep, and cultivate . them flat; no.
hills. I have tried tilling the soil well, making the surface
smooth, laying the potatoes on the surface and covering them
entirely with six inches depth of salt hay. They yielded well,
but whenever the sun reached any of them, it. made them green,
and very bitter. When potatoes are exposed so, this occurs even
on the uppermost potatoes in an open barrel. The potato malady
has lessoned in the last two years.

Professor Harris, is his valuable entomological Work, says that
no insect theory (in this case) is right.

Colonel Houghton wished to state a singular fact with regard
to locusts. Some seven or eight years ago I observed the dry rot

302 [Assembly

in the potato, and young locusts ia the large potatoes. Theylo-
custs never touch poplar, pine, or eedar trees. They make inci-
sions in tlie under side of slender branches of some trees, and put
into the incision about nine eggs in one row. I- have seen them
backing out of their holes in the ground, and procreating within
twenty-four hours. The large potatoes containing the locusts had -
the skin hard and dry, the locusts under that.

Richard Bacon, of Simsbury, Conn, on visiting the repository a
few days ago, examined the potato bug sent by Mr. Riggs, and
now writes to the club as follows :

SiMSBURT, Angnst 16, 1862.

Sir: Your esteemed favor of the 12th was duly received, to"
which in reply I say : The bug to which you refer is evidently a
new comer here ; I can find no one who has even noticed it be-
fore, still they may have been here in small numbers,. but now
they are confined to the potatoes. I have not, neither have others,
so far as J can learn, found them elsewhere thaii on or about po-
tatoes. Tiiey vary in size from one-half an inch to a full inch ia
length; ajs you see them on the potato tops, they appear striped
down the middle, and on each side of the Ikrd jet •. black covers
over their wiugs. Their bodies are of an ash color. Those here
are precisely like those which you showed me at the Institute.
Here they are confined to the mountain, or near it ; are not gen-
eral, and I cannot learn on enquiry that they are scattered over a
large extent 3 I only hear of them in this locality and Granby,say
eight miles north, and there on the mountains. Query ? Did
not the mountains bring them up? They appear shy, and if dis-
turbed hide themselves in the ground about the hill. They ai-e
much engaged in the act of copulation. I can learn of but one
piece of potatoes of much size, which they have materially in-
jured, that is, say3 1 to 1 acre, directly at the base of the moun-
tains, new land, on which the leaves are entirely eaten oft', aud
the bug is still there, but not so numerous as two or thi'ee weeks
since. In other pieces of potatoes the bug is gone and the plant
appears to have nearly recovered from the attack ; other pieces,
within 200 rods, I could not discover a bug, or any signs of their
having been there. Query "? Will they not be much increased

. No. 103. 1 303

i another year, if not killed by the winter 1 W they aj-e now here
for the first time, and the potato tops a.re their favorite food, where

\ did they come from 1 and would they not, most likely, have been
known and heard from 7

A few years since the disease of horses, known as the slavers,
was suddenly introduced and became general, and was brought on
i in some instances, even in winter, by the horse eating second cress
' or rowen hay. At the west, it aflected the hogs, and even geese;
' almost every man had his cause for it, via : Indiiin tobacco, lo-
. belia, &:c., &c., plants always known to grow. S<jme pastures
i would produce the difficulty, others not. At the west, some
! charged it to clover! It has entirely disappeared. My opinion
: then and now is, that it was produced by an insect, which affect-
ed the salivary glands. At one period of several years it was
{ quite an evil. It first appeared, suddenly, about 1802 or 1803.
! I will make further inquiry respecting the bug, and by a note in
the paper endeavor to obtain information from other sections, and
will give the result.

I hope your Club will be able to gain more general information
respecting it, viz: whether this is its first appearance on any
stage. Our potato crop will be very small in this vicinity, not
enough to supply the inhabitants. From May to the last of July
we had little or no rain, and we sniiered from this drought very
much. We then had a fine rain ; I have seen many hilJs pulled,
and the potatoes like musket balls in size. Our hay crop is light,
fay not two-thirds of one. Oats light crop, but well seeded.
Corn crop is quite light. . Fruit crop short and not of usual size.
^ Our pastmes are dried up, and cannot rec/)ver this season ; little
or no second crop of grass.

I am, sir, respectfully yours,

RICHARD BACON.
Henry Mkigs. Esq., Sec'y of the Farmers' Club, N. Y.

Mr. Van Wyck observed that in the earlier stages of the potato
rot, when everybody, learned and unlearned, scientific and prac-
tical, were busy in collecting facts that bore any relation to the
disease, and spreading them before the public to aid in finding

^ 304 [Assembly

out the cause and cure, a few agricultural associations in Hol-
land and Germany prevailed on two professors from universities
in each of these countries, to endeavor to find out the cause, when
the remedy could be more easily discovered. The two gentlemen
selected were among the most eminent for their knowledge in
every department of natural history. They entered most 'assid-
uously on the duties ot their commission ; they labored nearly
two years in making investigations and experiments ; traveled
through 'Holland and considerable part of Germany, wlierever the
rot had prevailed to any extent and violence ; examined all con-
comitant causes that could have an influence in producing the
disease, such as weather, soil, tillage, insects, &;c.; made many
analyses, and finally concluded that insects were not the cause,
and had nothing to do with it. . One of them thought it was owing
to the weather or atmosphere. Tlie other no.t so decided ; he had
his doubts on this last. Still, as many learned and wise men
have been mistaken on this mysterious subject, these may have
been, too, and ultimately made to appear so, and Col. Houghton's
theory prove to be the true one.

Mr. Francis Bonynge was introduced to the Club by the secre-
tary, as being recommended by our Minister to England, Abbott
Lawrence, and by Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion, for his able practical knowledge of the culture of tea, he
having passed fourteen years in the East and raised tea himself
there.

Mr. Bonynge said that he had no doubt that the climate and
other circumstances of the United States, render some of it as fa-
vorable to the tea plant as China. He had looked tlirough tlio
country, this side of the mountains, and judged that the soil and
climate of Georgia were best adapted to it. He is perfectly aware
of the great difficulty of procuring from the East proper tea nuts
for planting, or proper plants for setting out, and can obtain what
he wants. He had a tea plantation in Tarlary, in north latitude
27 deg. His crop of tea was commonly 1200 pounds an acre of
green leaves, which made 300 pounds of tea when cured. Some-
times ho got 480 pounds of tea from one acre. One good hand

No. 133 j 305

picks about sixty pounds of the green leaves in a day, which
yield when cured fifteen pounds of tea.

Dr. Antisell remarked that the culture of tea seems to be a
question of human labor very much. The climate is known to
be favorable, but the cost of labor in this country is so great as to
hazard its success. Tea is a camellia. It has been found profit-
able under circumstances to pick rose leaves and bring them to a
market ; so may it be with good teas. I move that the thanks of
this Club be tendered to Mr. Bonynge for his communication.
This motion was seconded, and unanimously carried.

Professor Mapes moved that the next subject for the considera-
tion of the Club be, the best modes of preserving vegetables in
winter.

Mr. Nash moved to add. and fruits; carried. The club ad-
journed.

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

• Frrmers' Club, 1
Sept. 7, 1852. ^

Nicholas Wyckoflf, of L. I., in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary.

Present— Dr. Enderlin, Dr. Wellington, Dr. Carpenter of
Monroe, and others.

The chairman announced the subject for discussion, viz : The
preservation of vegetables and fruit during winter.

The following communication from John Bullock, Esq., editor
of the Jirtisai^ was read : •

New- York, September 6th, 1852,»
Sir— A few years ago I had business connexions with several
persons who were making experiments as to the best mode of
preserving fruits and vegetables. The theory upon which they
were all working was, that if the articles to be preserved, were
kept at an even temperature of about 33 or 3-1 degrees above
[Assembly, No. 133.] , 20

306 " [Assembly

zero, Fah., that they would keep for a long time. In praf^tice,
however, we found that most kinds of West India fruits would not
be preserved at that temperature. The pine apples tunred black
in a very short time. We also found that those fruits, meats, and
vegetables which- were preserved, would, when brought out of
the preserver, decay and decompose with great rapidity. It
would seem that, when nature's course is arrested in its opera-
tion, she is simply gathering strength to carry out her purposes
with increased power, when the restraint shall have given way.

Messrs. Coleman & Stetson, of the Astor House, in this city,
haX^e in use a fruit preserver of Kephart's patent. It is a large
room, or ice house, with the ice resting on the top_, and the cool
water from i^the melting ice running down the sides. The
thermometer will range in it from 35 to 37, Fah. The ice has
only to be applied once a year, a sufficient quantity being put on
in one winter to last till the next.

I regret that I shall be unable to "attend the Club to-morrow,
but I must be at the State Fair.

Very respectfully,

JOHN BULLOCK.

H. Meigs J Esq., Secretary Foyner^s Club.

The secretary adverted to the numerous methods tried to pre-
serve fruit and vegetables — such as the sweating of apples, and
then putting them in single layers on shelves of the fruit room;
2d, in the same way, but covered with canvas of a light kind,
which should be dried occasionally when moistened by the fruit;
3d, in close drawers, one or several layers deep; 4th, in dry
casks, without anything, but they must be picked over in a few.
weeks carefully, the casks made perfectly dry, re-filled, and
headed up, and not disturbed till wanted for use; 5th, in garden
pots of large size, boxes, casks, or jars, with pure and dry sand
between the layers ; 6th, in jars, in which no sand or other thing
is put, the mouths of the jars covered with pieces of slate, and
the whole buried in dry sand some inches below the air ; 7th, in
a dry, airy loft, with a covering of straw suflicient to keep oft' the
frost ; 8th, in baskets lined with straw ; 9th, in close cellars,
light excluded, for it is very injurious ; 10th, in dark but airy

No. 133. 1 307 .

vaults j 1 Itfi, on a small seale^ under bell glasses cemented down
air tight, and this not on wood the least resinous, or the flavor is
injured greatly ; 12th, buried in boxes, each on four bricks, un-
der other boxes inverted, and all buried so de^3 that the upper
fruit shall be from one to two feet below the level of the earth ;
13th, pack it in threshed grain, or in straw stacks; 14th, lay
it on wheat straw without any covering; 15th, put in wheat or
oat chaflf ; 1 6th, in flaxseed chaff; 17th, in pulverised charcoal;
18th, in dry fern leaves. These methods are tried as well on
pears as apples. We should observe that the wiping of fruit is
injurious. Their skins are covered with a secretion called tht
bloom, which, though more conspicuous on plums, is neverthe-
less on all fruits ; its use is to protect them from the ill effects of
moisture. Some know this and never touch the fruit ; they gather
it by its stem only. Light is very bad for fruit when gathered.

Chairman — My practice is, on long experience on my farm, to
pit my vegetables in preference to putting them in my cellers. I
make a pit a little above the surface of the soil, make a pile of
vegetables, then put over it two or three inches of straw ; over
that put on earth a foot thick, make a hole in the top by means
of straw led up to and out of the top of the pile, and dig a drain
around the pit, which carries off the water. I choose a southern
slope on my ground for these pits. The hole in the top carries
off what vapoi-s arise from the vegetables. In very cold weather I
stop that hole up. I cover my potatoe pits deeper with earth.
The carruts, beets and parsnips, require less care as to frost.
When spring comes warm enough to make vegetables begin to
sprout, they should be taken out of the pit. I suppose that ap-
ples would keep in such pits.

Meigs — Suppose these pits to be covered with two to three feet
of earth, would the vegetables sprout? Probably not, or at any
rate, not till much later in the season. And is it not as essential
to avoid bruising the vegetables as it is the fruit. It is monstrous
to behold the millions of bruised fruit and vegetables brought to
our markets and lost. Eggs do not require more care in hand-
ling than our good fruits ! Vegetables also demand great care if
they are to be kept in perfectly sound condition.

308 Assembly

Chairman — The vegetables in iiiy pits keep solid* and soundy
but in cellars they wilt and wither more or less, and become of
iaferior value. Certainly neither fruit nor vegetables ought to be
bruised. They are treated abominably by many people ; they
don't seem to uncftrstand the nature of them.

John Jenkins, of Monroe, in Orange county, sends Farmer's
©lub, by Dr. Carpenter, of Monroe, some new apples from his or-
chard, and also some new plums, requesting the opinion of the
Club as to their quality and names. The apples were examined,
tasted, pronouiiced — of about the size of the Baldwin apple, of a
light wax color, juicy, tender, thin skin, very pleasant flavor.
The members of the Club, not recognising this apple, unanimous
ly voted to call it the Jenkins Summer Pippin, on motion of Alan-
son Nash, Esq, The plum also, not being known, was named the
Jenkins Tall Plum, it being late in maturing.

Mr. Jenkins says tliat the tree ■which bears the apple has been
bearing every year for the past six years ; that the apples ripen
about the 20tli day of July, yet some may be found good on the
tree in October. The tree is of a strong growth. Grafts of it can
be had of Mr. Jenkins, at Monroe, Orange county, near the Mon-
roe station, on the Erie railroad. The plum has been in his or-
ehard about fifteen years, always healthy, heavy bearer; never
heard a name for it from any body ; ripens late, and is fine when
ripe. The tree is never plagued with the black knot, nor is the
plum ever stung by any insect so as to injure the crop.

Dr. Wellington was asked several questions, v^hich he an-
swered.

Mr. Nash — What is your soil ?

Dr. Wellington — Subsoil a blue gravel ; no limestone ; a granite
ridge runs through it.

Mr. Nash — Your native grapes ripen w^ell, you say ; how is it
with your Isabellas and Catawbas?

Dr. Wellington — They are natives, but do not often ripen with
ns.

Mr. spoke of the roomin which Messrs. Coleman & Stet-
son preserve their provisions, which is beneath a large deposite of

No. 133.] 309

ice, Avhich lasts through the season. They are quite successful in
preserving fruits, vegetables and meats.

Dr. 0. H. Wellington, of 1,81 Twelfth-street, New- York, a na-
tive of Lexington, Mass., asked how much ice was stored there to
last through the season, and stated that he had understood, from
the experience of Mr. Tudor, of Boston, that a cube of 12 feet was
the smallest body of ice that would keep well with the usual pie-
cautions for its preservation. He remarked that Mr. Tudor had
had a very large experience in the preservation of ice, and also
of some kinds of fruits, especially of the Baldwin apple, which
he and others have been in the habit of sendiug to the Wesi In-
dies. Xew-Orleans, South America, and even to Calcutta. Th«
apples were packed in barrels, each apple being rolled in paper,
and the barrels embedded in ice in the hold of the vessel.

Messrs. Nash, Meigs, and others, questioned the Doctor closely
as to the results of his observations on this mode of exporting and
preserving fruit, and also put questions on the kinds of fruit, car«
of trees, character of the soil, Sac. The conversation took a some-
what wide range, by which the following ideas were elicited from
Dr. Wellington :

Of all the apples raised in the vicinity of Boston, by far th«
most popular is the Baldwin. This finds the most ready sale, and
is the one Selected for shipping. It is esteemed important that
all the apples be picked by hand, whether. for the market at Bos-
ion or for shipping, and with those who take most care, no apple
which has fallen to the ground is allowed to be placed with those
gathered from the tree. Great care is taken that no one be bruised
in transferring from the basket to the barrel. If the apples are
not generally fair, they are spread upon the ground and carefully
assorted, so that those sold as the best shall be large and fair.

If designed for shipping, the apples are usually gathered some-
what earlier than when designed for the market at Boston. Whea
perfectly dry they are assorted, and each apple rolled in paper
and packed in dry, clean barrels, and placed in the ice as stated
above.

When questioned as to the result of the operation, Dr. Welling-

310 [Assembly

ton remarked, that as tbey had continued to ship them for the
last ten or fifteen years, he presumed it had proved a source of
profit. He had also heard that apples shipped on several differ-
ent occasions arrived in good condition. An evidence of the re-
sult, however, was to be found in the fact that after they had
been shipped for ten years, he had known the shippers to pay $3
pel- barrel for all the apples picked from the tree, large and small,
and the purchaser to assort and pack them. This would not have
been done if the operation had been attended with much risk.
Sometimes they had been sent without rolling in papers. He
could not tell whether they arrived in as good condition when
sent as far as Calcutta as when sent to a nearer port, but under-
stood that the investment paid well. The shipment of the apples
was only secondary to the ice business. The ships in which they
were transported have a false lining throughout, inclosing a quan-
tity of tan, sawdust, or pulverized peat. He had never seen a
ship lined, but thought that peat mud which had been exposed to
the action of a winter's frosts, after being thrown out, was consi-
dered as good as anything for filling the walls of an ice house.
The buildings constructed for this purpose are double-boarded on
lill sides, leaving a space of about 16 inches, which is filled with
the pulverized peat, rammed close.

In some of the ports, houses are constructed for storing the ice
on its arrival ; in others, the Dr. understands that the vessel is
detained until the ice and apples are sold. In these experiments,
as in most others for the preservation of fruits and vegetables by
©old, they decay rapidly when taken from the ice.

Dr. Wellington related a few other facts with regard to the
preservation of fruit. The autumn of 1835 was remarkably mild
and open, and there was a large fall of snow the last week of
November, before the ground froze. In different parts of his fa-
ther's orchard, apples which had fallen to the ground and were
covered with the snow, remained in a perfect state of preserva-
tion.

A neighbor of his father had a large pile of apples covered by
this same fall of snow. In the autumn these had no value but

No. las.] zm

for grinding into cider. But when uncovered in January, they
were found in so good a state of preservation that many were
selected and brought a fair price in the market, which would not
have been saleable in the fall. Yet these had lain in the same
pile with defective ones nearly two mouths.

His father is now in the habit of preserving choice apples,
Bartlett pears, &c., in his ice house, at Lexington, days and
weeks beyond the time it would be possible to keep them with-
out, and by this means, a larger price is obtained. The same is
practiced by others, and, he thinks, by some who supply this
market. But the result of of the Dr.'s observation, after careful
notice of some years in each city, has been a conviction that fruit
has been gathered and transported with more care in Massachu-
setts than about New-York, and he thinks the farmer is best paid
for this extra care.

He stated the experience of the late Rev. Daniel Marrett, of
Standish, in Maine, and others in keeping apples by spreading
them in a tolerably dry cellar, which never freezes. The apples
should be spread on boards about six inches thick, and bins may
be made, one above the other, leaving a foot or more of air above
the apples. The Baldwin kept in this way is reddened and much
improved in appearance. Mr. Marratt and his son have kept
their apples in their cellers in this way until they would com-
mand a higher price in the spring, in the markets of Portland
and Saco.

In answer to repeated questionings, the Dr. stated that his fa-
ther (on whose place he had made most of his observations,)
raised a few hundred barrels of apples, more than four-fifths of
which were the Baldwin. An uncle, on a farm adjoining, raised
still more. They were in the habit of carefully ploughing their
orchards every year, and dressing with manure, even where little
else was raised but fruit. They usually purchase hogs on pur-
pose to consume the wormy fruit which falls from the tree, and
lighten the ground about the trees. All the apples are picked
by hand, for which they pay 10 or 12 cents per barrel, assorted
with care, and no bruised ones ever knowingly put in a barrel.

313 [Assembly

The trees are scraped, some washed with a preparation of lye,
&c., and trimmed with care, though circumstances have prevent-
ed this being done to as great an extent as Mr. Wellington him-
self deemed desirable.

The orchards are on a northern slope and have suffered very
little from cold winters. A few years ago, when many in that
vicinity having trees on a southern slope, lost a large proportion
of the trees, Mr. Wellington lost only one or two.

The subsoil is a firm blue gravel, without any mixture of clay,
and uncommonly valuable for roads. Those in that vicinity
built of that material, which is found in parts of several towns,
are remarkably good. To obtain water about these orchards,
wells have to be dug 28 or 30 feet. The greening and pippin
have been engrafted some, but within the Dr.'s observation, the
experiment has not been sufficiently successful to have them in-
troduced much.

Van Wyck. — Our meeting to day, I think, will be considered
a useful one, from the quantity of valuable information obtained
from it Our subject, the best way of preserving fruits and vege-
tables, is important for our country at large. The scientific and
practical farmers from Massachusetts, Long Island, and Orange
county. New- York, and professional and practical men of New-
York, all have given their views freely, in a social conversation,
on the subject. Our chairman has thrown much light on the
best way of preserving vegetables in winter, and Dr. Wellington,
originally of Boston, or near it, has detailed with clearness the
manner of managing fruit, and especially the apple, in this
region. His friends who are engaged in the business, have ena-
bled him to observe minutely and give a correct report on all the
operations of gathering, preserving, and sending to market, near
or far, America, Europe, Asia, &c., this valuable fruit, the apple,
and in what way it pays and keeps best.

The Baldwin apple, he thinks, has the preference in and about
Boston, for preserving, profit and beauty. Dr. Carpenter has pre-
sented ns, from Mr. Jenkins, of Monroe, Orange county, a basket
of fine apples and some plums ; the former ripe, of good size, high

No. 133.J 313

flavor and beauty ; the latter not yet liiDe, but large and hand-
some. He has cultivated them about fifteen years, and they are
never disturbed by insects or disease. Councellor Nash, of this
city, originally of a dilferent section of Massachusetts, from Dr.
Wellington, fully confirmed all the latter stated, as respects the
soil and climate of the old Bay State, for producing fine apples of
every variety, as well as many other fruits, and the great im-
provements its people had made in the cultivation of these. Much
valuable information has been elicited in the subject, by the free
interchange of remarks and pertinent questions asked by these
gentlemen, the one of the other.

Mr. Nash — Our native grape vines are as plenty as grass, and
many are fine in their chosen localities, but it is impossible to
make plants flourish out of their proper position and latitude ; their
natural climates. Apples love high lands, cool mountain breezes,
clean air ; and they never fail to show it in their fair, full, smooth
and lovely apples ; and they love the northern slopes of our
northern high lands. It has been found that when the apple
trees on the southern slopes have been almost destroyed, those or-
chards on the northern slopes have not lost a half dozen.

Prof. Mapes, absent at the State Fair, ordered to be laid on the
table specimens of the native lupin of California, timothy grass
and barley. The lupin is small, the timothy large and coarse ;
the barley ear provided with remarkable spines.

Jared L. Moor, absent at the State Fair, ordered on the table
three flower roots, sent by a correspendent from California, who
says of them as follows : .

SA^f Francisco, July 15th, 1852.

Jarku L. Moore, Esq., New- York:

My Dear Friend — I take the liberty to send to you, by the
kindness of Wm. G. Wood, E«q., three bulbous roots, for the
American Institute, to try the experiment of their growing at the
north, wliich please present with my compliments. They were
presented to me yesterday, by Dr. L. Hubbard and my late law
partner, L. D. Brown, Esq., who procured them on the coast range
of the Trinity mountains, some 500 miles north of this place, in

314 [Assembly

the region of snow, about 1,300 feet above the level of the sea, in
lat. 40 cleg. 20 min., long. 122 deg. 30 min. west.

I know not if botanists have classed or named them, but the
Dr. and M. B. represent the stalk as about five feet in height, and
the flowers of the same germ, but varying in hue, one a pure
white, one a pale cream color, and the third snow white, dotted
cochineal, in length varying from 10 to 16 inches, and bending
over like a warrior's plume ; in fact they called the flower
" Murat's Plume," and describe it as by far the most magnificent
they ever saw. Wishing they may not get the " Panama fever "
on the way, and may live to exemplify to you some of our moun-
tain glories,

I remain, with great regard.

Your ob't friend and servant.

The secretary quoted Lindley's Vegetable KiBgdom.

APPLEWORTS.

By the term wort^ he means any plant ; there is a close alliance
between these apple worts and the rose wort ; the fruit of each in
always a pome ; examine that of a rose and see how close the
similarity between it and the apple. The appleworts, consisting
of the apple, pear, sorb, medlar, quince, service, rowan or moun-
tain ashj are all found plentifully in Europe, Northern Asia, the
mountains of India and in North America ; are rare in Mexico,
unknown in Africa, except on its northern shore, in Madeira ;
<f one solitary species at the Sandwish islands, in north latitude, (in
Pacific ocean) 20 degrees ; and is not to be found native anywhere
South of the Equator.

Mr. Meigs read an extract from Sir John Sinclair, correspond-
ence, &c.

Frederick the Great was certainly a most extraordinary charac-
ter. When the government of Prussia devolved upon him, it was
a small, inconsiderable and disjointed kingdom, without arts, in-
dustry or riches ; he raised it to be a great, compact and flourish-
ing empire. He taught his subjects industry, improved their ag-
riculture as the foundation of national prosperity. He gave for
improvements, in all branches of it, fifteen hundred thousand dol-

No. 133. J 315

lars per annum ; and when reproached with such a waste of mo-
ney, he replied, it is manure spread upon the ground to secure a
more abundant harvest. He also greatly encouraged manufac-
tures, arts, and commerce. Notwithstanding his tremendous mil-
itary deeds, he left his country vastly improved, and lie left sixty
millions of dollars behind him in the treasury.

Mr. Meigs — Ffteen hundred thousand dollars a year for agri-
culture! How much a year has the United States expended for
the encouragment of agriculture ? Have they answered the beg-
ging of Washington fifty or sixty years ago 1

The premiums given in the year 1851, by all the societies and
governments of the United States for the promotion of agriculture,
do not amount to the thirtieth part of Frederick's annual appro-
priation, made a hundred years ago ; and yet the authorities, both
state and national, all know how greatly the main crops of our
country have fallen in yield, and are every year yielding less, as
a general fact.

Mr. 'Meigs read the following extracts from the Transactions
of the Royal Agriculture Society of England, vol. 5.

INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CROPS.
Mr. T. G. Clithero observed, that in the neighborhood of my
native place, in the county of York, is a rookery, belonging to
Mr. Vavasour, Esq., of Weston, in Warfdale, in whichj it is esti-
mated that there are ten thousand rooks ; that one pound of food
a week is very moderate allowance for each bird, and that nine-
tenths of their food consists of worms, insects, and their larvse ;
for, although they do considerable damage to the fields for a few
weeks in harvest, particularly in backward seasons, yet a very •
largt proportion of their food, even at the seasons, consist of
insects and worms, which (if we except a few acorns and walnuts
in autumn) compose at all other times, the whole of their sub-
sistence.

Here then, if my data are correct, there is the enormous quan-
tity of 468,000 pounds, or 209 tons of worms, insects and their
larvae destroyed by the rooks of a single rookery, in one year.

316 [Assembly

And more of tlie birds. The crop of a pheasant is found full of
wire worms. The lapwing eats 100 a day.

Experiment on an acre with the following manures, and the
results by Right Hon. Thomas Pemberton Leigh, of Kent.

WHEAT.

bush . gal.

No. 1. 30 cart loads barn yard manure, c£4 10 40 6

" 2. Peruvian guano, 2 4 40 6

" 3. Rape dust, 112 6 38 3'

" 4. Urate, 112 6 38 5

" 5. Super-phosphate of lime, 2 4 9 53 5

" 6. No dressing, 0 0 0 29 2

The Club unanimously ordered the murat's plume to be put in
the charge of Peter B. Mead, Esq., for cultivation, and one of the
Jenkin's summer pippins, also that he may have its imitation by
the Mr. Glover.

The subject for next meeting. The introduction to our gardens
and farms of new and useful plants. The club then adjourned.

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

September 28fh, 1862.
Rev. Joseph Carter, of Brooklyn, in the Chair. Henry Meigs,
Secretary.

The secretary read the following extracts and translations made
by him. The one I am about to read was made last June, from
the Revue Horticole of Paris, June. This work is, with other
valuable periodicals, regularly received by the Institute. A brief
translation of the article appears in the London Farmers' Maga.
zine for the present month, September. The article is interesting
as it relates to a new species of potato, which, on trial, so far,
seems free from disease.

Revue Horticolcj PariSj June^ 1852.

POTATO FROM MEXICO.

Last September I received, as President of the Agricultural
Class of the Society of Arts at Geneva, a communication wliich

No. 133.] 317

nmch excited my curiosity. I was assured tliat the cultivators of
a village called Ferrieres, in the Department of the Ain, at 12
kilometres from Geneva, having a friend in Mexico, had received
from him some original wild potatoes, which they had'novv culti-
vated for two years. That they appeared to be free from disease
iu the midst of the diseased ones in that commune, all of which
were attacked except these NeAv Mexicans. I went immediately to
FenierSj accompanied by my friend and colleague Charles Martin,
the eminent cultivator. They confirm the report w^hich we had
received. The proprietor who had received the potatoes from
Mexico, Mr. Javot, died some months ago. The crop of the pre-
ceding year had been divided among his heirs. Other farmers
had planted some of them in 1850 and 1851. The tubers had
been sent from Mexico, in the hope that they would not have the
malady. They had been obtained by Indians in the woods and
mountains. On cultivating them at Fenieres, they proved to be
small, but of a good taste, and absolutely free from disease, while
all other potatoes of Fenieres were lost. We were impatient to
see these new^ plants, I especially so, for I am engaged in writing
on the subject of the Solanum. We visited the field where they
were growing. This was from 2,000 to 2,500 feet above the level
of the sea. In this field were our common potatoes side by side
with the Mexican, in order that the comparison might be easy.
The common potatoes were chiefly diseased (Sept. 2d) while the
Mexicans were in full vegetation, their stalks vigorous, of an iii-
tense green, the stalks had distinct swellings at the foot of the
leaves, the flowers were much larger than those of our old pota-
toes, of a lively reddish violet color. We pulled up a stalk. It
had numerous egg-shaped, roundish tubers, as large as a walnut,
not yet ripe. I compared it attentively with an ordinary potato.
It was impossible for me to discover any difference in the leaves,
flowers, in the calyx j but other characteristics led me to regard
the plant of Mexico as belonging to a distinct botanical species.
The principal mark was the swelling of the stalks below the leaf,
and the plant grows taller and its leaf sharper at its point, flow-
ers larger and of a more lively red than our ordinary ones.
When I came home I examined my books, and I saw that it
might be referred to the Solanum Verrucosum (watery potato) of

318 [Assembly

Schlechtendal — a figure of it given in the Hortus Halensis. The
plant in the garden of Halle came originally from the mountain-
ous regions of Mexico. It shows the same pointed segments and
the same nodosities, (knots or warts). The flower is bordering
on blue, and not on the red, stalks more straight, and taller. On
the whole, I am convinced that it is specifically the SolanumVer-
rucosum, and uot tuberosum.

The Fenieres field lay covered with deep snow from the begin-
ning of Nov. until spring, when they were dug up and were all
sound, while all the common ones of the country were diseased. The
medium size of the Mexican tubers was about one inch in diameter.
Others were nearly an inch and a half in diameter by nearly two
inches long. They were generally, spherical, skin smooth, of a
clear yellow color, flesh colored about the eyes, the flesh of a
very marked yellow, which seems to be a special characteristic
of it. When boiled they have an excellent taste, no bitt'er in
them — a circumstance in which they differ from many wild kinds
of the Solanum Tuberosum. They taste like our early potatoes,
which are not mealy. The starch in them is 145 to 155, while
in our ordinary potatoes is 200 to 250.

The celebrated botanist Clusius has given us a drawing, of an
excellent character, of the potato, which had been introduced
into Spain and Italy in 1 588. We there see, that after some years
culture in Europe, and, probably, after a great number of years
cultivation in America, a plant yields about fifty potatoes of about
two inches diameter, oblong, and of reddish color. They ripened
at Vienna, in Austria, but not before November. A few years
later Raleigh brought some from North Carolina to England. One
of his ofiicers by the name of Thomas Harriott had charge of
them. Unhappily, no drawing or description of the plant was
made by him. One plant of the Virginia potato was drawn and
described by Gerarde in 1597. He draws the tubers as being
very small ; the plant seems to be drawn at the time of its flower-
ing.

From these facts we may fairly hope to find the potatoes of the
verrucosum become larger by continued culture, and also earlier
in ripening than is common to other plants on cultivation.

No. 133.] 319

As to the posibility of shielding the potato from the malady
we must he permitted to doubt, and for the following reasons :

, We received, in 1849, from the gardens of Germanji, another
species of solanum, which had been brought from Mexico. M.
Kloztsch hastened to decorate it with the title of solanum utile,
(the useful potato,) and the following year the Botanic Gazette
informs tliat in the garden of the Institute of Eldena this species
had the malady.

The solanum demissum, introduced from Mexico into the gar-
den of the Horticultural Society of London, was also attacked by
the malady, even in the first year. It is true that another plant
of the same lot, reported by Dr. Lindley as being a solanum ver-
rucosum, remained sound. We infer that this sort is really more
robust ; our experience of the two last years make us think so.

Unfortunately, when we cultivate the potato for the market, we
feel obliged to manure well, in order to get as large a crop as 'pos-
sible ; so the tubers augment in size, but the phisological harmony
of the species is destroyed. An excessive production of starch in
any plant, like a great increase of fat in an animal, becomes either
a direct cause of disease, or, at least,an indirect cause of debility,
of certain organs, and the disease of the potato seems to prove
what I advance. The malady prevailing at the same moment in
diflerent climates, it is difficult to believe that it is owing to any
local causes or to external physical causes. The humid climate
of Ireland bears no similarity to those of Spain or Russia ; and
the climate of Switzerland is entirely opposite to that of Holland ;
but the malady declares itself everywhere within the last six
years. For a disease so general I am forced to find some general
cause, independent of climate ; a cause either direct or indirect,
no matter which, provided it be general.

And here is one of the causes : The solanum tuberosum (all
travelers say) grows in sterile lands, often among the sands and
pebbles of a sea shore. We put it into fertile soils and force it
with manure. For fifty years past we have diminished oar fal-
lows and increased our manuring. This regimen is so contrary
to the primative condition of the potato that it cannot be without

320 I Assembly

its effect. It does not require so many general causes in the ani-
mal kingdom to predispose tliem to hereditary disease. Observa-
tion on human families show that four or five generations con-
stantly subjected to a regimen either too poor or too rich, produce
a characteristic tendency to certain maladies of natures opposite
to their condition. Vegetables suffer under like laws.

It is proved that the solanum tuberosum grows spontaneously
in Patagonia and Peru, principally on tlie western coast of that
vast extent of country. On the other hand, it is doubtful whether
that species (the tuberosum) exists in Mexico, for all the potatoes
obtained from the latter are of a different species. Dr. Lindley
thinks otherwise; but the absence of the spontaneous tuberosum
in Mexico is in full accordance with the assertion of Mons. de
Humboldt, that the ancient Mexicans never cultivated the potato.
On the other hand, how did the native Indians of Carolina and
Virginia, in 1588, if they had not obtained it, either wild or cul-
tivated, from Mexico, their neighbors ? Here are some irreconci-
lable things. Either the solanum tuberosum was spontaneous in
Mexico, or, if cultivated there, it must have been originally from
the chain of the Andes. So it is not surprising that it should
have been cultivated in the southern part of the United States
before the settlement of the Europeans, &c.

ALPH DE CANDOLLE.

Farmers' Magazine, London, August, 1852.

THE POTATO DISEASE AND THE BEAN MALADY.

All experiments on it, up to this time, have hardly established
one single fact tending to a settlement either of its cause or its
cure. The facts are these : The potato is attacked when nearest
its maturity; it sometimes appears to begin, as a rule, in the south
first, then in the north ; sometimes shows spots on the leaves,
sometimes upon the stems, as if sulphuric acid had dropped from
the clouds; occasionally it attacks the tubers first ; sometimes a
single field is attacked and all swept over, as if blackened by an
October frost. This has usually happened at the north, about
the middle of August, and was always accompanied by a peculiar
misty, suffocating vapor, not frosty, but rather hot, and in three
days the Avhole breadth of the potato district was one mass of
putrefaction.

No. 133-1 . 321

The celebrated Irish potato commission, which was appointed
bj the late Sir Robert Peel, is only a monument of the impotence
of scientific research ; it ended in a farce and an abortion. We
have tried all, and thought we staveU off the disease sometimes;
the anti-septic power of charcoal availed us nothing. This shows
ui that there must be a difhculty in imagining how a merely am-
raonical state of the atmosphere could in any way effect potatoes
immersed in dry charcoal ! We have imitated the conditions in
which the potato escaped without success. In the fall of 1851,
our potato plants were all free from even the appearance of taint,
but after the potatoes were dug, carefully sorted, dried and put
away, they were attacked by the rot, and before Christmas five-
sixths of them went off.

Of the bean disease we know even less than the potato. It is
a plant most subject to climatic influences.

PRIZE FOR AN ARTIFICIAL MANURE

The Royal Society of England and Wales has agreed to offer
a premium of one thousand pounds and their gold medal, for one
equivalent to guano.

By the documents before the House of commons, the guano de-
posits are estimated at twenty-seven millions, twenty-tour thou-
sand four hundred and ninety-three tons.

Various seeds put up in layers covered with soil in a moist
state — in boxes well packed so that none can move — are im-
ported from America into Scotland, in a better condition than, in
any other way. The boxes of deal 3-4 inch thick and about 14
inches diameter. The seeds so brought grew freely while those
in paper, cloth, &c., were found slow in growing and few of
them.

Fowler of Bristol has invented a draining plow which would
have formed the most remarkable feature in the agricultural de-
partment of the great exhibitirn— but for the American reaper.
Surprise takes hold of all who behold two horses at work by the
side of a field on a capstan, which by an invisible wire rope,
draws towards itself a low frame work, leaving but the traces of

[Assembly No. 133.1 21

323 [Assembly

a narrow slip on the sarface. You pass to the other side of the
field and you will see that the machine has drawn after it a string
of pipes which still following the plow's snout, that burrows all
the lime four feet under ground, twists itself like a gigantic red
worm in the earth, so that in a few minutes, when the framework
has reached the capstan, the string is withdrawn from the neck*
lace and you aro assured that a drain has been thus invisibly-
formed under your feet. One of these drains was laid open for.
inspection — the drain pi'^es were found to be laid straight, in
close contact and perfectly joined. The patentees have, in March,
April and May last drained 2,000 acres on the estate of Lord
Portman, Mr. Oakley and others, at a cost of from twenty five to
forty two shillings per acre without tiles — by the old mode the
cost was from £3 10s to £5 10s.

Sir Anthony Fitzherbert's Book of Husbandry, 1532. He wa»
an admired practical farmer for forty years. He says to young
gentlemen, rise early in the morning, for sanat, sauctificat et ditat
surgere mane, early rising will make you healthy, wealthy and
holy.

Transactions of tho Tloyal Hawaiian Agricultural Soo'.ety. PampMet. Pages 125. Octavo^

August ISal, Honolulu.

(From J. F. B. Marshall, of Kauai, one of the Vice Presidents.)

The annual address by Hon. Luther Severance is worthy of the
great cause of Agriculture and v/111 be read with great interest by
all its friends.

'' Nations are so far advanced in civilization that they have be-
gun to appreciate the dignity and importance of egriculture and
to perceive that no branch of science affords a wider field for hu-
man research, or one in which patient and scientific investigation
may be rewarded with greater benefits to mankind. The road to
fame has lain through sacked and ruined cities, and harvests
trampled under foot by contending armies The Poets and histo-
rians of antiquity tsll us of tlie heroes wlio figured in the work of
human slaughter — but little of the men who made improvements
in tillage or of inventors in the mechanic arts. Archimedes at-
tracted attention chiefly by the machinery he invented to defend

No. 133.] 323

Syracuse. If he invented any labor saving machinery in tillage,
the historians of that time have not deigned to mention it. Ag-
riculture and the mechanics aj-ts were abandoned to slaves and
menials, throughout the lofig career of Greek and Roman great-
ness.

Could old Cincinnatus rise from his grave and see one of the
most approved plows ot the present day, he might be tempted to
use it all the time — and would hardly be satisfied with the limit-
ed extent of his farm of four acres.

It would be interesting to know what sort of a plow it was to
which the prophet Elisha had hitched his twelve yoke of oxen,
when he was called from his laborious vocation to receive the man-
tie of Elijah. Either the cattle must have been very small or the
plow a poor one.

The old Duke of Athel, planted a forest on his estate in Perth-
shire, 15,593 acres — and when he died he had on it upwards of
twenty-icven millions of young trees — his successor set out on
poor mountain laud 6,500 acres with larches, valuable for ship
timber. The land was not worth over twenty two cents an acre.
Now with the timber on it, is valued at thirty-two millions five hun-
dred thousand dollars. This statement we take from the letter of
Gen. H. A. S. Dearborn, in the published proceedings of the 19thi
Annual Fair of the American Institute. I recommend an impor-
tation of birds to save our corn. Woolen manufactories. Our
people must wear wool here. Flannel prevents the too sudden
cooling of the body. No clothing made of vegetable texture can
ever be equal to that which the God of nature provides, to retain
animal heat. The fowls of the air -and the beasts of the fields
are all covered with permanent coats, but the " featherless biped '>
man is left to cloth himself by his own ingenuity. He can al-
ways vary his covering with the changes of the weather, taking
from tlie sheep, the cashmere goat or the alpacca, the "excessive
quantity with which nature has provided ihem.

He speaks of the deserts, once fertile fields, of Babylon, Baal-
bec, &s., for want of agricultuie, its irrigation, &;c. He recom-

324 [Assembly

mends the culture of the New Zealand native flax, phormium ten-
ax, whose strength is to that of sisal hemp as nearly 24 to 7, to
.that of our common flax as nearly 24 to 1 1 3-4, to hemp 24 to IQ
3-4, to silk a*a nearly 24 to 24, This phormium tenax grows on
dry or wet land — best on the wet.

He recommends the olive tree and that new variety mentioned
by L. W. Tineli, U. S. Consul at Oporto. It is rather a shrub or
brush than a tree — growing only about four feet high, little affect-
ed by high winds and is a beautiful ornament to a garden.

He recommends planting barley — evidently more common than
wheat 3,000 years ago, according to the scriptures, it is admirably
adapted to a hot climate. He recommends breeding poultry in
in the strongest terms. Fences to be made of the cactus — night
^blooming — whose large snowy flowers are magnificent by night
and very fragrant — whose spines are prohibitory of invasion —
some stones to be laid for them to lean on.

In conclusion the Ilawaiin Orator said :

For the Roman castle let us here substitute the Christian tem-
ple, and for the proud and warlike Pagan, a people imbued with
a goodly portion of the spirit of the Great Teacher, who more than
eighteen centuries ago proclaimed peace on earth and good- will
to the whole family of man."

Kaempier visited Japan in 1690, remained till 1692.

The cherry tree is used for its blossoms only.

Apricot and plum for both flowers and fruit. By art they have
been made to produce flowers as large as roses.

Agriculture perfect. Books upon every subject.

The Osasjo— A treatise on the elements of Creation, the Worlds,
Heavens, Stars, Comets, Meteors, &c., &c.

The Mannegojomi, an Almanack usually €ight inches high by
five feet in length. Another Almanack for ten thousand years to
come. Books of Heraldry— Agriculture, History, National Hist-
ory, Architecture, &c.. &c.

No. 133. 325

A leaning mountain fell over into the sea and under it was
found gold dust and sand in equal quantities. Turnips plenty
and very large — taste unpleasant to strangers on account of the
very free use of poudrette.

Climate delightful.

From Lindley '• Vegetable Eingdom.

APIACE^ UMBELLIFERS

Of which celery, parsley, &c. are part. These have their flow-
on the top of what resemble umbrella sticks, and therefore called
Umbellifers, They are called Apiaceae from the Latin name of
parsley, Apiura. Some of these plants are injurious to health.
Among the harmless ones we have celery, fennel, parsley,
camphire and the roots of carrots, parsnips and skirrets
or slum sissarum. In addition to these, which everybody
knows, the following more particularly deserve mention as eata-
bles (esculents). The root of Eryngium Campestre and Maratin-
um, commonly called Eryngo, is sweet, aromatic, and tonic;
much of it is sold in a candied state. The roots of Meum Atham-
anticum and Mutellina are aromatic, and form an ingredient in
Venice treacle. Angelica root is fragrant, &c. The Laplanders
extol it not only as a food but as a medicine also. In coughs and
other pectoral disorders they eat the stalks of it roasted in the he;
ashes ; they also boil the tender flowers in milk till it attains the
consistence of an extract. Chervill, an old-fashioned pot-herb,
with eatable roots, is the anthrisous cerefolium. Alexanders
(Smyrnium Olusatrum) were formerly cultivated instead of celeryj
the leaves have a slight and pleasant aromatic flavor. The tubers
of the Bunium Terulaseum are eaten in Greece by the name of
Topana. Samphire is one of the best of all ingredients in pickles.
Carum Bulborastum or English pignut is quite wholesome, as are
also tlie roots of the (Eaanthe, the Pimpinelloides.

Anesorhiza Capensis and Faeniculum Capense are both Cape
esculents. Arracacha Esculenta are inhabitants of the table land
of Granada — has large esculent roots resembling the parsnip in
quality but is better. Prangus Pabularia, a herbaceous plant, in-
habiting the arid plains of Southern Tartary and adjoining pro-

326 ' [Assembly

vinces, has a great reputation as feed for sheep, but hardly de-
serves it. Dr. Royle thinks that it may have been one of the
kinds of the Sylphiou of the Greeks, described by Arrian (who
wrote in the second century) as groviing only with pines on Par-
opamis, where it was browsed on by numerous flocks of sheep
and cattle. Lieutenant Burns, on crossing in the direction of
Alexander's route, found this in the same place, greedily cropped
by sheep, and even eaten by his fellow-travellers. The natives of
the north of Asia esteem highly the skinned root of the sweet sub-
acrid Heracleum Sphondylium.

Assafcctida may be cultivated here. Burns fownd the plants
growing on the mountains of the Hindoo Koosh, where they are
regarded as highly nutritious food for sheep.

Oppoponax is the concrete juice of the plant called Oppopanox
Chironum, which resembles the parsnip, and inhabits the Levant.
We should endeavor to grow the sandal wood — (Santalum Album)
— ^highly valuable for many uses — considered almost sacred by the
East Indian idolators — they burn it as frankincense before their
idols. Its oil has been held next only to that of roses as a per-
fume.

The Quandang tree, of New Holland bears nuts as sweet to the

natives as almondy ave to us.

Thou.^auds of others may be mentioned, all of which should
command the care ittid growing of tliis mighty continent, con-
taining, as it does, all tlie climates and conditions of half a world.
If Frederic the Great was here, he would (instead of spending,, as
he tiid, $l,500,Ol'O, on his little Prussia, ibr agriculture alone,)
spend a hundred millions to make this half world the wonder of
the world for its agricultural glories.

LauracjB — Laurels— The laurus nobilis has aromatic leaves,

chieiiy u:.;:d by confectioners.

Camphor of China is obtained from tlie wood, branches and
leaves of tlie cinnamon trees, in some species of which the roots
are so much cmtaminated with it as, to render it unfit for spice.
The camphor is obtained by dry distillation. Formosa yields largely

Ifo. 133.] 327

of camphor, which is carried from thence to China, in Chinese
Junks.

Drupacece — From the Greek word drnpetes or fidling frnit,
plums or prunes.

The prunes of commerce are prepared in France, out of the
plums called St. Catherine, and the green gage. In Portugal, out
of the plums, called after the village where they are prepared,
guimaraens. They contain so large a quantity of sugar, that
brandy is distilled from them, when fermented, and it has been
proposed to cultivate them for manufacturing sugar.

The prunus brigantiaca has a kernel which yields the fixed oil,
called huile des marmottes, used instead of olive or almond oil.

Hydrangea — Cultivated from the most ancient times in China
and Japan. In the latter, the species called hydrangia thunbergii,
ere dried and used as a tea, which the Japanese, for its excellence,
call ama tsja, or tea of heaven.

Aquifoliaceae — The ilex holm — The bark yields birdlime. The
beautiful white wood of it is highly esteemed by cabinet makers,
for inlaying.

This tree is found sparingly in various parts of the world, but
is found especially in the West Indies, South America, and the
Cape of Good Hope. Several species are in the United States
and North America generally, but only one, that is the common
holly, in all Europe.

Cardiaceae Sebestens — One of the drugs of the apothecary ; are
found iu the northern and southern tropics, have a brown colored
wood, beautifully veined with black, and smelling of musk. The
wood of the cordia gerascanthus or cypress wood, and Spanish
elm, are important. The bark of tlie cordia Myxa i? a mild tonic,
and its wood soft. One of the best to kindle by friction, and is
said to be that of which the Egyptians constructed their mummy
cases.

328 jAssKMBL-sr

The secretary read from the

London Farmer's Magarine for September, 1852.

POTATO DISEASE.
The earl of Malmesbury, her majesty's principal secretary of
state for the foreign department, transmitted to the council,
through Mr. Addington, a dispatch from the consul general at
Warsaw, in Poland.

Extracts. — Poland has comparatively suffered but little from
the potato malady ; but it is her important crop, and she is
attentive to it. The malady is now ascribed to the presence of
too much free ammonia in the lands in which the potatoes are
planted, and to counteract it fixed alkalies.* This theory appears
so stroDgly to bear out the view taken at the very beginning of
the epidemic, as reported in my consular letter of October 16,
1846, that I am induced to make this statement to your lordship.
Dr. Voget, of Heinsberg, in the district of Aix la Chapelle, re-
commends the simplest method of decomposing it, wherever it
js, whether produced in the soil or the manures, to use crude
gypsum as a top dressing ; or to irrigate the ground with very
strongly diluted muriatic or sulphuric acid, in the same way as
liquid manures are applied, or before carrying out the manures
to mix it with gypsum, ashes, or acids.

GUSTAVUS DU PLAT, Co7isul General.

OSIER WILLOW.
Recent inquiries have been made at the Institute for information
relative to this valuable article, with a view to cultivating it for
our own market, which has hitherto been, and is now, shipped
from Europe.

Lindley, in his " Vegetable Kingdom" says,'that of the salicacea,
or Willowworts, are nations of the same localities as the British
iamilie, but they grow still further north than the birches. The
most northern woody plants that are known, are the willows —
salix arctica and polaris. The order is found sparingly in Bar-
bary, and there is a species of willow even in Senegal.

* Fotash and soda are called fixed alkaliep, snd ammtcia the volatile. Potasbfrom the
aobM of almost all vegetablet. Soda abonsda in the nioeral kingdooi, iD •«» lalt aod ashes
^ BMrise pkuato, and alto &aUT« in tJb« ooil* ^f ^gTPt, 67rm, and India. •

No. 138.] 32»

The willows are valuable trees for timber or for economical
purposes. The willow, the sallow and the poplar being the re-
presentative of the order. The use of osier for wicker work, of
sallow for charcoal making, is well known. Excellent cricket
bats are made from the light wood of the salix alba ; arrows from
the aspen, (popular tremons) and various turnery ware.

The name osier is given to several species of willow or salix,
u»ed in wicker work — chiefly baskets. Osieri difler from sallows
in their long, straight, flexible and tough twigs; thin, generally
sessile, (leaves with no foot stalks) germens and elongated style,
and stigmas. The osier forms a hardy, useful hedge lor excluding
boisterous winds, for preserving river banks.

O^ers are divided into two classes. The first class is known
by its mealy or downy blunt leaves, while the other class has a
smootk and more green pointed leaf, much like that of a myrtle.

The common Osier (Salix Viminalis — willow to bind loiiu.)
Any twig to bind with was called viminalis by Pliny. The com-
mon Osier is one of the most abundant species — is fond of moist
situations, banks of streams, meadows, &c. The twigs grow very
long, slender, round, polished and downy when young, and have
fijie silky hairs. The leaves have very short foot stalks, and so
may be termed sessile, grow almost upright, are about a span
long, and half an inch wide.

There is a variety called the Velvet Osier, in which no external
difiference is perceptible, but the twigs are more pliant. There
are several species as well as varieties comprehended under the
name of Osiers. The silky-leaved Osier (Salix Smithiana) is
found growing in meadows and Osier grounds, the twigs of which
are so brittle that they are not fit for basket work. It is, there-
fore, important to cultivators of Osiers to distinguish very care-
fully between this and the Velvet Osier.

The Auricled Osier (Salix Forbiana) is grown in the eastern
parts of England. Stem erect, bushy, upright, slender, smooth,
twigs very tough and flexible, of a greyish yellow color, not pur-
ple hue; it is highly esteemed, and much cultivated for the finest
basket work.

S30 [Assembly

The green-leaved Osier (Salix Rubra, or red,) is a small tree,
witli long, upriglif, smooth, greyish or purplish, more frequently
tawny branches. It is very tough and pliant, and is one of tli©
most valuable Osiers when cut down annually. The very long
narrow leaves of it agree in shape with the Salix Viminalis. It
is rather rare. It lacks the dense white pubescence (hairiness.)

In the fens in tlie ea-'t of England tliere are many plantations
or Holts (as Ihoy xheng cull them) of Osiers. These beautify the
country, keep the ^tock warm in winter, and provide fur basket
«nd all wicker w^ork.

The mode of planting is very simple. They dig the ground to
the depth of one foot, and then prick down cuttings of four year's
growth, and eighteen inches long, at three P.et apart. The proper
season for this planting is from the fall of (he leaf until late in the
Spring, but they seldom fail, if set out at any time.

The Club will be much pleased to receire communication*
from any citizen who has raised the Osier, and to learn of its ex-
tension through our country.

Judge Van Wyck — There is no branch of agriculture, and hor-
ticulture, perhaps, more important for our country, and, indeed,
for any counti-y, than the introduction and ciiltivationof newahd
nsfeful plan's. This consists not only in introducing exotic or
foreign plants, but in discovering new ones at home. Our coun-
try presents a wide field for this last. It is a young country and
and an extensive one. It possesses a great diversity of surface,
of climate and of soil, numerous high mountains, extensive plains,
many large, dense forests. The enterprising gardner and farmer,
both scientific and practical, could not perhaps employ a portion
of their time more profitably than in endeavoring to procure some
new i^.[\i\i or iKW vaiicty irorn a di.-tarice. Thir> ought to ]>e of the
grass or grain kind or garden vegetables ; some new tree — orna-
mental or useful ; some new fruit or flower. These, or some of
them, have at different periods been transplanted from the north
to the south and west, and vice versa ; and, with a little care at
first, been acclimated, grew^, prospered, and found useful and
beautiful in their respective new localities. Exotics, plants of

Ko. 185.] 331

foreign countries, of the best of all kinds, we should import, and
cultivate, and especially those to Vihose habits our goil and cli-
mate would be adapted. This has been done to some extent, but
we ought to continue it and increase it. The various countries of
Europe have been engaged more or less in this for centuries, and
of late perhaps more than ever, and no doubt the practice has
added both to the wealth and beauty of most of them. In Eng-
land, in George the Second's time, 1770, new plants v/ere intro-
duced ; George the third's time, 1756, during this century, that is
the eighteenth, on an average 156 plants were anuualy introduced.
The ardor of researcii has not in the least abated ; but on the con-
trary, increased up to the present time. This would not be the
case if the business was not attended with both pleasure and pro-
fit. Considerable has been said by several gentlemen present
about the osier willow in our country. Wo have a great many
varieties of the willow among us, and generally they thrive and
grow very luxuriantly and with little cultivation. The whole
family of the willows, and which is pretty numerous, requires a
moist, wet soil. They do best in meadows and valleys that lay
low and contain much moisture, or on the margin and banks of
brooks and living streams. This is not only the case with us, but
also in Europe, and, it is thought, is their habit all over the
woild — wherever they grow. Some think the best kind of the
osier wilL)W for making baskets and other fine wicker work will
not grow well in the U. S. There is a willow growing in New
Jersey and Pennsylvania said to be imported, from which light
baskets are made and of good quality, and sent to the New-York
and Philadelphia markets. This shows the plant would grow
here in certain localities, and probably of the best kind, especially
if a little pains were taken with it at fii'st to give it a start and
habituate it to our climate and soil. Our people have induce-
ments enough for this, as millions of dollars are sent abroad every
}e;;rand this fine v.icker work imported in baskets and other
shapes for our country, when this luoncy migiit be kept at home
and our agricultural and manufacturing industry huve the benefit
of it. The qualities which chiefly distinguish the osier willow are
the length and slendernes5 of its limbs or twigs; and the flexibil-
ity and toughness of its wood.

332 [Assembly

The Chairman. — I think the practice as to the preparation of the
Osier for market, is to boil them, in order to carry off all the sap,
but I am not certain. We must look into this matter and intro-
duce into our country the proper kind of Osier and the best meth-
ods of preparing it.

Dr. Peck of Brooklyn was requested to speak of his experience
in Osier. He said that his experience was but small. He had
contemplated, some years ago, growing it on Long Island, where
abundant locations suitable to it exist. An aged Irishman then
told me that the low grounds on the island were well adapted to
grow it — and that at the right season while the sap is in, they
strip off the bark and save it from mildew by putting it away in
airy sheds — that exposure to the sun would render the osiers too
brittle. I should think that boiling or steaming them, would
remove all the sap and toughen the fibres. Willows generally do
well on uplands — not so, I believe, the best Osiers.

John Silverside. — I have been accustomed in my youth to ob-
serve the- planting and preparation of basket willow-osier — in
England. They always cut it when the sap was in and stripped
off the bark, which then comes off very easily. It is then put in
airy shades, to dry. I do not recollect that any machinery was
ever employed about it. I never heard of boiling it.

I have seen and made beautiful hedge of it, by sticking the
two ends of an Osier cutting in the ground, for both ends readily
take root. This must be done while the sap is in full vigor. It
grows well along the edges of streams of water. I have never
seen a field of it. One might be made on ground sufficiently
moist, no doubt.

Chairman — Desired the members present to look up full infor-
mation in reference to this subject and bring it to the next meet-
ing of the club, on the first Tuesday of November next — for no
meeting of the club takes place in October on account of the
* fair.

Mr. George Dickey, said that the Osier is largely imported and
is sold in this market by weight. It is of commercial importance.

No. 133.] 333

There is no excuse for this importation, we must grow it. I will
make inquiry of those who best understand the cultivation and
management of the Osier and report to the club.

Hon. Richard Bacon, of Simsburj, sends a box of wild grapes
for examination — which were tried and pronounced excellent for
a wild one. It is a very dark color. One berry measured three
inches in circumference. Mr. Bacon sends also apples of a very fine
form. Dr. Peck said he had known them for twenty years by
the name of Baking Sweets, they are excellent when baked.
Pears also of good flavor.

Mr. Ralph Hall, sent for examination line native dark colored
and some white native grapes which are good. The white one
resembles in color the sweet water foreign grape.

The subject of the Osier and new plants was ordered for the
next regular meeting on the first Tuesday of November next at
noon. The club then adjourned.

L. W. Annan, 810 Greenwich street, exhibited very beautiful
seedling apples raised by Mr. Alson Sherwood, of East Fishkill.
The tree is a chance seedling about 12 years old, 20 feet high ;
has on it probably 5,000 apples. Those on the upper limbs white
like wax. They are also of pleasant flavor. It bears few leaves
in comparison with other trees — almost as many apples as leaves.
The af^les are about one inch in diameter.

Mr. Annan exhibited also Lemon Clings of very fine kind ;
also wild grapes of a fine deep wine color.

The apple is to be called Sherwood's Wax Apple.

Ralph Man, Esq., exhibited pears from a tree planted in 1690
by Samuel Hall, at East Middletown once called, then Chatham,
now Portland. These pears were picked on the 10th Sept. 1852.
'^Chey are well grown, handsome yellow, pleasant taste.

H. MEIGS, Secretary,

334 [Assembly

Farmers' Cluhj JVovemler 9thy 1852.

Judge Van Wyck in the chair, Henry Meigs, Secretary.

Present, Dr. Enderlin, the late associate of Liebig, Dr. Under-
hill, of Croton Point, Dr. Satchel, of Aecomac, Virginia, and
others.

The Secretary read the followirig paper?, translations &c., re-
marking that the wisest nations are now busily engaged in natu-
ralizing in their various countries, all sorts of useful and beauti-
ful plants from the most delicious flower to the largest tree. And
why shall we not avail ourselves of the products of all soils and
climates of the earth, and let all of them become members of our
great Union 1 embracing as it does all climates and conditions
for the vegetable world.

RcToe Hortieole, Paris, Ang. , 1852.

NEW FRUITS AND PLANTS.

Laurns Persia or PcroCa gratissima.

This is a tree of medium size, grows in the West Indies, where
it bears the name of the Advocate or Lawyer. The fruit is about
the form and size of a pair. The only specimen we have is in
the Rautonuet Garden, where it is about five metres or about six-
teen feet high — stands near the south side of a wall. Two years
ago it bore ripe fruit — the flowers having been artificially fecun-
dated. There is a larger number of them in the experimental
garden at'Algiers, v^here they are trimmed into pyramidal forms
like the pear tree. They bear flowers and fruit in abundance.

Eriobotyra Japonica, is now common in the gardens of Hyeres
(Hyeres is near Toulon) and Toulon. On the 12th of May last,
some of its fruit began to ripen. Great quantities fully ripe, were in
the markets of Algiers, on the first of August. It is not a fruit
of the highest qualities — but it relishes much, succeeding early
as It does the preserved fruits of winter. W^e recommend it for
our gardens in the south of France.

Sida Arborea — a hot house bush in Paris, grows freely at Hyeres,
some twelve feet high, is covered the greatest part of the year
v.ith fldwers of great beauty— purple veins in deep orange color.

No. 133.] 335

We recommend it to oar southern gardens.

Erjthrina Cristagulli. This beautiful plant becomes at th©
south a laigG tree. We recommend it to all southern gardens.

Pittosporum Tobia or Sinense is now completely naturalized in
the Vaux and the mouths of the river Rhone and has become the
favorite shade tree of the people there. Mr. Rantonnet raises
them in his garden every year by thousands. He has some grow-
ing there, as large as cider apple trees, but taller and more ele-
gant a figure. We have seen it covered with thousands of its
white flowers — producing a most beautiful effect,

Calycanthus PisECox produces abundance of fruit at Hyeres
and is now entirely naturalized in Province. It does much bet-
ter in full sun — than in any shade. We may say the same of the
Hydrangia Quercifolia or Oak leafed Hydrangia, which becomes
a great, many-stemmed bush, but it prefers shade.

Acacia the broad leafed from New Holland, is now growing in
Provence as well as it did in Australia. It has the size and fig-
ure of a large pear tree.

Lfigerstrccmia Indtca and Reginse grow about 15 to 17 feet high.
It flowers abundantly and beautifully — grows well wherever tho
olive will. It is readily multiplied by budding.

Poinciano Gilliesii from Chili. Has been many years at Hy-
eres, is a very ornamental tree for figure and abundant flowering.
Merits greater extension.

Solanum Articulatum is growing in the Rantonnet garden, iiA
trunk as thick as a man's thigh. It presents the phenomenon of
bearing potato blossoms.

Laurus Indica. Wo have seen one as large in the trunk as a
man's body. It is a very beautiful tree and ought to be cultiva-
ted wheiever it will grow. It needs a mild winter.

Prunus Caroliniana, do. Lusitanica, Ulnus Sinensis. Theso
three trees flourish as well at Hyeres as in their native countries.

336 [Assembly

The latter one, the ulnus or elm of China, is remarkable for hav-
ing very shining leaves -which remain on a long time in all sea-
sons.

Ligustrum Japonicum is a favorite tree in Provence, some of
them very curious and ornamental.

Bignonia Manglesii — Of exuberant vegetation, even prodigious
thick foliage with beautiful flowers. Excellent to cover walls
&c., bears fruit at Hjeres but not abundantly.

Many other ne\r plants are mentioned.

SHADE TREES.

The greatest portion of shade trees suffer in large cities from
worms. It is extremely desirable to have trees which are cloth
ed with dense, bright foliage, free from the attack of worms.
The Ailanthus has been extensively tried of late years. It seems
to be proof against all insects, but is considered by many to be in-
jurious to other plants and unwholesome, especially in the most
beautiful season, that of blossom.

We have now commenced, with another tree which seems to be
preferable to all others for city purposes. It is the Norway Maple, a
tree bearing dense foliage of a deep shining green on the upper sur-
face, lighted color below, holds its leaves all summer, and if it is
allowed to grow without trimming, it attains great size.

From LiiKlley'8 Vegetable Kingdom.

FABACE^.
Indigo. — Tfie dye from it is a formidable poison.

Senna — Is derived from Cassia Acutifolia, (sharp leaved) from
Cassia Senna and from Cynanchum Aigel.

Ceratonia Siliqua — Or Carot tree, or Algaroba bean, is fed to
horses in the south of Spain ; has been exported to England with
profit, as substitute for oil-cake. The dry pulp in which the
seeds are buried is very nutritious ; is supposed to have been the
food of St. John in the wilderness ; is, therefore, called Locust,

No. 133.] 337

ami St. Johii's Bread. Singers are said to chew this fruit to im-
prove their voices. The seeds of the carot ti'ee are said to be the
original Carat Weights of Jeweler.

APOCYNACE^, OR DOGBANES.

Abundant in the hot parts of Asia ; some in the American tro-
pics— but by no means in Africa. They are generally very beauti-
ful plants, with large, gay, showy colored flowers — in many cases
poisonous. One of them, the Xaughinia Venenifera, bears nuts
about the size of the almond, one of which will destroy twenty
men. It was used in the island of Madagascar as an ordeal.

The common Oleander belongs to this class, and is a formidable
poison — little suspected.

LOGANIACEiE.

Are either tropical, or near the tropics. A few species are
found in New Holland and in America. The .Wux Fo7?iica is the
celebrated fruit. This fatal drug consists of the seeds of the Stry-
chnos Nux Vomica, an Indian tree with small greenish white
flowers, ribbed leaves, and a beautiful orange colored fruit, round,
size of a small apple, has a brittle shell over it, and a white gel-
atinous pulp.

Revae HorticolC; Paris, Sept., 1853.

Artichoke — Cynara Scolymus — The culture of artichokes has
been long considered by many people as a luxury fitted only for
the tables of the rich. This is so, generally ; but in our great
centres of population it has become in a considerable degree a dish
for our working classes. During the whole of the artichoke sea-
son, the hucksters sell them out of their little hand carts all over
Paris, from sunrise to sunset. They cut them early in the morn-
ing and carry them to the markets, where people go to buy them
raw. In the morning they are generally sold (ready cooked) by
■vromen who carry them about for sale, on aflat flasket (eyentaire)
at about one or two cents apiece, (5 to 10 centimes, a centime
being 1-lOUth of a franc) according to their size. Working peo-
ple consume a great many of them daily, because it is one of the
I easiest vegetables to cook. It agrees well with almost everybody,

[Assembly No. 133.] 22

338 1 Assembly

and one does not become tired of it, if it is on tlie table every day,
in consequence of the many ways in which it can be cooked. It
is eaten (when cooked) with white sauce, with vinegar, fried, with
mavonaise, very good with pepper ; in ragouts, raw, or baked dry
in an oven. There is no difficulty in the culture of artichokes.
They require rich soil, deeply tilled — light and rather sandy. In
soils which retains too much water, their roots are apt to rot. To
preserve them during winter — cut them off with about ten inches
of the stem and set them in a heap of earth, not letting the soil
get into their heads. When the cold comes, cover them well with
leaves of oak, of plantain, of chesnut, &c. When the weather is
mild, open tlie covering every morning, take out what you want?
and cover up again in the evening, to keep out sleet, snow and
rain. Ee careful and do not tread on or press hard on them, for
they soon rot if bruised. Almost all our gardners practice as we
have stated. About the end of April we plant the artichoke
quincunx fashion, that it, five in a square — as one at each corner
and one in the middle, the squares being about 2 1-2 feet on each
side. Moles are very fond of their roots, especially in winter.
In France this mode of raising artichokes is almost sure ; but,
nevertheless, we think it best to state another method, practised
at Senlis, where they succeed well. Doublet, the gardner there,
sets out his artichokes in the open grounds at forty inches apart
every way ; between each, he sets out large Milan cabbages. To-
wards the end of November, or in December, he takes up one row
of artichokes out of every two. He then digs out that space, two
spades deep, throwing the dirt on each side to the rows of arti-
chokes left standing — so hilling tli^m up, and afterwards covering
the tops with straw and leaves, so keeping them (in the places
where they grew) until the following months of March or April
when he frees the artichokes from the earth and coverings. He
then sets out aritchokes in the row wdiich he had taken out in the
preceding fall. In the following December he destroys the oldest
row of artichokes, (now 19 to 20 months old) and the soil where
they stood is now used to hill up the new row. The object of this
method is to render permanent the culture of them in a field
suited to them, and to produce from each plant fruit not only more

No. 133.] 339

in number, but more beautiful. This plan will not do in clayey
soils, wlii-ch retain too much water.

We saw at Senlis a field which has grown artichokes every
year for the last sixty years, on this plan, which is too little
known.

Mr. Doublet's crops give him about five cents for each plant.
The plants stand about 40 inches apart, so giving per acre about
lOUU plants. The cabbage give him about 1 cent per head.

At Rouen they plant the eyes of the artichokes at about two
feet apart, and between these, three rows of Grelot onions, or
salads, or radishes of the red sort ; and in every vacant spot they
set a Milan cabbage. They take up their artichokes in every fall
and put them in cellars. In the spri«g they take off the eyes,
or radons as they call them — and set them out as before. M.
Rouffia, of Paris, who is very zealous in agriculture, informs us
that in April or May tlie gardeners of Perpiguan have a method
by which they increase the size of the artichoke. It is very
simple. As soon as the heads are high enough on their stalks,
tliey put a band of rush around the leaves sufficiently close to
cause the leaves to be somewhat pressed over their heads — which
being thus sheltered from the sun, become much more tender and
larger. We know some amateurs at Paris who use this plan with
constant success. Some attempts to force tliem have succeeded.

In the course of last winter Algeria sent to Paris about eighty
thousand artichokes-
Revue HorticolCj Paris, Sept., 1852.

LONGEVITY OF SEEDS— NEW OBSERVATIONS.

In our last note on this subject we invited cultivators who
have any knowledge of cases, to have the goodness to communi-
cate it to us, not merely to add new evidence to the support of
the opinions we have published, but to provoke contradiction and
bright on a subject so interesting both to vegetable physiology
and practical agriculture. One of the ablest agriculturists of the
west of France — M. Trochu — writes to us to call our attention to
facta observed by himself. He states that in 1816 he had sown
alternate beds of buckwheat and millet — some six or seven acres.

340 [Assembly

When the seeds were beginning to ripen, gre^t numbers of birds
infested" the field, eating the grains and causing much to fall on
the ground. After harvest he dug the field up deep with the
spade to prepare it for a nursery of forest trees. The surface soil
with the seed in it was put at the boitom, and the clay subsoil on
top. Twelve years afterwards he took away the trees from a part
of this field. This operation necessarily left holes where the
roots had been taken out. Soon after this he found the earth about
the holes covered with young millet and buckwheat plants —
while before this, not a solitary one had been seen for twelve
years. He says they had been buried so deep that they could
not germinate.

Before this — that is, in 1809 — he had broken up a piece of
land to the depth of a metre (nearly 40 inches) with spade and
pickaxe, to make a fruit garden. The surface soil was put at the
bottom, and the subsoil on the surface, so that a multitude of the
seeds of rushes and heaths on the field were now buried about a
metre deep.

Twenty-five years after that he was very much astonished to
see the ground about the holes made to remove the trees covered
with a multitude of young rushes and heaths, and now, forty
years, these seeds grow abundantly whenever a hole is made in
removing a tree. This seems to establish peremptorily that the
earth has a power of preserving seeds at a certain depth, for an
indefinite length of time. M^uuin.

GENERA AND SPECIES OF PLANTS KNOWN AS LATE

AS 1846.

1 . Tallogens- — Simple structures, no wood, stems and leaves in-
distinguishable.

A thallus is a fusion of root, stem and leaf into a general mass.
Fungus, Lichens, Algae or Sea Weed, &c.

2. Acrogens. — Stems and leaves distinguishable, such as Ferns,
Honetails, Club Mosses, &c.

3. Rrizogens. — Sexual or flowing plants. Fructification spring-
ing from a thallus, (Oayyos, a green leaf.) The wood of their

No. 333.] 341

stems is arranged in a confused manner, the youngest in th«
centre, their colyledons single.

4. Eiidogens. — Leaves parallel veined. The root is, internally,
much like the stem — growth from within.

5. Dictyogens. — Leaves not veined, deciduous, (fall ofi" every
year.) Root and wood in solid concentration — circles — a small
class. The Yam, Sarsaparilla, and a few more. Aiktoon, a net.
Wood youngest at the circumference — Cotyledona two or more.

6. Gymnogens. — From the seeds being quite naked.

7. Exogens — Growth on the outside. The seeds are inclosed
in seed vessels.

The seven classes embrace the who^ vegetable kingdom.

The first class— the Thallogen — grows as a Fungus, or an Alga,
or a Lichen, according to the peculiar conditions of heat, light or
moisture, in which it is placed — producing .Fungi or putrid or-
ganic beings. Lichens on living vegetables, earth or on stones, and
Algae, when developed in water.

H. MEIGS, August, 1852.

[From Lindley.]

Endogenous Plants. — A primary class of plants. Their stems
grow by successive additions to the inside. And they are also
distinguished by the veins of their leaves running parallel — no
dividiiig or branching — grasses, lillies, asparagus, &c., and in lat-
itudes large trees, such as Palms and Screw-pines.,

Exogenous Plants, — Those plants which grow by addition from
without. They are dicotyledons. A transverse section shows
the medullary rays from the centre to the bark — fibrous rings,
with a woody mass between them. They constitute another pri-
mary class into which tlie vegetable world is divided, and are
characterized by the reticulation (net work) of their leaves.

General Chandler exhibited to the members specimens of the
Osier Willow, salix vinunalis, grown by him from the stock of
Mr. Bement, of Albany. He observed that this important osier,
the only one which experience has decided to be the very best for

342 [AsSEMBLT

all the purposes of basket making, and every other form in which
the osier can be employ edjwas cultivated several years ago bvMr.
Bement. The specimen here presented has been cultivated for
the purpose of having an example of the true osier for the exam-
ination of all who come to the Institute for information. The
foreign osier is sold here at seven cents a pound.

Ambrose L. Jordan — late Attorney-General, of this State, sends
to the Club specimens of the true basket willow — nine feet long —
grown on his place on the Hudson river.

NEW PLANTS GENEiiALLT.

Judge Van Wyck, the Chairman. — The introduction of new
plants, that is the useful and beautiful, into every part of our
country where they will grow^ and prosper, ought to interest
strongly the farmer, planter and gardner. The farmer of the mid-
dle and eastern States, knows pretty well what new fruit, flower,
or forest tree, he has not upon his premises, and from the best in-
formation from experienced individuals, agricultural journals and
periodicals, endeavor to procure and cultivate such as would be
the most profitable to him. Profit means not only things that can
be used for the table, and gratify the palate, like fruits and vege-
tables, or such trees as can be used as timber, but such plants and
trees as produce the sweetest and most beautiful flower, and larg-
est leaf and most dense foliage. These last make the finest shades
for dwellings and home-steads and ornament the ground adjacent
to them. The eye, now-a-days, must be pleased and gratified, as
well as the palate ; this increases the value of the mansion farm
and grounds attached to it. Tliese reasons will apply with equal
force to the planter or farmer of the south. Our gardners, too,
of both sections, north and south, should pay some attention to
ornament in laying out these, as well as great attention to the
quantity and qualify of their products. The French have shown
great attention, as much so, and perhaps more than any nation in
the world, to the introduetion of new, beautiful and useful plants
into their country, they have great taste, acuteness and science in
everything relating to arboriculture, floriculture and Jiorticulture.
In Louis Phillipe's time, w^hich embraced 18 years, they introduc-
ed about 15,000 new plants into France, consisting of fruits, trees.

No. 133.] 343

flowers and garden vegetables, and cultivated them with such
skill and diligence, as to secure the growth and maturity of most
of them. The King embarked in the enterprise and ordered from
all quarters of the world, some of the most useful and beautiful
plants and trees, and had them planted in the gardens of his es-
tates, wher(> he would, give those that required it, shelter or pro-
tection from the weather, until they got acclimated. Tiiis with
the efiorts of numerous individuals both before and since Louis
Phillipe's time, has added much to the wealth and beauty of
France. The nations of continental Europe, have pursued a simi-
lar ourse in a greater or less degree. It was stated at last meet-
ing, when tliis question was before us, that Great Britain stood
pre-eminent in the same laudable enterprise of introducing ero-
tics, or useful foreign plants into her empire. During George the
Third's time, 6,75U were imported and cultivated. It' is not to be
expected that our comparatively young country will enter as ex-
tensively into the business as many of the nations of the old world.
We have not, as yet, the facilities which capital gives, such as
green houses, hot houses, the preparation and working of grounds
and gardens for the reception of many of the new plants as they
arrive, to protect them from the weather, until they get acclimat-
ed. We have done something at it, but w^e can improve in the
system and greatly increase it. We have the example of those
•who are older in the business than we are, and the great good
they have derived from it, as nations and individuals, stimulates
us to do more.

Osier Willow. — This has been made a part of one subject, on
the ground, I suppose, that this useful plant will not grow well in
our country, and some doubt whether the genuine one is or has
been here. I believe we have in our country every variety of the
"Willow, useful and ornamental, the most beautiful of all is, per-
haps the weeping willow or as it is scientifically ca.\led>Salix
Babylonica, we have these in abundance and great perfection, and
as it has been stated at this Club heretofore, and proofs given of
of it; we have the osier for making baskets, &c. To show
that the willow of every species requires a wet, moist soil, they
do not grow as thriftily nor live as long on high ground, they de-
cay and die sooner. This has been the habits* of the plant in all

341 [Assembly

ages ; the terms used to designate it at different periods of the
world pro 76 this. The Romans called it Salix, the Celtic, after
them, called it Salloio, meaning, sal near and lis water, the tree
now, is as much known in many places by sallow as willow.
The Roman term salix was the root from which all the modern
names sprung, the Saxon has it salix, the French saule, Italian
salico, Spanish salec, all show its thirst for water in all ages and
countries, and that this way only to be quenched by a free use of
it and being near it.

Hon. Richard Bacon, of Simsbury, Connecticut, presented fine
large apples from his orchard, which he desired the Club to exani-
ine and name the species. The apples were tested by the
members.

Dr. Underbill observed that in his opinion they were a variety
of the fall pippin. The members concurred in that opinion.

Specimens of the two red pines of California, with their foliage,
were on the table and were examined by the members. These
specimens were transmitted from California by Andrew Williams
Esq., one of the earliest members of the American Institute.

It appears on examination that the annual rings of these two
pines are extremely thin, so much so, that one tenth of an inch
contains, perhaps, four or five of these rings on an average. One
of these pines has its fibres all regularly waving like the curls of
hair in some cases. Some of these trees are found to be three
hundred feet high and twenty feet in diameter. A tree of that
diameter has therefore about four thousand rings — showing how
it began to grow about the time when the Egyptians were found-
ing the pyramids Lindley says that the locust tree of Brazil, is
of about the same age — that they were growing in the age of Ho-
mer, and were 332 years old when Pythagoras was living. The
same age is attributed to the enormous eufcalyptus of Australia.

The subject of new plants and the osier willow was ordered for
the next meeting.

No. 133.] 345

Mr. Dickey, to whom it was referred to ascertain the commer-
cial state of the osier here — and- such information as to its growth
and mode of curing — reported that he was not yet ready, but
would report soon.

The members were all of opinion that efforts to introduce and
naturalize all useful and beautiful plants, was one of the most
valuable and interesting objects, not only of institutes but of ev-
ery State government and of the United States government.
The Club adjourned.

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

Farmers' Club, JVbvember llth, 1852.

Sam'l GriflBng, Esq., of N. J. in the chair. Henry Meigs, Sec.

Present, Gen. Tallmadge, Rev. Mr. Fitch, Mr. Shelton, Mr.
Dey, the three last named gentlemen recent«ly from California,
Judge Van Wyck, of New York, Mr. Dickey and others.

Mr. Shelton presented a collection of 'seeds and plants, colored
drawings of flowers and plants — engravings, all executed under
his care by able artists in California. Being questioned by mem-
bers he replied, that Indian corn, of the southern kind, grows
there occasionally to the height of twenty -five to thirty feet, but
in suih cases yields little if any corn. That the short Canada
corn with its ears growing close to the ground — is planted in Cal-
iiornia with S(>me success — yielding there some fifty bushels of
shelled corn per acre. That the changable character of t'lie cli-
mate, the hot days and remarkably cool nights, do not appear to
suit our great staple, Indian corn. The Canada corn grows there
to four and six feet high, the grain is quite hard. The trees near
the sea, at San Francisco, assume peculiar forms in consequence
of the strong winds rushing inland from the Pacific ocean to cool
the rarefied hot air of the interior. The wind has caused the
branches of the trees to take the direction of the wind, to render
them stinted so that they grow up like chapparal.

Mr. Dey observed that the rainy season commences with No-
vember and ends in June. I have passed through the California

346 [Assembly

valleys. As soon as the rainy season begins, the clover spring
up — grow very bushy — are very tender. The Indian Squaws
gather baskets of it, they roll it in their hands into balls which
they chew and then swallow. I went through the valley of San
Jose, it was from seventy to eighty miles in length, and in its
widest part about sixty miles. Clover is very abundant, so is
wild oats in this valley, that of San Juan and other valleys and
the hills also. One of the clovers of a large growth, called burr
clover, bearing burrs (about as large as ordinary peas) having the
seeds inside — grows over thousands of acres, and when the dry
season comes, these burrs cover the ground in numerous places
about two inches deep.

Mr. Shelton. I have gathered three bushels of these burrs off
eighteen feet square.

Mr. Dey. Droves of cattle and stock lap it up with their
tongues during the dry season, and it fattens them, while no green
food can be got by them, everything on the surface being perfectly
dry.

Mr. Shelton exhibited a quantity of the burr clover seeds, and
his Herbarium. There are fifteen or sixteen varieties of clover
there — of all colors and very beautiful. I made splendid bo-
quets of clover heads only. One of the clovers is somewhat like
our red top. There is a striking difference between the vegeta-
tion of California and ours here, trees quite different.

Mr. Dey. What we call, in California, the red wood seen>s to
be between red cedar and pine. I saw one of them which meas-
ured sixteen feet in diameter and was three hundred feet high.
This tree and many others have holes at the base, caused chiefly
by the practice of building fires against them. I measured one
of them which was entirely solid and it was fifteen feet in di-
ameter.

Mr. Shelton. — I have seen timothy grass there, it is a native.

I present some of the heads here. They are smaller than those of

the best timothy grown in New- York. I have known from two

J to five tons of hay to be cut of one acre. I have seen one root of

clover tillered out so much as tacovereightfeet square, and some

No. 133.] 347

of it attains a height of ten feet. There is a grass there called
pin grass, a very curious growth ; it is one of the last in making
its appearance. There is also an acid clover, with which a
healthy and pleasant lemonade is made. This clover is common-
ly called sour clover.

Mr. Dey. — There are acres and acres of the burr clover, and
also of a phlox, a beautiful flower which covers the ground as
thick as buckwheat.

Mr. Shelton. — I weighed one sour clover root, with all its
branches, and it weighed three pounds. There grows abundant-
ly a sort of mint, a very fine aromatic.

Rev. Mr. Fitch, from California. — The vegetation of Califor-
nia commences in November, with the rainy season, and begins
to dry up in June, and the drought continues until the ensuing No-
vember, and generally without dew. It has been said recently
that rains fell occasionally in the dry seasons, which hitherto had
not been known, so that lately some of the dry fodder had been
destroyed.

Mr. Shelton. — I observed that they cut barley sometimes about
the last of May, and are in no hurry to carry it in — they let it
lay where it fell, in swathe, and kept in perfect condition.

Eev. Mr. Fitch. — Wheat grows well there. General Vallejo
told me that he had known one hundred bushels raised on one
acre of ground. That forty to sixty bushels is common.

Mr. Dey. — I observed that when the wheat was first sown, the
crop is ordinarily about fifty bushels an acre. The same field,
without any culture or sowing, yields, in the following season,
from thirty to forty bushels an acre ; and in the third season the
crop (witliout sowing or culture) amounts to from twenty to thir-
ty bushels an acre. After this they plow and sow again. It was
in the vicinity of Sutter's Fort that I saw all this.

Mr. Shelton. — On the first sowing of barley they sometimes
have, at the first crop, one hundred bushels an acre, and forty or
fifty in the second season, without plowing or sowing.

3 48 [Assembly

Mr. Dey. — The proportion of arable land in California is about
the same as in New-York.

General Chandler. — What is the present value of the arable
land there 1

Eev. Mr. Fitch. — Some of the farm lands have recently been
sold for eight dollars an acre, but prices vary from ten to fifty
dollars.

Mr. Shelton.— The single crop is often worth |500 an acre.
Mr. Horner, one of our greatest farmers, says that he will not
take $500 an acre for his land. Messrs. Horner, Beard and Val-
lejo have a farm of four leagues of land, (4,400 acres per league,)
all now enclosed in iron fence, made of heavy wire, as large nearly
as my finger, with posts of the red wood, all drawn up tight. Five
wires in this fence. There is one avenue through the farm ten
miles in length. The whole length of the fence is about thirty
miles.

I became enthusiastic as to the floral and natural history of
California. I traveled over it, collectiug specimens and preserv-
ing them best way I could, under great inconvenience. I em-
ployed able artists to make drawings and engravings. I here ex-
hibit them. I was active in getting up the first fair, and had the
pleasure of presenting a silver goblet to Mr. Horner, so well mer-
ited by him. There were exhibited enormous vegetables. One
onion, from the farm of Mr. James Williams, of Santa Cruz,
weighed twenty-two pounds, and would not go into the head of a
flour barrel. A turnip of about the same size. A cabbage which
measured inside the principal leaves thirteen feet and a half in
circumference. From Beard's farm a perfectly solid head of
cabbage, seven feet and a half round, weighed fifty-six pounds.
They sold in the market for twenty cents a pound.

Rtv. Mr. Fitch : I measured a spruce tree lying on the ground,
and found it to ,be three hundred and twenty- five feet in length,
and nine feet in diameter.

No. 133.] U9

. Mr. Sheltou : Wheat and barley grow there to the height ot six
to twelve feet, I measured a redwood tree, found it three hundred
feet in length, and at the ground fifty feet round.

Mr. Dey : The grapes there reminded me of our best catawbas,
as to llavor.

Rev. Mr. Fitch : They are not indigenous ; all have originally
been brought from Europe.

Messrs. Dey and Shelton concur in this statement.

Rev. Mr. Fitch : One general crop can be had in the period
from November to June, always, and several crops where irigation
can he had.

Mr. Shelton: Wild oats cover in some places valleys and hills.
They grow from two feet to six feet high, and occasionally ten
feet. Men have tied the heads of these oats over their own heads,
while they were on horseback. It grows so thick in some places
that it is extremely difficult for horse or man to get through it.

Mr. Dey : I have rode for miles through the wild oats, and
they were difficult to get through ; they were generally as high
as my saddle-lop.

Rev. Mr. Fitch : The growth of wild mustard in the valley of
San Jose is extraordinary ; it was higher than my head as I sat
on horseback. One cannot get through it ; you must keep the
path beaten by the horses. The plant yields a great abundance
of seed of a dark color. I discovered that the caterpillars there
are almost all silkworms ; they feed on the leaves of the oak,
make cocoons about one-third the size of those of China and Ita-
ly, and the silk is of a cream color and very strong. I have no
doubt that if they had mulberry to feed on, they would make
cocoons as large as any silkworms do. The Chinese of California
say that the silk is finer than that of China.

Mr. Sheltou : The Chinese there say that tea will flourish in
California.

Rev. Mr. Fitch : California is a most admirable region for
sheep, which feed and fatten on the inexhaustibla fodder of the

350 [Assembly

dry season, and there is no underbrush to hinder their free mo-
tion.

Mr. Shelton : I pulled the two beets shown at this Club last
year. They weighed, one 47 pounds and the other 63 pounds.
The ground where they grew was ploughed and harrowed, the seed
sown in rows. Very few of them came up. They were planted
in May and pulled up in October. They grew with only four to six
inches of the root in the ground, the main bodies out of the ground
about two feet ; among them turnip beets, one of which weighed
45 pounds, was boiled and served up at a table where about two
or three hundred persons partook of it. It was fine.

Mr. Dey : There was no dish large enough to hold it. It was
as fine and delicate as any beet I ever tasted. It had no strings
in it.

Mr. Shelton : I observed that common onions had sometimes
produced, there, top onions.

AGRICULTURE OF CALIFORNIA.

Mr. Meigs read — Agricultural Fair, Sacramento, Oct. 7, 1852.
An address by Dr. John F. Morse, and a large exhibition of flow-
ers, fruits, and farm crops, viz :

Major Bennett's farm and garden. The garden of 30 acres, aijd
60 acres of grain ; employs ten men ; receipts from the garden
weekly |595.

Smith & Barber, farm, 30 acres of garden, yield $60 a day.

Mr. Southwick keeps 125 cows, at a cost of |600 per month j
sells per day 175 gallons of milk, at $1 per gallon ; has an annu-
al revenue of $63,000 from his dairy alone.

General Hutchinson — 800 acres of barley, 50 bushels per acre,
weighs 52 lbs. tlie bushel ; worth $91,584.

Mr. J, C. Davis— 600 acres; 200 head of stock.

r^o. 133.] 351

J. M. Horner, of San Jose valley — 200 acres; 80 bushels of
barley per acre, 16,000 bushels ; 150 acres of potatoes, 390 bush,
per acre, worth ^4 a bushel, besides large crops of wheat and oats.
Statistics not yet received-
Mr. E. L. Beard, of same valley — 540 acres in barley, wheat,
and oats ; average yield 50 bushels per acre ; 260 acres of pota-
toes, 250 bushels per acre, 05,000 bushels; aggregate amount in
value $260,000; and 16,000 lbs. of onions, 90,000 lbs. of grapes,
and 24 acres of cabbages.

"O'^

Corn stalks from Major Bennett, measuring thirty feet in length,
but no grain on ; beets 40 lbs. ; cucumbers 6^ lbs.

Pears and peaches, equal to any we ever examined ; watermelon
and egg plant, far exceeding any we ever saw ; large green win-
ter apples and fine yellow fall apples, large Selousle and virgali-
en pears and' St. Catharine peaches, native California peach, a
rich one.

Captain John A. Sutter exhibited some magnificent specimens
of Italian wheat, the seed of which was obtained from the straw
in which the statute of Washington had been packed.

A ten dollar medal was awarded to John Suydam, of American
river, for the best specimen of native wine. u\. like medal to
Warren & Co., of Sacramento, for best figs.

General Tallmadge moved an adjournment to Tuesday next, at
noon, in order to hear further from our California friends. This
will enable some of our visitors from abroad to attend. Carried.

The Club adjourned to Tuesday next, November 23, at noon.

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

Farmer's Club, Kovemher 23rd, 1852.

Simuel Griffing, Esq., of N. J., in the Chair. Henry Meigs,
Secretary.

Present about forty members.

Mr. Shelton being requested to continue his remarks upon the
vegetation of California, with his Herbarium and drawings and

352 [Assembly

seeds before him — the spechnens of phiiits and drawings tf plants
being about one thousand in number.

Barley grown from one grain yielded a mass of stalks and grain
which weighed seven pounds and one-half when dry. I have
seen ninety stalks of barley grown from one grain, and in another
instance two hundred and twenty (Dr. Morse said 225) stalks from
a single grain. The growth in height is about three and one-half
to four feet. The heads contain from forty to sixty grains each,
so that one grain yielded somewhere about six thousand grains.

Mr. Hawley, of San Jose, made a report of an agricultural ex-
hibition, in which he states, that at the rancho of General Vallejo,
called Buena Vista, (Fine View) there had been raised upon less
than six acres of land, nine hundred and sixty-five bushels of bar-
ley, or about 07ie hundred mid sixty bushels per acre. From two
acres of land were raised eighty thousand pounds weight of on-
ions, or twenty tons weight per acre. Mr, Horner, one of the great-
est farmers there, told me that he believed that he could raise on
one acre, sixty thousand or even seventy thousand pounds weight.
He had sold the crop of one acre at half a dollar a pound, and
received from it, $20,000, for that crop was forty thousand pounds
weight of onions.

Dr. Underbill, of Croton Point. — We are anxious to obtain cer-
tainty in reference to the vegetable productions of California,
which in many respects vary from and exceed all known to us.'

Mr. Shelton. — The potatoes are large and very- fine. I have
taken fifty from a field which weighed from one and a half to four
pounds weight each.

Mr. Dye. — I wanted to obtain a fair sample of the onions raised
on the farm of Messrs. White, Kearney & Co. Those which I
took and such as I saw in bags — I believe, wa-ighed, on an aver-
age, over one pound a piece, and one of them weighed three
pounds and a half. I intended to send some of these to this In-
stitute, of which I have the pleasure of being a member. I am
asked how we cook the large potatoes ? I reply that we found
by experience that we could not cook the large ones whole.

N^o. 133.] 353

because Ihey would always be done and indeed overdone on the
outride while the inside was not at all done — so we had to cut
thera into smaller pieces. The onions occasionally are so l-arge
that one of them covers a breakfast plate eight inches in diameter.
Those onions are of the most perfect shape as if turned in a lathe
— their skins very thin — reddish color — the onion very tender,
delicate, free from that strong smell and taste which other onions
have— our people in CaliCornia eat them as one does apples.

Mr. Slielton. — I found the onions by measurement, commonly,
five, six, and seven inches in diameter. They plant the seed in
February, in March they transplant them, and in June or- July
at farthest they are ripe. They often cover the ground entirely.
They require much moisture. As yet, no manure has been used
The onioLS are large at Horner's farm, but larger at Los Angeles.
They grow large on the coast of Mexico. The miners and some
others eat them as we do apples. The miners have given one
dollar a pound for them.'

Austin Church, M. D., remarked that the onion, as well as
bulbous roots, usually bears drought well, on account of its
crowth in concentric layers.

Mr. Slielton. — The climate of San Francisco is so mild that
tomatoes grow all winter in the open air.

Mr. Holmes. — How do you get in ice for summer use ?

Mr. Shelton. — Boston sends us some, which sells at ten or
twelve cents a pound weight. We get some snow from the moun-
tain-. We are looking to our northerly regions for it. We have
heads of lettuce weighing three or four pounds apiece very solid.
i We cut them as we do cabbage, for cold slices. All kinds of let-
tuce head well. Radishes are fit for the table in thirty-one days
I from the seed. I have the roots growing, with the tops two or
I three feet high from the grouiKl, and as large as my leg.

Mr. Dye. — I first saw radishes brought for sale which were
I from one and a half to two inches in diameter. I objected to
their large size, supposing they were, as ours of that sizecommon-
[Assembly No. 133.] 28

351 [Assembly

Ij are. fibroii.? and*toughj but tlit j were prrfectly tender. On the
next, some were offered for sale as large as my arm, which were
equally delicate and tender. In and about Coloma (he land is
hilly 3 it yields thirty to forty busliels of barley per acre ; it re-
quires irrigation. The onions grown there averaged one pound
weight a piece. Lettuces twice as large as those in New-York
market. It is not the best agricultural district.

Dr. Underbill presented a large quantity of Catawba grapes
from his Croit-un. Vineyard. The members thought them very
excellent.

Mr. Sli el toil. "-The California grape called " Catawba" >s far
superior in flavor to these on the table.

Mr. Bye. — It is so, being wiihout any pulp, and so tender that
it is diHicult to haBdle, and is very delicious.

I)r. Uiiderhili supposed, th^.t being unable to make a compar-
ison in California, the gentlemen thought their grapes very supe-
rior. Do, not they "recollect that when they were boys, our wild
grapes being found ripe, tasted delicious, for want of comparison
with our liner kinds. The line drawing of a basket of California
fruit on the table shows their grapes no larger than my Cataw
l)as.

Mr. Dye : We have abundance of grapes in California. I used
to have ihem three times a day on my table, in clusters of one to
seven pounds weight. The berries are oblong, egg-sliaped. Some
people called them " Catawba,"' and others " sweet water." The
berries are clear, of a light reddish, brown color. There are very
few wild native grapes there. The only one I discovered there
was a bright red color, smaller than our fox grape, hardly any
pulp, acid as vinegar. I gathered a sack of them to make vinegar,
and succeeded in obtaining very good vinegar from them. All
the grapes there besides this were descendants of tliose imported
by the Spaniards long ago. Those tux-grapes had some eight or
ten small berries on each bunch.

Mr. Shelton : The Catawba grape rf Californta has no pulp at
all,

No. 133.] 355

Mr. Dye : in the vineyard of General Vallejo, at Sonora, the
vine is now about nine years old. The vines are pruned down tc^
about two and a half feet high from the ground. The cluster
of grapes on them arc very large. The best of them lie upon the
ground. Some weighed ten and eleven ppunds each.

Mr. Shelton : It is but three months since I was in that vine-
yard, and I got one cluster of grapes weighing teji pounds and
another of eleven pounds. The berries are very tender, and ea-
sily crushed. It is necessary to wrap up each cluster in papery
and transport them very carefully.

Dr. Underbill thinks that the same wonderful effect of soil and
climate displayed in so many vegetables appear in the grape, and
^that if they were brought here and planted, they would diminish
to the standard of our own fruits and plants.

Mr. Shelton : The best clusters lie and ripen upon the ground.

Dr. Underbill : Is gold dust found in the good soils of Califor-
nia.

Messrs. Dye and Shelton : None whatever.

Dr. Church : What is the soil ?

Mr. Shelton: It varies much in complexion, some of it being
very dark. There is a sample of it as dark as slate, I exhibit
to the Club my Flora of California, in drawings and herbarium ;
seeds also. Tlie famous Burr Cloverseed. (Members examined
them, and felt surprised that such well-drawn and colored plants
and flowers should have been executed in California.) Mr. Shel-
ton said he had seen one hundred and twenty-five pounds weight
of potatoes dug from five stalks of potatoes. I am availing iny-
self of the aid of Professor Torrey, of this city, in the chssifica-
tion, &c., of my plants.

Mr. Dye : The soils of California are very various, I have
examined as many as twelve varieties of clover, and I suppose
that there are twenty there. I have seen in the length of one
hundred and twenty miles' ride, Eurr Clover and wild oats' seed
lying on the surface of large tracts ot land, from one to two inches

356 [Assembly

4eep. The stems of the plants are coijverted into good hay.
Cattle and stock lap up the seeds with their tongues, eat this na-
tural hay, and become fat upon it. I had a ton of potatoes from
Santa Crnz, and bet with a doubter that they would average one
pound weight apiece, and won the bet on a portion of them. I
•sffdred to make the same bet upon the whole ton, but it was re-
fused.

Mr. Sheltou : One clover of large growth lias been called iu
honor of myself the Sjielton clover. One root of it, stalks and
all, weigh six pounds. Its heads are first a cream color tint,
then turning light purple. There is a white clover wliich grows
about three feet high. My Herbarium and Flora contain about
lane thousand specimens. The apples and peaches are small ; the
pears fine and good size. I gathered a large collection of speci-
mens of mineralogy in the course of my rambles. They occupied
-extensive tables in the exhibition at San Francisco.

Mr. More, from Switzerland, now a florist in New York, exhib-
ited the seeds from the melo cactus — iu the Repository. The two
cactus are from the island of Jamaica. The seeds are imbedded
in the red top of the cactus. This red top is composed of red
tJiorns of an inch in length ; while all the ribs of these oblong,
melon-shaped cactus are beset with keen thorns pointing every
"Way. Mr. More stated that the seeds germinate slowly, produc-
ing a very minute plant, of very tardy growth. That the speci-
soaens before us, which are about two feet high, by one loot diam-
eter. One, having twelve longitudinal ribs of thorns, and the

<otiier, eleven such ribs, are about fifty years of age.

«

Subjects : New plants, new uses of old plants, and the Osier
Willow, continued.

Ortmotion of Alanson Nash, Esq., the Club adjourned to Tues-
day next, November 30, at noon.

H. MEIGS. Secretary.

No. 133.] 357

Farmers- Club, JVovember 30M, 1852'.

Samuel Griffing, Esq., of N. J., in the chair. Henry Meig?,
Secretary.

Present. — Afessrs. Griffing of New Jersey ; Hyde, of Fulton
County, New-York ; A. P. Cummings, PresideDt Tallmadge, Mr.
Dickey, Dr. Austin Church, Judge Van Wyck, Messrs. Holmes..
Hardenbrook, and others.

The secretary read the following paper prepared by him, pre-
mising, in reference to the vitality of seeds, that the most learn-
ed men of the day take a very deep interest in that subject — thai
it is a question whose mysteries eagerly want explanation.

VITALITY OF SEEDS.

Some months ago the Club received an amount of raspberry
seeds, found in the grave of a man who had been buried about
1,700 years, germinating on being planted. Many persons enter-
tained doubts of the truth of this. We now extract from pro-
ceeding of the 22d meeting of the British association for the ad-
vanccment of science.

Dr. Lankester read the 12th report of a committee appointed.
to make experiments on the growth and vitality of seeds. The
seeds set apart for this year's sowing were those collecteii
in 1814. It was the third time the same seeds had been experi-
mented on, and it was found that there was a very evident de-
crease in the numbers of those which have vegetated compared
with those of previous sowings. Dr. Lankester explained the ob-
ject of the committee, and stated that the fact of raspberry seeHi-
growing, whicli had been taken from the stomach of the body of
a human being, buried in a tumulus in Dorsetshire, and which
had been doubted, had been reinvestigated during the past yeafj.
and there seemed no reason to doubt that the seeds thus burrietl.
for centuries had germinated.

Dr. Royle stated that, having been present when the original
mass of matter from the stomach of the dead person was brought
to Dr. Lindley, in London, and the raspberry seeds discovered it.
He liad no doubt of the correctness of the conclusion, that Ibfr

358 [Assembly

seeds whicli had lliiis been swallowed, and butied, had germina-
ted after the lapse of centuries.

Mr. Meigs called the attention of menjbeis to the "well known
fact of th? growth of clover and ether plants in places whicli
lias been covered for ages with forest, and where .the clover had
never before been sceiT. The late observations in France and
elsewhere of the long keeping of seeds in tlie earth at considera-
ble depths. It is true that the committee of the British Associa-
tion find that seeds kept in our boxes and in dry places soon lose
their vitality; but the experimentj to be effectual, should take
the same position as the buried raspberry, white clover, and oth~
»ers. It is well known that wood, and leaves, and nuts have been
&imd in the course of geological research, buried in mar^hesand
otherwise, perfectly sound. The buried timber of the peat bogs
of Ireland and elsewhere is found good for all the purposes of a
4;urface free, and yet must have been hurried at least 2,000 years^
'The deep pits made by some of the ancient African and Arabian
■people, to keep their wheat, preserved it sound for great lengths
of time — placed at a depth where the temperature never changed
three degrees in a century.

CHICORY OR SUCCORY.

In the Mark I.ane Express, of July 5, 1852. vrelind the follow-'
iingDotice of the value of this plant.

"Cliicory will (urn out to be one of the most important.agri-
cultur'cii as well as horticultural roots tliat perhctps nature has ev-
er giveuTiS, Every part of it is of great value — top and bottom
'blanched foi* salads ; green for Ciittle, sheep and Jambs ; the roots

ifor .cattle as -well as fur coffee.

'ifaMecilali; •attention ought to be paid to it. Every seed mer-
<5hant posgesjes the seecTof it and it is exceedingly cheap. If
chicory was largely grown by the cattle and sheep farmers, much
less disease would prevail and more milk and butter would be
produced, and niore healthy meat, as it is so fine a bitter and pu-
rifier of the blood. Thi^ root is largely grown in Y'^orksliire to

Ko. 133.] _ 359

mix with coffee. One fault is, lliatby tiying to get a large crop,
we injure the flavor."

This suggestion is new to us, but chicory deserves a trial w©
give the following description of i(, which may be acceptable to
some readers.

From Lmdlcy'8 Vegetable Kingdom.

Asteraccffi Composits — Star llower — one of the most natural
and extended faraillcs of the vegetable kingdom. , Tliey are her-
liaceous plants (that is as a plain definition the)* lose tlieir an-
nual stem but the roots survive.) Centaury, Dandelion or Dens
Leonis, Artemisia, Taragon, Chamomile &c., kc. Chicorv has a
delicate bitter. The bitter of Artemisia has been employed in
medicine from the most remote antiquity. It is called Chichori-
umintybus. Is a perennial,- in general figure is like the dandeli-
on. Its flowers are blue — its root shaped like a carrot. The
€dges of the leaves, (like the dandelion) are deeply indented.
The whole plant is bitter and aromatic — when blanched well —
is relished as a salad. For this purpose they were taken up in
the end of Autumn, and put into light mould or sand m a dark
cellar — the leaves being first cut off within half an inch of the
crown. •

Fresh slender leaves soon grow from the roots and being de-
prived of light are much more tender and delicate and the bitter-
ness is lessened. From the long slender matted condition of the
leaves, the French call it Barbc de Cupucin or Monk's Beard.
The luxuriant growth of the leaves and speedy reproduction after
being cut off, suggested the extensive culture of it for cattle and
sheep. Creete de Panuel who cultivated it in a rich soil, near
Paris, has produced extraordinary crops. The first year he cut
it off only twice, but afterwards four and even five times in the year.
And it yielded more green food than any other plant cultivated
Cot that purpose. Arthur Young was so struck with it, that he
recommended it strongly to the British farmers. ' The experiment
on it at the national farm of Rambuillet comparing it with Lu-
cerne— the Chicory was deemed inferior to the Lucerne, giving a
disagreea'jle taste to the milk and butter. Good for sheop, mixed
with their food, preserver from the rot.

360 [Assembly.

Chicory is now chiefly cultivated in Belgium, and in Germany
for the purpose of preparing from the root a powder as a substi-
tute for coffee and has now become quite an article of commerce.

To have the roots in perfection, the seed should be drilled like
carrot, in April — //" sown sooner, they are apt to run to seed. The
land should be rich, deep and light. The plants should be thin-
ned out to six inches apart in the row and most carefully weeded.
In September the leaves should be gathered and the roots fork'ed
out of the ground. They must then be cleaned by washing and
scraping — split when thick and then cut across ifito pieces three
inches long and then dried in a slow oven or kiln — must not be-
scorched — when wanted for coffee, must be cut into small pieces,
roasted like coffee and ground like it in a mill.

The roots left over the first year in the ground become stringy
and tough. It is only tlie root of the first year that is fit. They
lose largely in weight on drying — Thirteen pounds of seed will
drill aa acre — grass and corn are good before the chicory crop.
Rows a foot apart.

The name chicory, is an anglicized French word being origin-
ally Chicoree or Endive. The Prussian chicory is the best. In
England dried cliicory is roasted like coffee and about two pounds
of lard are put into tlie roastor for every hundred ptnmds of chi-
cory to give the coffee a better face. Venetian red is put in to
odor it. Some put in logwood and mahogany dust also peas and
beans, damaged grain and coffee husks, technically called, cojfee
Jiights, parsnips go in too — treacle is in to give the caromel or
sugary odor of real chicory. Chicory is also used to adulterate
snuff and to color beer and porter.

New chicory seed, is said to yield more woody and therefore
inferior roots than the old seed.

Of course, we do not recommend chicory as a substitute for
poffee — but we do recommend it as a valuable food for stock.

Lindley maples. Aceracae, from Latin acer, a maple tree — Eu-
rope, the temperate parts of Asia, north of India, and North.

No. 133.] 361

America, are the stations of this order. It is unknown in Africa
and all the Southern Hemisphere. The species are only known
for the sugary sap of the acer saccharinum (sugar maple) and
others, from which sugar is extracted in abundance, and for their
light and useful timber. The bark is astringent, and yields the
dyer reddish br(?wn and yellow colors.

Tlie JVorway viaple is raised from tlie seed at Fiusliing and Long
Island. Some of the trees attain 00 feet in height. The foliage
is dense, little liable to injury from worms ; is dark glos>y green
on the upper surface, light-colored below, and remains ])Hgat all
summer.

Mr. Curr, the gardener for this city, on the experience he has
had, recommends it as bearing a city position better than most
others which have been tried. It will attain a large size if not
prevented. The growth is quick, for the trees of twenty-one feet
height are about fourteen years only from the seed.

Annals de la Societe d'Horticulture, Paris, June, 1852.

Plants newly introduced by Thibaut and Keteleer, Charonne
street, Paris : —

Many beautiful new plants are seen here, very curious and
original ; for very rich flowers and leaves are growing in the con-
servatories all seasons of the year. One, a charming bush, the
Franciscea Confcrtiflora^ which flowered for the first time in Febr-
uary and March last, is the most beautiful of the kind known at
this day. The leaves are large oval acuminate; flowers, large,
smooth, and disposed in a sort of corymbus (a flower with a cen-
tral axis, with lateral peduncles or loot-stems, the lower ones so
long that their flowers are elevated as high as the uppermost.)
The color is a beautiful blue, giving a fine efiect.

Anopteris glandulosa^ a bush from Australia. — Fine form, leaves
indented and shining; long bunches of^ flowers of a greenish white,
which last a long time.

They have many ether fine new plants.

362 [Assembly

Annales, March, 1852.

Origin of the Pear Doyenne H'Hiver, Winter Dean, called, also,
Bergamote de Pentecote — Spring Doyenne, lord of Winter.

This pear, according to Van Mons, was obtained fiom seed
planted by the Capuchins of Louvam. It was introduced into
France about fifty years ago by Hervey, who obtaiiltd it from Van
Mons in 1805, under the name of Bergamote de Pentecote — Pcn-
tacost Bergamc. Hervey thought it resembled an old Doyenne,
and gave it the name it still bears, Doyenne d'Hiver.

Geo^-ge Dickey, of New York, who had been requested at a
former Club to report upon the commercial condition of the osier
,willow. made the following report, which was highly acceptable
to the Club, as it established several facts relative thereto, im-
Dortant to be known, and especially the nurseries of the -true osier
willow. The importance of this may be appreciated wlien we
know that of the two hundred and forty kinds, only one, is best
— that is, the basket willow or salixviminalis :

The 0*ier Willow for baaket-making.

Price paid in New York, from the importers, 3i to 8 cents per
pound.

It is imported from France and Germany, but chietly from
France.

Englanvl grows all she uses. There is a considerable quantity
rgrown on Staten Island, near Richmond, which brings about 5.
cents per pound on the average.

It is planted in small sized twigs, by the acre, in damp soil,
leaving some pathways between, and it is necessary to keep the
ground clean and clear of the growing to weeds and other plants.
It will grow on soil not wanted for other purposes. It will not
grow vrell on a light or sandy soil. The bark is taken oif by a
triangular instrument, which catches the twigs that are drawn
through the instrument, the prongs of the instrument being made
round, and are pressed hard on the twigs, which are pulled
through the instrument.

Ko. 133.] 3C3

THE POTATO ROT.
Gen. Tallmadge called for the reading of the followicg:

O^densburgb, 6th Xorcmber, 1S52.

To the President of the Fariuci's Club, New Yort.

Sir: — I know of no raore suitable medium through wbich to
communicate the following information, which I look upon as an
effectual remedy against the blighting influence of the potato rot,
if acted upon, than the Farmer's Club of New York citj, whose
operations I have always watched with a good deal of anxious
interest. I, therefore, come at- once to my subject.

« In the early part of last spring, a .gentleman of my acquaintance,
Mr. Woolley, who keeps a well-stocked farm in the immediate
vicinity of this rising town, by way of experiment, sowed a few
acres of different descriptions of potatoes, many of which had
been long discontinued altogether, from the repeated failures in
the crops, year after year, through the desolating influence of the
rot. Among these were the lady finger, minion, kidney, and a
great variety of the more delicate descriptions of this valuable
esculent. I went through his farm lately, and paid particular
attention to the potato crop. Not a single failure occurred in any
instance. And now as to the remedy. In sowing the seeds, Mr.
Woolley raised a small hillock, and then constructed a drill, as
in the ordinary mode of planting the seed, and after laying down
the seed on the top of this small hill of earth, he used as a ma-
nure about half a shovel full of common tan bark, shaking it
loosely over the seed, and then covering all with a heap of loose
earth, in the same manner as is usual in planting or sowing the
crops. Medical men and men of science will be well able to
account for the great protective qualities of tan bark against the
ravages of the small worm or any kind of insect. They will not
approach tanj it kills tliem. The absorbent qualities of tan bark,
which sells at only Is. per load en the average, also protects the
delicate seedling from rot, produced sometimes by heavj' rain?,
and a variety of other causes j and in tlie excessive heat of the
summer's ~un, .00, inn is considered by men of science to wliom
I have spoken on the subject as a non-ccnductor. It if, too, of a

364 [Assembly

porous nature : and when the seed begins to grow, it has full
freedom, and is efifectually protected from being too closely
pressed upon or squeezed up, as is often the case in hard clayey
soils. Its advantages in every respect will prove incalculable ;
and from personal observation on Mr. Woolley's fafm, I do not
hesitate to pronounce tan bark a sovereign and effectual remedy
against the potato rot, and which should be used by every farmer,
partially, if you choose, during the next season for sowing the
potato seeds. This information ought to be extensively circula-
ted ; and in writing to the Farmer's Club upon this subject, I feel
I but discharge an imperative duty, when I take into considera-
tion the dreadful ravages of this blighting disease, for the last few
years in particular, sweeping, as it has done, over the European
and American Continents, like the Asiatic simoon or the cholera
itself

Respectfully Yours,

GEORGE D. BOWLING,

Editor and Proprietor Dtiily ilomirg News.

President Tallmadge remarked that we are too apt to adopt
crude and incongruous notions in reference to questions on which
some mystery rests. This one of vitality of seeds is in that pre-
dicament. That it still is a subject of wonder — an object of
common and cf scientiSc inquiry — the wonder of our new set-
tlers, who beholds oaks and maples spring up where he has just
cleared off a veteran forest of pine trees ; white clover also, appa-
rently dormant for centuries under the old forest, now at a clear-
ing— showing its beauties, as if it had been just planted by the
settler. These and many analagous observations have made me
a doubter all round about the question — patience and more re-
search may remove doubt, but at this day, the doUbts are still
good. The banks of our river Hudson can show you districts
wliere, after you have fur some three or four years ceased plow-
ing, the land sends up a thick crop of red and white cedars.
The succession of the animal races is equally mysterious. Our
business is to look for facts.

To suppose that the seeds have laid dormant for such a period
of time, is an incongruous and improbable supposition. The

No. 133.] 365

proof of these cases, of (he deposit of the seeds or Iheir finding,
at the opening of the place of their deposits, is insufficient and
inadequately established. I am not ready to believe, at this day,
in this class of miraculous discoveries. May I not allude to the
wheat now constantly found in and brought from the Catacombs
ot Egypt, and sent to this country, after having been there in de-
posit from two thousand to four thousand years, and found here
readily to vegetate. Proof of the finding at the first opening of
the catacombs was omitted to be sent with the wheat. It is
a known rule of political economy, that demand procures supply.
Where is the traveller, in the districts of antiquity, that does not
know the ready merchandize of antique medals, coins and
relics of all sorts — manufactured for the occasion, in every city of
Europe. It was in 1799 or in 1800, that the French army went
into Egypt. They were attended by a corps of eminent Savans,
to note and record all discoveries then made. I am not aware
that on the opening of the catacombs, wheat was found then so
readily to germinate. I am more willing to believe that wheat
or other seeds may have been deposited there during the last fif-
ty years, for the purpose of being found as an article of merchan-
dize like the medals, &c. I am not prepared to believe in these
modern miracles without proof more decisive. A word more, as
to the ancient wheat. It is an easy matter to discolor modern
wheat and give it all the appearance of antiquity, to make good
true mummy wheat (apparently) and it satisfies the curious — is
made merchandize of and is transmitted to foreign countries.

Mr. Fleet did not think that any doubt attached to the state-
ments just read by the Secretary.

General Tallmadge said that he took pleasure in receiving all
faithful communications like that of Mr. Dawling, relative to the
famed potato malady. The Massachusetts Agricultural Associa-
tion has published numerous articles from farmers, &c., with all
their experiments — but it seems to have been without the attain-
ment of any useful conclusion. Accident may reveal what all
our science and industry cannot reach. And in fact, the pota-
toes of this year are happily untouched for the most part by that
lamentable, incurable disease. The fact is that we hastily culti-

366 . [Assembly

vatc — manare is all fresh and coarse, we put our seed potatoes in
it, by its too rapid growth under the heat and fermentation of the
coarse manures, and we have found them fair outside but with a
dark colored hollow in the centre — often as large as a walnut.
If we should use rich and matured soil, where the manure has
been a year or two on hand, it is probable that the potatoes would
be f*:und sound. The rot was followed by the hollow — there is
probably some connnection between the two. I think it is the da-
ty of this Club to press on our farmers the propriety of putting
well decayed and ripe manure only, on their lands.

A. P. Cummings of Williamsburgh, observed that the potato
crop of this year is remarkably fine, we have had a dry season,
the great disease has not appeared. The case reported by Mr.
Bowling therefore is not conclusive— for crops of potatoes, how-
ever cultivated, are generally good this year. There is no doubt
that the tan bark so applied, operates as a'iiind of mulch — so
would dry leaves have done.

The Secretary said that the French Savans, at Paris, have spok-
en well of the transactions of the Massachusetts Agricultural As-
sociation, relative to the potato malady in this valuable particu-
lar— giving faithful results of so many experiments made in vain,
therefore, rendering a repetition of them unnecessary, thus sav-
ing to farmers, &c., much trouble, cost and time.

A. P. Cummings said that there was another nursery of the
true basket willow, at Newburgh, established by Mr. J. Beveridge
and his san-in-lavr. Dr. Grant, and the plantation is extensive.

President Tallmadge : Our farmers ought to see that the cul-
ture of this osier is an important item. Our German new settlers
have a knowledge of the true kind and its management. We
pay, it seems, seven or eight cents a pound for that imported
from Europe which our farmers ought to put in their own pock-
ets. It is a bulky article and the cost of transportation consti-
tutes the great'part of the price. England, with her moist cli-
mate, grows her osiers with great facility — we may not soon ex-
port ours to them, but if we could export a few of our sun shine
days to England, it would astonish them. We have unprodue-

No. 133.) 367

tive moist lands where we can grow more osiers than we want.
While I am pp and the subjects of new plants is in order, I re-
new the urging of our farmers to give us American madder ; it i3
a profitable crop easy of culture— of a certain and unalterable
value, as a dye nothing can take its place, and we have the right
soil for the production of it for a world's supply. Why then
continue to import it 1

Dr. Church : We cannot dispense with it as a dye.

Judge Van Wyck : The letter which President Tallmadga re-
ceived from Ogdensburgh for the use of the Club, proposing a
remedy for the potato blight, accompanied with appropriate re-
marks, and which our secretary has just read, will receive the
thanks of this Club, as all similar communications do. Any rem-
edy for that destructive disease, if it does not operate as a cure,
. but only as a palliative, is important. Thousands have been used
since the rot commenced, in different parts of the world, and
they have all, as yet, been found to be either temporary or local
only in their effects. Sometimes, after escaping the blight a year
or two, it would break out afresh, in the place where originally
used, and often with more virulence than ever. If tried in a
distant locality, it was all tlie same ; and frequently in the new
place begins its ravages the first year after planting. Weather
no doubt has some influence on the di.sease. If very wet or very
dry, it effects the tuber, and brings it on, or renders it more vio-
lent. As the President very properly observed, manures, too, do
this, either applied in a bad state, or without judgement, and at
the wrong time. All this is no reason for discouragement; but
the world should persevere, on a subject of so much importance,
in discovering and applying remedies. Ultimately, success may
ciown its efforts.

The procuring of new and useful plants, either foreign or trans-
planted them from one distant part of our country to another, or
sending and transmitting seeds and cuttings : the importance of
this v.'as fully evinced at one or two late meetings of the Club,
when three gentlemen of great respectability and intelligence,

368 [ASSEMBLV

lately from California, and who had resided there some time, all
engaged, more or less, in agriculture and horticulture. Thesegen-
tlemen brought on with them a variety of seeds of different plants,
natives of California— grasses, grain, fruits, vegetables, &c., and
presented them to the Club for distribution. Gen. Chandler, at
one of the last meetings of the Club, presented some limbs or
twigs of the osier willow. They came originally from Mr. Bennet,
at or near Albany ; and from their length, slenderness, and ap-
parent toughness and flexibility of their wood, it is thouglit they
are the real osier. Mr. Dickey has given us some important
information as to the cost of the osier here when prepared for use,
and the manner of preparing it, by stripping the bark from it when
green with something like a pair of iron pincers; after this it
should be kept in a dry place, where the sun has power, or put
under shelter, especially in wet weather, until it gets well dried.

President Tallmadge. — One word more as to the osier, and
that is : it does not require replanting. The new growth becomes
more abundant after cuttings have been taken from the stump.

Samuel Fleet. — We make baskets in abundance for almost all
purposes out of tough oak and hickory. They are made cheaply;
but as our trees are fast disappearing, the osier will well supply
U3 with baskets.

Hon. Richard Bacon, of Simsbury, Connecticut, addresses a note
to the Secretary, stating, that, in compliance with the request to
send seeds of the sugar maple, and the elm, he has found some of
the former in good condition, but a large portion were blasted ;
that he had not looked for the elm seed in due season, and none
were to be had. The elm seed, he remarks, resembles tliat of the
parsnip. Tlie Club will please to order the sugar maple seed to
be sent to California and Oregon, together with seed of the locust,
with others. Ordered accordingly.

Mr. Fleet observed that the inaccurate, defective accounts
which we get usually of the crops render it desirable and impor-
tant to procure proper statistics, and at quarterly meetings read
and digest them for publication. With a view to that end I will
prepare a plan, and submit it at a future meeting.

No. 133.] 369

President Tallmadge. — The accounts which have reached us
relative to the character and quality of the vines and grapes of
the coast of tlie Pacific ocean, in North as well as in South Amer-
icEj are very interesting to us, because our vines, imported from
Europe during a long period at heavy expense and great labor,
have all, after a short life, failed on this side of North America,
and we have now found out but two native grapes which we are
desirous of seeing in our desserts — they are Isabella and Cataivba.
It now appears, so far as accurate information has reached us,
that the vines carried from Europe to South America, by the
Spaniards, during some centuries past, liave left all along the Pa-
•cific ocean, on both sides of the equator ; some fine varieties of
grapes producing, in some instances, as in California, clusters of
extraordinary size, even to eleven pounds weight, as is said. All
these may, probably, consent to flourish on this side of the con-
tinent, having been so long acclimated on the western shore of
onr country, being now fairly inhabitants of the United States.
Our native grapes are pulpy, thick-skinned, strongly scented of a
peculiar musk, and, wliile sweet tasted, have an acidity in the
skin, and, when ripe, a tendency to fermentation and hasty decay.
The European sweet grapes have much' saccharine in them, and
dry readily. They have no tendency to fer < .

not dry or keep long.,. On the banks of the Rhine we hear of the
hock wine. It is a peculiar wine, with acidity in its taste, some-
what like our own wine and grapes. It has not the saccharine juice
of the grapes of Spain, France and Italy. I may illustrafeby a re-
ference to our peach and strawberry, two of our most delightful
summer fruits, and with a remarkable fragrance. Yet they have,
when ripe, an acidity in their juices, and a tendency to ready fer-
mentation and decay. They will not then dry. Gen. Tallmadge
remarked further that fruits were characterized by climate. The
West Indies, in their hot climate, have the orange, pine apple,
banana, &c., all suited to that climate, wli'le they have not, and
do not grow the cherry, the currant, the goosebery, strawberry,
peach, or any of the mass of our summer fruitg. Providence has
allotted the laws of vegetation to dilierent districts and difterent
climates, and these rules regulate their several productions. It
is the happy lot of our city to be located in a temperate climate.
Assembly No. 133.] 24

370 [Assembly

where it has a great variety of most excellent fruits ; while the
sciences, with the use of steam has brought us near by and almost
in contact with the West Indies, and the fruits of the south thus
easily obtained now in our market, while railroads bring us the
productions from the north and the far west, and have thus be-
stowed the horticultural luxuries upon our inhabitants, and I
think I jnay say (as a whole) greater abundance and of better
qualities than any other city in the world.

Anxious to provide a generous wine in our own country, for
common use, I have, years ago, proposed inquiry relative to the
existence or production of some American wine to be the offspring^
of our own country. We are obliged to say the object is not yet'
accomplished. Several years ago we endeavored to obtain from
Chili and Peru some of their vines that claimed to be distinguish-
ed in quality. The search, however, is not yet successful. We
must, for the present, content ourselves v/ithin the regions of
frost, with European grapes cultured under glass, or send to the
south, the warmer districts of our country.

The secretary reminds the Club that General Tallmadge moved
for the bringing of the grape vines from Chili and Peru long be-
fore we dreamed of California.

Gen. Tallmadge moved that our indefatigable secretary endea-
vor to m^ke arrangements for finding and importing any valuable
grape vines from the Pacific ocean.

The Club approved of the motion.

The Club ordered the same subject and also madder, on motion
of President Tallmadge..

The Club adjourned.

H. Meigs, Secretary.

Farmers' Club, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1852.

Present : — Messrs. Underbill, of Croton Point, and Pike, of N.
J., Dr. Antisell, Robert L. Pell, Edwin Williams, Alfred HalLof
Perth Amboy, Elakeslee, of Watertown, W. R. Smith and lady,
of Macedon, Robert Dickey, General Chandler, Judge Van Wyck,
Mr. Flint, late of Massachusetts, and others.

No. 133.] 371

R T. Underhill, of Croton Point, in the Chair. Henry
Meigsj Secretary.

Mr. Dickey moved that the Club proceed to try and examine
the preserved fruits on the table, prepared by Mr, Smith and his
lady.

While the tasting was going on,

Mr. Uuderhill commenced upon the salutary character of ripe
fruits upon human constitution, and especially as to its high ind-
portance in cities, where the great heat of summer is very preju-
dicial to the liver, and, of course to health. Ripe fruit is well
known to be of the greatest utility in reference to the action of th«
liver. Whoever can extend the duration of fruii in perfect con-
dition beyond its now brief season, will contribute greatly to the
public health and happiness.

Judge Van Wyck. — And the great benefit bestowed on the com-
munity will bind it to the adequate honor and compensation of
the inventor.

The Chairman called upon Mr. Smith to make, if he pleased,
explanation of the method adopted by him and his lady.

Wm. R. Smith of Macedon. — All the fruit put up by us is
grown upon our own farm, and we have ot the last season, a few
thousand bottles and jars for sale at 17 Cedar steeet. We use no
foreign fruit. We have been for several years trying to preserve
the tender, delicate, mature fruits, and have made many experi-
ments. We soon found that we could keep them as well as others
do, but we aimed higher. We have lost hundreds and hundreds
of bottles, but we will not give it up. What success we have had
is due to my lady. We have suftered failures in the taste, color
or something or other. We have done better this year than ever
before — some people say better than others usually do or have
done. Our success is various. We have but jus't stepped into
the vestibule of the great temple. These quinces are presented
to you to taste ; they are witliout sugar or alcohol : they are very
tender j some think it second only to the peach j it has been boil-
ed. Here is Ken rick's Heath peach — a free stone — it surpasses

373 [Assembly

all peaches for drying, for five bushels will make one bushel when
dried, while the rare-ripe requires ten for one. Here is a mam-
moth Cling preserved with sugar. Here are cherries preserved
whole without sugar — the blackheart and the guines. Here are
raspberries whole and sound with much of their true taste, with-
out sugar. Here are red and yellow tomatoes without any liquor
but their own, neither sugar, salt, nor anything else. The mem-
bers said that the red tomato had tho original fresh taste — and
most of the fruits their true color and much of their true flavor.
The light red colored cherry, La belle de Choisy (the beauty
of the town of Choisy) is delicious. You can hardly have ripe
fruit in your cities. You cannot eat them freely, without disor-
dering your stomachs. Go with me to the tree when the cherries
are fully ripe, and pick out the best, you may eat abundantly and
feel well.

Mr. Smith. — We are very careful in selecting and pulling our
fruit.

Chairman. — Success depends mpon having perfect fruit, un-
doubtedly. I am desired to ask the members who have examined
and tasted Mr. and Mrs. Smith's fruits, what is their opinion
of them?

The members generally said that several w-ere excellent, and
some almost perfect, especially the red tomato.

. Mr. Smith. — We have succeeded perfectly in keeping rhubarb
fresh. We have a large plantation of that plant. Our blackber-
ries and whortie berries are well preserved.

Chairman. — The fresh preserves supply, in a good measure,
during the winter, the place of the summer and autumn fruits,
so essential, to health and pleasure.

Mr. Smith.-;— We are not in a plum region; ifdoes not like our
light soils. The trees are troubled with the black knot, and the
pluilis by curculio. Plums will soon be, among us, a thing
that was.

Chairman. — Plant your plum trees near water, and inclining

No. 133.] 373

so as to hang over the water, so that you can gather the plums in
a boat. 1 have a hundred of them growing on my farm in that
way, around an artificial lake, and not a plum has dropped from
them. The curculio has, here and there, made its segment of a
circle on the skinj and then tliought better of it ; for it left no egg
in the incision, observing, no doubt, that when the plum fell it
would be into the water, and so drown the progeny. But, in
fact, some twenty years ago, our plums generally did well on all
soils south of the highlands.

Gen. Chandler asked Mr. Smith what his prices were for his
preserved fruit ?

Mr. Smith. — We wish to sell the two-quart glass jars foV one
dollar each ; we now sell them for one dollar and a half each,
and the quart bottles and jars for six dollars and fifty cents a
dozen. Here is our hojiey of quinces, made from the parings and
cores. We think it very fine.

On tasting this, the members all agreed it was delicious.

The Gliairman warmly commended the fruits,

Mr. Smith desired the Club to know that the fruits before them
were not prepared for this exhibition, but are the same as their
whole stock.

Gen. Chandler. — What Mr, Smith has said about his perfectly
ripe cherries, I can confirm, from experience the last season. I
visited Boston, after a long illness, and still in delicate health. I
was furnished with some delicious cherries, just perfectly ripe.
I tasted, ate sparingly at first, but was tempted to nmke a full
feast of them; and, although I had some doubt as to the effect on
ray enfeebled organs, they proved perfectly harmless and whole-
some to me. We are greatly indebted to Mr. Smith and his lady
for this elegant display of fruit; and it is, doubtless, in their
power to secure better in future, so as to extend our fruit season
to an entire year, at least.

Mr. Hardenbrook moved the following resolution : —

374 [Assembly

Resolved — That the thanks of this Club be tendered to Mr. and
Mrs. Smith, of Macedon, Wayne county, New-York, for their pre-
sentation of preserved fruits 3 and the members having eaten the
different varieties, consisting of peaches, cherries, tomatoes,
quinces, raspberrias, &c., unite in expressing their high approba-
tion of the excellent flavor of such fruit.

The resolution was seconded by Gen. Chandler, and passed
tmanimously.

The Secretary said, that recently, when this subject was before
the Club, he remarked, that in gathering fruit, they should be
treated as tenderly as so many eggs ; but even that hardly meets
the truth. The delicate bloom upon their skins must not be rub-
bed off; for it is now ascertained that this bloom, on some fruits,
•when it dries, forms a sort of varnish over it, shutting up the
pores of the skin, so that the juices of the fruit cannot evaporate.

Besides extreme care in handling fruit, it is necessary that they
should be kept in places in which the temperature is always the
game, and that below the line at which vegetation goes on — or, in
other terms, just not frozen; probably at 36" of Fahrenheit, by the
average of our thermometer, would be about right. If fruit would
retasn its qualities after freezing, we should then be able to keep
it any lengtli of time ; but thawing alters the constitution of it
too much. •

We do not despair yet of finding methods by which the first
fruits can be preserved in all their natural excellence, from one
year to the next, at least. And considering the enormous amount
of peaches lost for want of such means, how important would be
the discovery. As the matter now stands, the peach harvest be-
gins and entirely ends between July and October — the grape be-
tween September and January. These play a great part in hu-
man health as well as pleasLre. They would be blessings to our
lives for the whole year, as well as for two or three months only.

It is probable that we have to handle about as many eggs in a
year as we do of the finest fruits ; and the loss is beyond meas-
ure in the fruits, but everybody is nice in the egg handling.

No. 133.] 375

Mr. Smith remarked that he felt grateful for the approbation of
the Club, and would continue to work for perfection in the pre-
servation of fruit, and that he was in the habit of reading the
transactions of the Club ; and he, as one of the ten thousand far-
mers of New York, had profited by them.

Judge Van Wyck was pleased to have the labors and the inge-
nuity of our farmers receive full examination and the benefit of
fair trial, and then the recommendation to the public, after both
fair sight and taste.

Mr. Edwin Williams remarked, that as the introduction of new
articles for our cultivation is important, it is therefore necessary
that we should have accurate knowledge of the importation of
such articles, and that in the non-enumerated articles we have no
knowledge of them. We need it. He adverted to the osier,
lately under consideration, as one of them.

Gen. Chandler agreed as to the importance of full tables of im-
ported articles ; but the subject belongs to the Institute, and not
to'the Club. It has been suggested as proper for the Institute to
address Congress on the subject. The documents of the Govern-
ment are slightly improved in this respect within a few years, but
are not what we desire them to be.

Dr. Antisell : We have not yet done justice to Mr. and Mrs.
Smith in reference to their method of preserving fruit. To ap-
preciate their labors, we must observe the very great care and
trouble indispeusible to such success as we here see. Observe the
dilficulty of preventing the oxygenation of fruit, so rapid as it is,
and that too, without the ordinary method of immersion in su-
gar, alcohol or other protection from the atmospheric air. To
preserve the natural taste and color is a great point gained. A
gentle heat must be used, and the water employed, must be boiled,
in order to expel the air from it, and then use it cold. The
plumpness and fair color of some of these fruits are truly beauti-
ful. It is a very delicate process to manage the fruits and juices
so as not to vitiate the colors and tastes. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
have greatly succeeded in overcoming the great difficulties of the

376 [Assembly

operation. In the old way of sugar and alcohol — you have the
alcohol and the sugar but not the fruit.

Mr. Fleet rose to say that he was of opinion that the motion of
Mr. Edwin Williams, calling for full returns of articles import-
ed, is an important one. We want the accurate knowledge of
them, in order to govern our o\\ya industry.

Mr. Shelton stated that he' had fifty varieties of flower seeds
and bulbs to dispose of. The packages are five dollars each.
They are on sale at Thorburn's & Allen's.

On motion the same subjects are continued and the California
seeds.

The club then adjourned to the first Tuesday in January, 1853.

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

Farmers^ Club, January 4. 1853.

Present: Messrs. Shelton, of Jamaica, and Shelton of Californa,
W. R. Smith, of Marsdon, Dr. Underhill, of Croton Point, Dr.
Wellington, Rev. Mr. Carter, of Brooklyn, Mr. Griffing, of New
Jersey and Mr. Pike, George Dickey, Dr. Austin Church, Judge
R. S. Livingston, R. L. Pell, Judge Van Wyck, Gen. Chandler,
and otliers.

Dr. N. Shelton, of Jamaica, in the chair.

H«. Meigs, Secretary.

The chairman announced the subject for the day, American ,
Madder, proposed by the president.

The secretary read the following, prepared by him.

MADDER

Is called rubia from ruber meaning red from the color of the
root. Rubia Tiuctorum or Dyer's red, is tiie famous dye. This
plant is herbaceous, several stems spring from the same root — the
stems are tetragonal or four sided — having hooked prickles at the

No. 133.] 377

angles — flowers small and yellow. The root when dried Is about
as tliick as a goose quill with a reddish skin — odor feeble — taste
bitter and astringent. It is exported from the Levant entire —
but from Holland and France in coarse powder. England has
not succeeded well in cultivating it — climate too wet ; and the
price of it in Turkey is very low, and cheap in Holland.

The root is perennial, the stalks die every winter. Deep, fer-
tile, sandy loam suits it best, for it does not like a wet soil.
Firsl-rate tillage, whether plough or spade, is necessary. New
plants are obtained from the runners or surface roots of the old
plants, these are cut into pieces of about Irom six inches to twelve
. inches. The seed must be sown in fine light soil a year before
they are wanted to set out. We generally plant out the sets in
May or June, in rows of about ten inches apart and about six
inches apart in the rows. They must be kept free from weeds
and the ground must be well stirred. Some heap them up — but
it is best to keep the surface as it was at the setting. The crop
comes at the end of the third year, generally in October. The
stalks should be first taken off by the scythe and - carried to the
barn yard Ibr litter. In very fine weather the roots may be dried
in the field by proper spreading, &c., but it is usually necessary
to do it in a kiln such as is used for malt or hops. They should
be dried until they become brittle,, then pack it in bags for sale
to dyers. The produce varies according to soil, season &c., but
generally it is from one thousand to t . o thousand pounds an acre.
The best way to judge of the quality of it, is to break the root
in two and that which has a kind of purplis or bright red appear-
ance, without any yellow cast, is the better. It is chiefly employ-
ed to dye and print calico. The tops which are carried to the
barn yard to make manure, are sometimes eaten by cattle and it
turns their horns red. The seed can be collected in abundance
in September of the second and third year. In general madder is
not liable to disease.

Mr. Russell Bronsou,of Birmingham, Huron county, Ohio, has
published his method.

Take land facing the south or south-east, a sandy-loam, or good

378 [Assembly

brown, deep, rich upland loam, free from foul grass, weeds, stones,
or stumps, where potatoes, peas, corn, or wheat were the year be-
fore. Plough deep,. once in September, and again in October.
When spring opens — say Ist of April in Tennessee, 15th in Ohio,
and the 21st of May in New York — plough again deep (the
deeper the better), harrow well, then lay the ground off in beds,
as for beets. Strike ridges, with a one horse plough, once in
every seven feet, raising it eight or ten inches, if the soil be moist,
or six or eight inches, if the soil be dry. Make the beds smooth
with a light harrow.

Should you want to plant one acre, purchase eight bushels of
the tap roots in the fall, and bury them as you would potatoes.
Count your ridges, and then take one bushel of the roots for one
eighth part of your ridges, and plant them out. You will then
see how to proportion your roots for the remainder of the acre.
One man on each side ot the ridge or bed makes the holes. Plant
the roots about tour inches below^ the surface of the bed. The
owner ought to drop the roots himself. Two men, one on each
side, cover up the roots, and press every hill as you do with corn.
The holes should be about one foot apart, and six inches from the
edge of the bed or ridge. (These distances of the plants from
each other are about right, yet in a very rich and suitable jBeld
one would make the plants stand a loot and a half apart.) If
the plants have leaved out a little, then' let the leaves be out of
the ground ; they ought not to be smothered up.

When the new plant is three or four inches high, weed with a
hoe, and plow with one horse between the beds, but not on them.
This will be about three weeks after setting out. When the new
plants are about one foot high, many of the tops will fall over,
help them with ten foot poles crossing the beds. After plowing
the beds, use the shovel to throw the loose earth around the
plants. You wish to keep each hill separate. About the 20th
of June, plow again between the beds, and use the shovel to throw
earth between the plants. Then you may, if you please, plant
potatoes between the beds. I do not recommend it, but I raised
one thousand and seventy bushels of pink eyes on eight acres in
madder, the first year, and sixty bushels of corn. When snow

No. 133.] 379

is expected, cover the plants with earth about two inches, in Oc-
tober. When the roots are sufficiently dry, grind them in a mill,
like Wilson's patent coffee mill, wiiich weighs dllily one or two
pounds. Your madder mill should weigh about sixty to eighty
pounds. Grind it coarse and fair, and then grind it again for
market.

Madder is used, in whole or in part, for the following colors
on wool, both in England, France, and America — that is, buff,
blue, black, red, olive brown, olive, navy blue, and many others.
It produces one of the most beautiful, durable, and healthy col-
ors that are at this day employed.

The madder stems, when eaten by cattle, turn the milk redish,
the urine, the sweat, and even the bones. '

England imports about eighteen millions of pounds weight of
madder annually ; duty sixpence a hundred weight upon the
roots, and two shilling (half a dollar) upon that which is ground.

A wild madder grows in this country, called, botanically,
"Galium Tinctorium." Dyer's goose grass, a perennial, grows
in our low moist woodlands ; it flowers in July and August, and
grows about one foot or eighteen inches liigh. The flowers are
white. Our Indians use it to dye their porcupine quills, leather,
feathers, and other ornaments, of a beautiful rich red color.

Mr. Swift, of Erie county, Ohio, has been, if not still, a suc-
cessful cultivator of madder.

Madder contains several coloring principles, the chief being
"alizarine," an insoluble, crystaline, bright red body.

The above extracts from the niost recent publications are re-
spectifully submitted. As the volumes containing them have but
limited circulation, it is the wish of members to give them what
Smithson w'isely wanted — diffusion among men. And w^e earn-
estly invite from all cultivators of madder in our country accu-
rate accounts of their methods and the results, which we shall be
happy to d if use as widely as we can.

380 [Assembly

Mr. Pike had tried to produce madder on his farm in New Jer-
sey, an.^. had found it a hard crop to raise.

Dr. Underhill : We are in want of exact accounts from practi-
cal men on this and other crops. Nothing is more important.
A farmer does not lil^e to undertalie a new plant unless he sees
his way clear all the way from seed to harvest, and the exact cost
and results of crop. He who will furnish such truly instructive
lessons will confer a vast favor upon his fellow men.

Judge Van Wyck : Madder is one of the questions before us to
day. It is important at this time that our agriculturists should
possess the best information about the plant, aud especially the
manner of growing it, the introduction of it being pretty strong-
ly recommended by some. It will be new to us. Very little has
as yet been grown in our country. It requires a rich soil, it is
admitted on all hands ; a sandy loam it is said to be the best ; first
rate tillage in every stage of its growth ; plowing and hoeing, and
that deep ; ground kept mellow and clear of weeds. Good til-
lage is what most plants require, especially indian corn ; but this
last and others now in general cultivation by our farmers yield
their fruits witlun the year of planting them ; the winter grains,
so called, within ten months ; corn, oats, barley, kc, within five
months. Madder produces no profitable results until the fourth
year after planting, and every year deep and dilligent culture.
It is used as a dye, and a very valuable one it is. It colors red,
brighter and more durable, perhaps, tlian any other, and several
other colors. Scarlet though is tlie most ioiportaut and tlie most
in demand ; no other materials will make it scarcely tolerable.
It is said to be always in demand in our markets, and they are
never glutted with it. If, then, the article, with this length of
time before it comes to maturity or fit for use, will pay the far-
mer better than anything else, we ought to recommend it for cul-
tivation. Snch, though, are the habits of our farmers, derived
from cultivating, for a long time, an entirely difierent class of
plants, and which produce results so much quicker and more ra-
pidly, I fear it would be difficult very soon to persuade them to
try their luck at this new one. Our farmers are cautious in their
movements- in these matters. They will not risk much ; they

No. 133.] • 381 ^

cannot generally afford it ; and, on the whole, I think they are
right. They must, however, and will, do as they please. Mr.
13runson, of Huron, Ohi^, has done more at cultivating the plant,
probably, than any other man in our country. He recommends
it highly. He says it will pay well. He wrote a lengthy com-
munication on the manner of growing it, and published it. This
was some years ago. How he progressed with it afterwards, I
cannot say ; nor have I heard or seen what progress others have
made in the culture of the article, or whether much or any.

George Dickey stated that the madder of commerce command-
ed, at a general price, twelve cents per pound.

The secretary quoted the following transactions of the society
for the promotion of agricultuie, arts, and manufactures, institu-
ted in the State of New York : Vol. 1. The second edition revised,
Albany, 1801.

I

From the Journal de Physique, 1798.

THE EFFECTS OF OXYGEN IN ACCELERATING GER-
MINATION.

Mr. Humboldt discovered, in 1793, that simple metalic sub-
stances are unfavorable to the germination of plants, and that
their oxydes favor it in proportion to their degree of oxydation.
This discovery induced him to search for a substance with which
oxygen might be so weakly combined as to be easily seperated ;
and he made choice of oxygenated muriatic acid gas, mixed with
water. Cresses (Lepidium Satirum) seed put into it showed germs
in six hours ; in water, thirty-two hours. The seeds exhibited
an enormous quantity of air bubbles. These do not appear in
the water till thirty or forty minutes.

Tliese experiments, announced in Humboldt's Flora, and in his
aphorisms, on the chemical physiology of plants, have been re-
peated by others; they were made at a temperature of from 12 to 1^
Reaumer (near 64° Fahrenheit). In the summer 1799, Humboldt
began a new series of experiments, and found, that by joining
the stimulus of caloric to that of oxygen, he was enabled still
more to accelerate the progress of vegetation. He took the seeds

382 ^ ■ ^' [AsSEMIJLY

of garden cress, peas, French beans, lettuce, and migonnette,
equal quantities of which were thrown into pure water and oxy-
gented muriatic acid at a temperature oJ^SS*^ Fahrenheit. Cress-
es exhibited germs in three hours in the oxygented muriatic acid j
while none in the water were seen till twenty-six hours. In the
jQuriatic, nitric, or sulphuric acid, pure, or mixed with water,
there was no germ at all.

These discoveries may one day be of great benefit in growing
plants. Several distinguished philosophers have repeated them.
Professor Pohl, of Dresden, caused the seeds of a new kind of
Euphorbia, (India rubber is one of them — Meigs,) taken from
Bacconi's collection of dried plants, 110 or 120 years old, to ger-
minate. Jacquin and Vandett Schott, at Vienna, tried all the old
seeds of the botanic garden, twenty or thirty years old, every at-
tempt to make them vegetate in the ground having failed, and he
made the greater part of them vegetate; even the hardest seeds
yielded to this agent. Very valuable plants are now growing in
Vienna by this treatment. Humboldt made the seeds of Clusia
Jlosea, brought from the Bahamas hy Boose, (and which had re-
sisted every effort to make them grow in the ground,) vegetate by
a new method of his — that is, by mixing the seeds with a paste
made of the black oxyde of manganese, and pouring over it dilu-
ted muriatic acid. The vessel in which the mixture is made
must be covered, but not tight ; for if so, an explosion will occur.
The temperature of the mixture must be about 95° of Fahren-
heit.

Note. — The black oxide of manganese is largely used to obtain
oxygen from. — Meigs.

The best condition of plants for germination has been found to
be with a heat over 60° Fahrenheit, and not over 90°. Over lOO'^
the germination is injured.

Dr. Wellington remarked that this stimulation of growth is
probably due to electricity, which is apt to be in connection with
the process of composition and decomposition.

No. 133.] 383

Mr. Saiitli recommended , as a subject deserving the investiga-
tion of the Club, sumach, both lor dyeing and for tanning.

Dr. Uuderhill. — The effects of electricity on vegetation, by
means of wires arid copper and zinc plates, were investigated by
this Club se^^eral years ago ; and we found no influence whatever
in these, nor have any knowledge which others possessed suc-
ceeded. Practical chemists have examined the matter, and pro-
nounced it a vain experiment — an ignis fatvus. We are in want
of facts to which we must closely stick. By so doing we shall
get the thanks of sound and industrious farmers.

Dr. Wellington spoke of the action of oxygen as mentioned in
the experiments with manganese alluded to, and said that the
galvanic experiments exhibited the oxygen gas, light, heat, &c.,
in the connection.

Dr. Church had found seeds stimulated in germinating by steep-
ing three or four hours in a weak solution of chloride of lime —
a piece as large as a hickory nut, dissolved in one pint of water,
with one tablespoonful of vinegar. I tried this experiment upon
the bean seeds which I had found difficult to grow ; and I was
anxious to raise it for the benefit of my patients. When so steep-
ed they grow rapidly. The seeds of the locust are difficult to
germinate. I put some of them in a ball of moist sand, placed in
the sun three da>s, with great advantage to their vegetation.

Mr. Pike has remarked their very slow germination, being a
year or two in coming up.

Mr. Carter had remarked the same slow growth.

Dr. Underhill said that immersion for a few moments in boil-
ing water, accelerated their germination.

Chairman — Tliat method has brought them up in two months
at the right season of the year.

Gen. Chandler presented a sweet potato, just received from
Lewis Morris, Esq., of South Carolina, raised on his plantation
there, it weighs four pounds and fifteen ounces, its length is fif-

384 [Assembly

teen iiiclies, and circumference thirteen and a half inches, its
color is light red.

The Secretary quoted " Brown's trees of America."

PAULO WNIA IMPERIALIS.

The genus Catalpa was constituted by Jusssieu from tlie Eig-
nonia Catalpa of Tournefoot. Sieber called this magnificent tree
in honor of the hereditary Princess of the Netherlands, a daugh-
ter of the Emperor of Russia. It is a native of Japan j flowers in
April or May ; flowers blue ; an agreeable perfume, something
like the mock orange ; leaves resemble those of a gigantic sun-
flower; was introduced into Britain in 1840, and France tw^o or
three years later; into the United States in 1843, by the Messrs.
Parsons, of Flushing, L. Island. It is easily propagated by cut-
tings from the roots ; put into thumb pots ; likes a good garden
soil learning and dry.

The Secretary had observed that the leaves of this superb tree,
in this cit}', were not attacked by any insect, and on all accounts
it is a prize fjr cities as a shade and ornament.

The oscillating perpendicular Dash Churn of IthielS. Richard-
sou, of Boston, was exhibited in operation before the Club by L.
N. Howard. The members were pleased and satisfied with it as
new and good. The principle of it is the introduction of air at
every oscillation in abundance, by means of which butter is soon
formed and perfectly so. The movement of the most easy des-
cription being oscillation or pendulum motion.

C. A. Shelton displayed his fine Flora of California before the
Club.

The same subjects together with Sumach were ordered for the
next meeting.

The Club adjourned to Tuesday, January 18th, at noon.

H. Meigs, Secretary.

Nc, 133J 835

Farmers^ Cluby January 18, 1853.

Present: — Dr. Antisell, Professor Mapes, Re7. Mr. Sewell,
€iptain Holme?, Captain Barnard, Messrs. Piks, Gore, and Mundy,
of Jersey ; Judge Livingston, Judge Van Wyck, Geu. Chandler,
George Dickey, and otherSj upwards of tbirtymembers.

Judge Robert Swift Livingston, in the Chair. Henry Meigs,
Secretary.

JAPAN OR JAPON.

Kcempfer, about 150 years ago, gave accurate information of it
in all it3 principal concerns, especially the vegetation and cul-
ture of the country.

It consists of a great number of Islands, reachi::g in longitude
from 130'' to 147'* east, and in latitude from 30° north to 41<^.
The natives call it Niphon, which is the title of the largest of the
islands. The Chinese call it Chiphon, on account, as is said, of its
eastern position, both Niphon and Chiphon meaning the basis or
foundation of the sun — the place whence the sun comes. The
sea winds make the climate pleasant. Snow falls deep, rains
violent in June or July, and the thunder storms are heavy and
damaging. They have wheat, and the whitest rice in the world,
otLer grain, two kinds of beans, p*'as, millet, Indian wheat, a great
variety of fruits, cabbages, tumips, equal to European, no apple,
but pears of the very largest size, orange, fig, banana, cocoa nut,
jack, ginger, black pepper, susar, cotton, and indigo, are cultivat-
ed in large quantities. Tea shrub grows wild ; Indian laurel and
camphor, muynet, aromatic acore, squine root, cerete, moxa,
flnakewood, murgo rout, the opium poppy, salap, cypress, larch
and weeping willow trees, common yew ; quadrupeds. Few hogs.
No sheep or goats. Horses and black cattle few in number. The
only animals used in farming, &.c., are buffaloes and small cows.
They eat bears, but a' hor the fox. Dogs make up the want of
other animals; they are plenty, sacred, and maintained at the
expense of tho town. The only game are pheasants and
partridges.

Assembly No. 133] 25 ,

386 [Assembly

Prof Mapes introduced the Rev. Mr. Sewell, ol Bos'on, who is
authorized to take the names of those who desire to become mem-
bers of the National Agricultural Society.

Rev. Mr. Sewell stated his object to be to solicit subscriptions of
new members at two dollars per annum, or life members at
twenty -five dollars each.

Prof. Mapes laid on the table, for distribution, some of his
(Stowell's) evergreen corn, stating also, its peculiar qualities,
yielding double the number of ears of common corn, and has
three times more husk. The stalks being cut by a straw cutter,
and steeped a little in warm water, form excellent feed, much
relished by cattle. The cut stalks are equal to English hay. As
fodder, they cure easily, and are fine for stock. Here are some
ears of white flint corn, raised by Mr Shillingsby, of Clinton, New
Jersey, by the use of our improved phosphate of lime only. One
hundred and seventy-eight bushels of ears per acre ; and he raised
nine hundred bushels of carrots on an acre by means of it alone.

The corn was planted four grain? in each hill, the hills four
feet apart each way, and the super phosphate put into the hills.

The members of the Club examined the ears, and considered
them to be of extraordinary size, both cob and grain.

Prof Mapes said that they were not selected with special care,
but are a fair sample of the entire crop. When shelled, the crop
was 85 bushels an acre.

The Secretary. said that IMr. Robert Selden Rose, of Yates coun-
ty, cultivates, in the best modern style, some four hundred acres
of land, and has .tried, with great advantage, the Mapes' super-
phosphate, and intends to continue its use. He stated that his
uncle, John N. Rose, of Branchport, in Yates. county, had tried
successfully a remarkable experiment in raising mushrooms.
That is — taking an old dry mushroom, rubbing it gently in his
hands, and then sowing it over an asparagus bed, where none had
been seen, and in three days he had a full crop of fine mush-
rooms, whicli coutinued to come up day after day. That Mr.
Selden Rose followed his example with the same success. The

No. 133.] 387

members were called on for their knowledge in this case. No
one present had read or heard of such a result. The advantages
of it are great, as any one can have his crop just where he
pleases.

^; Richard W. Meade, of the U. S. Navy, sends to the Club a spe-
cimen of Mercer potato, raised in Virginia. It was considered a
good one.

Mr. Samuel Auld, 22 West street, presents to the Club a supe-
rior quality of potatoes, from French seeds, same as he exhibited,
at the Fair. They were in perfect order, and were distributed
for propagation.

Messrs. Hovey & Co., of Boston, sent t-^o specimens of the Old
Colony corn ; one of twenty rows and the other sixteen. Both
of them have grains very much shrivelled, like the sweet corn.
The grains were distributed.

Pierpont Phillips, Esq., of Pompfet Landing, Conn., sent a
number of Wood's seedling potatoes. They are unusually large.
The crop was 350 bushels per acre. The quality is improving
every year.

William M. Abrbatt, of 29 Burling Slip, sent specimens of solid-
ified milk, made in Poughkeepsie for him. Some of our ships
take it, and it is found very good, and may be relied on for du-
ration. A grater was employed to pulverize it, and it was then
put into cofiee, and tasted by members. The experiment should
have been better managed. No doubt can be better entertained
of its great utility, when we recollect that some 40,000 sail of ves-
sels belonging to our country and England only, require milk as
a comfort, and they cannot allbrd to carry cows.

Captain Holmes had commanded at sea for a great many years,
and had generally managed to carry eggs enough to be substitu-
ted for milk in coffee.

Captain George F. Barnard was requested also to speak, and he
stc'^ed the same practice on board his vessel in long voyages — that
eggs can be preserved some five months or more, so that they
meet the wants of long passages. He used to have the yolks well

388 [Assembly

beaten up, and then stirred in coffee, and it formed a very agree-
able substitute for milk.

Professor Mapes observed that this solid milk siiould be
thoroughly dissolved in warm water before it is added to tea or
coflTee. This opinion seemed to be t>.at of most members, among
them Dr. Antisell, who called to the notice of the Club a substi-
tute for milk now somewhat used in the navy of England, that is,
milk powder, said to answer very well, and, probably, is capable
of long keeping.

Chester Colemanf'of Brooklyn^ presented a basket of James
river apples, from seedling grown many years ago on James riv-
er, Virginia. It is of middling size, dark brownish red skin, re-
markably tender, and of fine taste. Mr. Coleman is pleased to
bring it to notice, that it may be generally grafted. It was some-
times called the limber twig apple, on acconnt of the peculiar
suppleness of its twigs.

The sweet potato sent to the Club by Colonel Lewis Morris, of
Charlestown, South Carolina, was cooked by Mr. Upson, of the
Capital, corner of Broadway and Leonard street, in excellent style.
All who tasted it expressed high opinion of its quality. The
weiglit of it was ascertained by John W. Chambers, the Clerk of
the American Institute, to be four pounds fifteen ounces ; the
6kin liffht red.

*o'

William M. Abbatt presented to the Club a cake of Mason's
solid Jullienne, a mixture of green peas and other vegetables,
which is for a vegetable soup, when cooked, called Jullienne;
also, a cake of solid cabbage and another of green beans. The
members examined "them. Some of these solid vegetables tvere
tried on a voyage around the world, and found perfectly good
after about four years in all climates.

On motion, the tlianks of the Club were voted to Col. Morris,
Mr. Abbatt, Messrs. Hovey, Coleman, Mapes, Meade, Phillips, and
with great warmth to Mr. Ernst, of Cincinnati) f>r his great pres-
ent of tlio Japan peas — a plant whoso height is nearly five feel,
full ot branches, woody and strong, being about an inch and a

No. 133.] 389

quarter in circumference near the base, requiring, therefore, no
support, yielding at every joint branches of pcd?, each contain-
ing two or three peas, the whole in such quantity that they
would probably cover the ground where they grow.

The following letter from Mr. Ernst was read : —
To the Secretary of the Farmers Club.

Bpring Garden, Jan. 5, 185?,

My Bear Sir, — Knowing the deep interest your Institution takes
in everything calculated to add to the comfort and happiness of
the country, I send you this morning by Adams and Go's. Express,
a small package of seed of a new article of agricultural impor-
tance to our country, and one which seems to me will prove a
valuable acquistion to its products. It v/as introduced into tl:o
country by one of those chance accidents which result in good to
all the world, throwing the germs of the products of distant
and inaccessible countries and climes over the wideworld, for the
benefit of all. Heaven often brings about that which mau, by
other means, seeks in vain.

The crew of a Japan vessel in distress was relieved by an Amer-
ican ship, and carried into San Francisco, witlj some of the stores
among which was found what resembled a pea. A few of
these were brought to Alton, in Illinois, last year (1851)., A part
of that produced was last spring sent to our Horticultural Socie-
ty, by Mr. John H. Lee, of that place. These I send you weie
grown in my grounds from those. I do not know where it should
be classed. Doubtless Professor Mapes, or some other scientific
member of your " Farmer's Club," will be enabled to assign it a
place. The growth is peculiar; it is upright, stiflT, woolly, seed
pods numerous, small, and woolly ; seen when green and forming,
resembles a bean in shape, but at maturity assumes the round
form of the pea. The yield is very great, and it has all the ap-
pearance of a valuable article for v» inter food. I have not
thought it best to subject any of the seed I have to test its fla-
vor, as I have but a small quantity, which I prefer to distribute;
but the flavor is said to be fine, resembling green peas. Wheth-
er this is when cooked in a green state or dried, T do not know.

390 ' [ASSEMLBY

As the couQtry from which it comes is now the siibject of na-
tional intent, and as I see by the report of the interesting pro-
ceedings of the Farmer's Club of the 7th ult., the seeds of that
country claim the attention of the members, I hope these will not
come amisSj and that they may be placed in such hands as will
report to your institution its merits next fall. I inclose a part of
4he stale, that you may see its habits of growth and its produc-
tiveness. It requires more room than I gave it for a full devel-
opment of its form and productiveness.

With my best wishes for the advancement and prosperity of the
©bjects to which your institution is so honorably devoting itself,
I remain very respectfully, yours, (Signed) A. H. ERNST.

P. S. — I almost forgot one important point I had in view — it is
to thank you kindly (for I presume it is to you I am indebted)
for oocasional papers containing reports of the interesting discus-
sions at the meeting of your " Farmers' Club." Such discussions
are exceedingly interesting and instructive 5 and while thanking
you for the papers, it occurs to me to remind you of your kind
ofter, when in your city last September, to present me a set of the
published transactions of your Institute. I shall prize them
much. It was-my intention on my return home from Boston, to
have remained a day or two in your city, when I should have
seen you again, and taken them with me ; .but it so happened that
I was coiastrained to leave in the morning before you or any of
the officers »f the Institute had leaclied the office. I left a note
requesting that tiiey be sent by express.- a. h. e.

The Japan peas were not recognized by any of the members.

riiey v/ere distributed to tlie following gentlemen, with the in-
Juacftion to return to the Club one tenth part of the product, for
distriJ)ution iu 1854, viz :

Hon. Richard Bacon, Simsbury, Connecticut.
Hon. Robert Swift, Livingston, New- York.
Professor James J. Mapes, New Jersey.
Messrs. Hovey k Co., Boston.
Mr. Amos Gore, New Jersey.

No. 133. 1 391

Mr. Christian V. Muncly, Metucliin, New Jewey.

Dr. Nathan Shelton, Jamaica, Long Island.

George Dickej, Esq., New York.

Jacob P. Giraud, Esq., Bergen, New Jersej.

Elijah P. Kimball, Esq., Flatlands, Long Island.

D. F. Manice, Esq., Brushville, do ,

S. S. Ay mar, Esq., Jamaica, do

Alderman Jones, New York, (for his son's farm in Illinois.)

On motion of Mr. Nash — a subject for next meeting — " Forest
trees for shade, for timber, and for ornament." American mad-
der continued, and sumach.

Adjourned to first Tuesday in February next.

Farmers^ Club. February I ^ 1853.
President Tallmadge in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary.
Present thirty to forty members.

The president stated^the subject before the Club to be our for-
est trees, for timber, shade or ornament, new plants, madder,
sumach.

Solon Robinson recommended tlie works of Michaux on the
flcst point, as containing the most complete and faithful 'asfcomnts
of most of our forest trees, that his drawings of the leaves of the
oaks, (among other,) were so perfect that any- person, with a
drawing of his before him, can immediately, (by c-omparison with
the leaf of an oak,) know the peculiar species. There is one
oak, the burr-oak, which the speaker had examined, whose acorns
were among the best known, for their fine quality as food, espe-
cially for swine. It is sweet, nutritious and fattening. It is in
our western States, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and in a scatter-
ing growth — wood soft when green — but as hard as live oak when
dry. The trees are not very large — the greatest diameter, I have
noticed, was about thirty inches.

The secretary read the following papers prepared by him :

393 [Assembly

PLANTS OF ANTIQUITY COMPARED WITH THE MODERN.

Herculanenm, Pompeii and Stabia have been buried about
1,700 years. Their sites were unknown until the seventeenth
century. Pictures of plants and the actual remains of some have
been discovered in these entombed cities. Many of the p^nts,
however, did not grow there — for the paintings represent the
marshy lands of Egypt — with the Nelumbium, our Victoria Re-
gia ; Date Palms, the Stone Pine, and the Cypress of Italy are
painted here — carbonized seeds of it. Pine Corns, Aleppo Pine
were found here. The modern Oleander and the Joy were in
Pompeii. No Aloe — no Ficus Indica are there — for Europe did
not see them till after the discovery of America. The Dwarf
Palm, there is the same. The Theophrastus describes it 2,100
years ago, as being very general in Sicily then — and it is so now —
but is scarce in the vicinity of Naples. Wheat and barley are
there in a charred state. There is a fine picture on a wall iij
Pompeii, representing a quail pecking at a spike of barley — and
a side picture to this represents a quail pecking at a spike of mil-
let. We miss here the Maize, (Indian Corn,) we owe it to Amer-
ica. Nor do we meet with Rice here. In that time, when Pom-
peii was alive, it was confined to the East Indies. A bundle of
asparagus is painted there, onion, radishes, turnips, and a small
gourd. The olive~a glass jar containing preserved olives has
been found there, which retained their t!avor when first found.
Figs and grapes abound in the fruit pieces there. Pears, apples,
cherries, almonds, plums, peaches, medlars, pomegranates. No
orange, lemon or citron there.

Botany , by Balfonr, London, 1851.

SIZE AND AGE OF TREES.

Forest trees in France, reach a height of 120 to 130 feet.

do in America 1 50 "

do do note, by H. Meigs, over 300 "

Some Baobabs are in girth 90 "

The Dracaena of the Canaries 40 '^

An Acer, (maple,) in south Carolina 62 "

In France some trees are In girth 25 to 30 "

No. 133.] 393

Oaks in Britain, planted before the Conquest, more

than 8U0 years old ,

Yew at Fountain Abbey, Ripon : . . 1 ,200 "

Yews in Crowhurst Churchyard, Surrey ....... 1 ,450 "

Yew at Fortingai, Perthshire J2,500 to 2,600 «

Yew at Brabourue Churchyard, Kent 3,000 "

Yew at Hedson, Bucks, 27 feet diameter 3,200 "

A Ficus Lidica, (Indian Fig,) or the Banyan, on an island in
Nerbudda, (a river in Hindoestan, falling into the Gulf of Cam-
bay, in N. lat. 4 degrees, E. Ion. 81 degrees 45 min.,) i^ believed
to be indentified with one that existed in the time of Alexander
the Great, and which, according to Nearchus, v.as then capable
of overshadowing ten thousand men. Parts of it have been car-
ried away by floods, but it can now shade seven thousand men,
and its circumference, measuring its principal trunk only, is two
thousand feet. The chief trunks of this tree greatly exceed our
English oaks and elms, in thickness, and are about three hundred
and fifty in number. The smaller stems are more than three
thousand in number.

The Maronites believe that some cedars near the village of
Eden, in Lebanon, are the remains of the forest which furnished
Solomon with timber for the temple, full three thousand years
ago. These cedars were visited by Belonius in 1550, who found .
them 28 in number. Rawolf, in 1575, make^ them 24. Dan-
dini in 1G60, and Thevenot, about fifty years after, makes them
23. Maundrell, in 1G96, found them reduced to IC. Pococke,
in 179G, found 15 standing. In 1810, Burkhardt counted 11 or
22, and Dr. Richardson, in 1818, stales that there are only seven.
They must be of great antiquity, seeing that they were counted
old three hundred years ago. Maundrell says the largest one
measured 36.^ feet in circumference, with 117 feet spread of its
boughs. Decandolle gives a list of the ascertained ages of some
trees, as follows : —

Elm, S30 years.

Cypress, (about) 350 do

Cheiroitemon hand tree, 4^0 do

Ivy, 450 do

394 Assembly

Larch, 576 years.

Sweet Cheanntj (about) . , 600 do

Orange, 630 do

Olive, 700 do

Plataniis Orientalis, 720 do

Cedar, 800 do

Many Tropical trees, according to Humbolt, 1000 do

Lime, ,. 1076 and 1147 do

Oak, 810,1980 and 1500 do

Yew,. 1214, 1458, 2588 and 2800 do*

Taxodiuni. GV_-i 4000 do

Adansouia, 5000 do

From tho Joarnafl D^Agrioultare efc Transactions, de la, Sooiete I>' Agriculture Da Boa, Canada.
, Jatmary, 1862.

WHEAT FROM A MUMMY.

At tlie last assembly of the Directors of the Agricultural So-
ciety of Lower Canada, one of the members, P..E. Leclere, who
is also President of the Agricultural Society of the county of Hya-
cinth, deposited for examination three ears of wheat, which he
collected last summer in his garden, at St. Hyacinth, from the
grains of wheat which he procured in Boston, from a mummy
opened there. Mr. Leclere says that he had obtained from these
two grains more then two thousand grains the first year. He has
distributed sonie of the grains among members. He also exhibit-
ed the straw of this wheat, which is remarkably strong and per-
fectly free from rust.

The figure of this wheat differs from every kind of wheat we
have ever seen, and also from the modern wheat of Egypt. It
appears never to have been attacked by the fly.

Mr. Robinson.— In our live oak regions I noticed large trees
girdled — dead — before any of the modern forest began to grow*
I suppose they were girdled by the men of an early period, in
order to the cultivatioa of the land where they stood, to get rid
of their shade.

No. 133.] 395

President Tallinadge. — What is the life ot chcsnut ? Our
Swamp Ash lives to fifty or sixty years, and attains a diameter of
three feet.

Mr. Ilobinson.-^Our Sycamore, or Button Ball, Planted by our
worthy Deacon Lord — four saplings which he carried iu his hand
— are now four feet in diameter.

Rev. Mr. Carter. — Saw the sills and lintels qf the present Post
Office, some ye^rs ago, when it was undergoing repair; they were
white oak and in perfect preservation, yet they were there from
the building of that church, (formerly,) long before the Revolu-
tionary war, during which the British army used it as a riding
school.

Judge Van Wyck. — I should like to have htard some "more
definite information about the age of some of our American forest
trees than we have had. Although the question has only been
introduced incidentally in discussing some other matters, that had
priority among those which are regularly before us, it might be
inferred from what has been intimated by several, that American
forest trees generally were much shorter lived than they were in
the old world. Among a few others, the chesnut vesca casianea
was mentioned.

This tree, it was said, lived considerably short of a hundred
years ; there may be cases of this, and of all other trees ; these
decay and die sometimes from disease, or being planted in a soil
and climate not suitable to it ; animals are subject to this as well
as plants ; they get diseased from bad care, bad food, and various
causes, and die before maturity. I have seen chestnut trees in
healthy situations said to be over a hundred years old, and bear-
ing fruit, and I fully believed it, from the way in which the tes-
timony came, handed down from father to son. This is almost
the only way, in our young country, in which we can get a cor-
rect history of the age of trees ; in the old world, many of their
aged trees are identified in some degree with the history of the
country or nation where they grew ; Ihey were so old, or so large
when such a battle was fought, or such a king reigned, (by-the-
bye, I hope the age of none of our trees will ever be proved by

396 [Assembly

such an event as the last.) Besides, the chesnntj both here and
in Europe, that is certain kinds of it, is hard and compact, and
when well seasoned, all the sap dried out of it, there is no more
durable timber ; it will last longer, it is said than oak, a strong
circumstance to show that it cannot be naturally a short lived
tree; it attains not only great age, but great size, is long in grow-
ing, and certain kinds of it first rate for timber ; all kinds of it
are good for this, but certain kinds better than others ; good sea-
soning is what all timber requires, to be good ; our timber does
not always get this ; we are too much in a hurry with it, as with
many other things, done too quick to last.

At one of the last meetings of our Club, when madder was be-
fore us, I stated that, from the best information, in the latitudes
of New York and Ohio, and north of these, it was four years, or
the fourth year after planting before the article came to maturity.
I have seen since, in a very late English periodical of high repu-
tation, that in Alsace, Germany, on the Rhine, and where they
raise a great deal and very fine, it is ripe or fit for use the very
second year after planting. If this be correct, it will make quite
a diifereuce on the profit of the culture of it, one half at least in
favor of the grower, by getting his results the second year from
planting, instead of the fourth.

The secretary remarked the rapid growth of the elm. When
a scholar in the grammar school of the learned Jared Mansfield,
(afterwards professor of matliematics at West Point,) he was
stopped on his way to school, in 1795, by senator James Hillhouse,
of New Haven, and requested to hold some elm saplings in the
holes dug by the senator to receive them, on Temple street, while
the senathDr filled in the soil about their roots — the saplings being
about the size of a maw's thumb. I told him that I should be
punished for being too late at school, he bid me run ! My excuse
was most readily admitted by the good mathematician, Mansfield.
A lew years since I examined them, and was surprised at their
growth. They are of great size.

Jules Lachaume, of Yonkers, presented his cooked Julienur
soup, carrots, parsnips, parsley, cabbage, string beans, celery and
turnips. . They were tested by many of the members, whose

No. 130.] 597

opijiions were generally very favorable to the high value ol them
for our immense ocean population. Some said tliat the string
beans were bettor tlian those fresh picked — that the cabbage was
nearly equal to fresh picked — carrots had all their qualities, par-
snips also. That his Julienne br vegetable soup was, as such —
(without any meat,) was quite rich and good — and that at sea,
after being some time without them, the seamen would relish
them very highly. Mr. Lachauttie said that he had learned the
art in the manufactory of Mr. Masson, in Paris. The cabbage,
jullicune and string beans of his patent were presented by "Wil-
liam M. Abbott, of 29 Burling slip, who gave the last Club the
solid milk. And in answer to questions as to time, replied that
some of the vegetables could be prepared in twenty-four hours ;
and as to cost, that it is about fourteen cents a pound for all the
preserved vegetables ; that he has tried to preserve potatoes and
beets, but, owing to some acid in them, they turn of dark color —
don't look well.

Gen. Chandler remarked that, the object in view is one of
great usefulness, and certainly of importance to our commercial
and naval marine, and we should encourage the operation. That
the governments of France and Great Britain are doing so, con-
vinced of its great value.

Dr. Austin Church observed that potatoes, peas and beans can
always be on hand for the marine, on voyages of any length ordi-
nary ; the latter, peas and beans, for any length j but fresh vege-
tables are required fur anti-scorbutics. Perhaps these desiccated
regetables may answer that purpose. I will not say positively,
the process which they have undergone may have altered them
in that respect.

Rev. Mr. Carter : In the condition to which these vegetables
are reduced by drying out all the water, and that alone — being
now in weight tea or more times less than when fresh — they be-
come fitted fur an easy and cheap transportation, bo that it may
be worth trying in our rich vegetable west, for food to our poorer
population in our Atlantic cities.

398 [Assembly

Mr, Robinson : As an anti scorbutic, sourkrout is considewd
the best.

Mr. Aycrigg said that many persons can freely eat sour krout,
almost live on it, who cannot eat cabbage safely any other way.
It is capable of long keeping, and is anti-scorbutic.

President Tallraadge : The propriety and necessity of the cul-
tivation of a large variety of plants, in order to avoid the effects
of the loss of any one crop, are painfully made manifest by the
famine now desolating the unfortunate inhabitants of the lovely
island of Maderia. There, Providence has given them vines of
such peculiar value, that tlie world went there for wine. This
naturally led the poor inhabitants to such an universal culture of
the vine, that they neglected their vegetable food. Such a les-
son should be remembered, for continents have for several years
been troubled to find a substitute for the potatoe. From the vast
resources unfolded to us by botanical researches, we are daily
gaining something of value in every point of view. Much re-
mains undone. We now want madder, to multiply our chances
for prosperity. Why import that indispensible dye 1 We have
lands of any amount, suitable to it. Let us grow it all for our-
selves, and much as may be called for by the rest of mankind.
Our people want all manner of employment. Not one will be
idle. None but will work for fair pay. Great good will result.
The solid milk which we have examined lately, has high value.
Compressed, as it is, occupying little space, of long duration, it
is another blessing to our seamen. Not so with another form of
milk-— -that is cheese — very diilicult to keep well.

Dr. Church : Some twenty years ago, France had milk in a form
which rendered it durable any length of time. That was by
heating it to about one hundred and thirteen degrees oJT Fahren-
heit, then adding some muriatic acid and hermetically sealing the
vessels containing it. When wanted- pure, soda was well stirred
into the milk ; this produced, by chemical union with the muria-
acid, common salt, sufficient for that portion of milk.

President Tallmadge : To our forest trees again. The object we
have in view always, is utility. We are not fond of useless the-

No. 133.] 399

ory. You know the value of the American black walnnt. It is
our northern mahogany, highly useful (o our lands, a good lire
wood, beautiful for furniture. The prevailing opinion as to its
life is, that it matures at one hundred years, and decays at one
hundred and fifty year^. Its fruit is good. Many of our piae
trees are ornamental, some of well known excellence as timber.
Returning to preserved vegetables — we know that green corn is
now preserved so well that my family have enjoyed it in all sea-
sons of the year.

Amos Gore, of New Jersey : How long is madder in ripening ?

. President Tallmadge : It is good the third year. I observed
the madder crops in France, some years ago. The crop looked
much like a beet crop in the distance. They were growing it for
the American market. I felt that our great country ought to
save them the trouble. We must grow it. I, for one, am ex-
tremely desirous that we should do it.

Mr. Robinson : California, with her powerful growths, would
toake fine madder, I think.

Mr. Cornell, of New Jersey : There are great differences in the
growth of madder ; so much so that the price varies from as low-
as three cents a pound to fifteen or twenty cents a pound, for the
best.

• President Tallmadge : Suncach is one of the subjects before us.
I do not like sumach ; it is a nuisance to our lands ; it grows
everywhere, and in my opinion its uses are no compensation for
its evil properties.

Mr. Cornell : It grows on poor land. It would, in all proba-
bility, greatly better on good fertile soil, and cultivated. It is an
American, and I like it for that.

Dr. Church : Mr. Swift, of Ohio, thinks that a madder crop
can be perfected in three years ; that it costs one hundred dollars
an acre to grow it, and when grown it is worth three hundred
dollars. It demands a rich, well pulverized soil ; it spreads, and
sends down new roots. The crop sells for fifteen cents a pound.

400 [Assembly

From the Rcrae Horticole, Paii», 1S5S.

NEV/ PLANTS.

Translated hj E. Meigs.

One of the characleristic traits of the epoch in which vre live,
is the indefatigable ardor with which all nature is scrutinized; a3
nFell in matters purely scientific, as in those ia which the praise-
worthy desire of creating new resources for the good of man-
kind. We readily comprehend that in this vast universe in which
the Creator has constituted man a sovereign, there is nothing
useless, nothing that may not become useful ; nothing is, which
may not, in intelligent hands, become materials of value, or even
necessary, in those sciences which he cultivates, and to which he
is urged on by an irresistible curiosity.

It is then that we appreciate those acquisitions which now daily
come into our European gardens. We notice the Auracaria Co-
lamnaris, introduced by Hooker. The arrival ot this magnifi-
cent conifer made the lovers of fine trees leap for joy. The -dis-
covery of it belongs to the illustrious Captain Cook, who thus
describes it :

^' When we were in sight of the small islands which depends
on New Caledonia, S. lat. 19 deg. 37 min. to 22 deg. 39 min., Ion.
163 deg. 37 min. to 167 deg. 14 min: E., when upon one of them
was a tree which, at our distance, looked like a tower. We soon
saw others of the same appearance, assembled on a point. They
resembled the masts of a fleet at anchor. Some days later,
more, and more considerable quantities of them. We remarked
also, that from distance to distance among them, there arose
smoke from among these obelisks. Our crew had much to say
about these singular trees. I thought that they were trees of
peculiar form, because there Were so many of them that I^could
not suppose any thing else, but my philosophers of the deck de-
clared that the smoke was from volcanoes, and the towers were
of basalt, like the giant's basalt of Ireland. The smoke, (I no-
ticed,) always began in the morning and ceased at night. At last

No. 133.] 401

he was landed, and all expressed their pleasure and surprise that
the suppi">sed columns were trees, except one philosopher, who
still persisted in declaring them to be of basalt."

Many years liaive passed away since Cook said this, and the
learned world knew nothing of their existence until recently.
Mr. Moore, the director of the Botanic Garden of Sydney, who
went to the island, (about fifteen degrees east of Sydney.) in com-
pany with Captain Erskine, had the happiness to find the
trees, and he sent young plants to the London Horticultural So-
ciety, and they are in the Royal Gardens at Kew. It has received
many different names — Dombeya, Columnaris, Fontis, Araucaria,
Cookii Brown, Araucaria Excelsa, Lambert. It seems to retain,
however, the mine of Araucaria Columnaris. The cones of the
male flowers are terminal, elongated, ovoid in figure, formed of
leathery scales, imbricated, (one over the other, like shingles,)
ending in a soft point. This tree is very good for ship timber,
Captain Cook says, excellent for masts, for it has very few knots,
the lateral branches being quite small, and the trunk is perfectly
straight. It requires a temperate climate to grow in.

RHODODENDRON LOUIS PHILIPPE.

From seed plants sent by J. Daltcn Hooker, from the Indo Hi-
malayan of Sikkim, have done well. This, whose flower we give,
is from seed plante<l ten years ago, by M. Bertin, horticulturist,
at Versailles. This i>lant is in the open air, gave the first flower
in 1846.

[From the Journal d' Agriculture, Bas Canada, July, 1852.]

EXPEDITIOUS GROWTH OF CUCUMBERS.

The gardener of a gentleman, living near Burford, being in
want of some manure, obtained leave to cut some coarse grass
and weeds in the park, of which he made a bed ; he th^n covered
it with a small quantity of dung. On the 28th of February he
fixed iwo glasses over the hotbed, and transplanted two young
plants from the pots to this hotbed.

[Assembly, No. 133.] 26

402 [Assembly

On the 27th of March he picked a cucumber eleven and a half
inches long. On the 29th, one of sixteen inches long. On the
30th, one of fifteen inches long, leaving on one of thirteen inches
length.

SUBJECT FOR NEXT MEETING.
The forest trees of America for timber, for shade and for orna-
ment— sumach, new plants, the locust borer, and a remedy.

The club then adjourned to Tuesday, February 18th, at noon.
^ H. MEIGS, Secretary.

Farmers' Club, February 15, 1853.

Present — Messrs. Tallmadge, R, L. Pell, Judge R. S. Livingston,
Van Wyck, Pike, of New-Jersey, S. B. Halliday, of Providence,
Gore, of New-Jersey, Dr. Underbill, of Croton Point, Dr. Church,
Mr. Dickey, Mr. Archibald, and others, to thirty or forty
members.

President Tallmadge in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary.

The President laid before the club a communication from which
the following are taken. The Rev. Chauncey E. Goodrich, of
Utica, has applied himself to the introduction of new sorts of
potatoes with great zeal, knowledge, industry and success. His
experiments have been very numerous. We make room for the
most successlul of them. He aimed at a renewal of that precious
tuber, from the original of South America, and he states :

1 . The importation of new tubers from those congenial climes
of which (so far as we know,) it is a native.

- 2. Its reproduction from the seed-ball. Illustration of these
methods, as tried.

3. Grand seedling Bogotas of 1852 ; from No. 2. Many hun-
dred sorts ; hardy, bears seed-balls ; flesh generally much whiter
than the parent ; some ten or twelve quite white, and sufficiently
early for general use ; and will probably prove valuable.

No. 133.] 403

4. Seedlings of a home variety, of 1S49, derived from the old
round yellow flesh. Of two hundred sorts, the most are hardier
than the parent, and equally or more productive. A few very
hardy, white flesh, and fit for general cultivation.

5. Grand seedlings of a home variety of 1852, from No. 4.
Many hundreds, hardy, productive, nearly all white flesh. A
large number of varieties fit for general culture. A very valua-
ble family of seedlings.

6. Imported Chilis, light colored, of 1851; four varieties con-
siderubl} alike. Hardy, bear seed balls, two ol them profusely,
but all mature too late to be useful here.

7. Seedlings of light-colored Chilis of 1852; from No. 6. Many
hundred varieties, generally hardy ; many bear seed balls, and
have white flesh. About ten sorts early enough for general cul-
ture. Probably valuable.

8. Red Chili, imported, 1851 ; hardy, tolerably productive, fine
white flebh, matures in season. For some reason not very eatable.
Bears no flowers.

9. Rough purple Chili, imported, 1851 ; this very valuable
variety was imported with the preceding. For hardiness, pro-
ductiveness, and fine table qualities, it has no equal in the circle
of my Ivunwledge. I have elsewhere, and formerly, called it the
rough red Chili. It bears seed balls moderately.

10. Seedlings of the rough purple Chili, 1852; from the pre-
ceding. Nearly all inherit the white fine flesh, hardiness and
productiveness of the parent, W'hile many of them are much more
shapely. These are invaluable.

11 and 12. Two imjwrted red Chilis of 1851 ; hardy, but not
eitrly en )U,:ih for use. One of them bears seed balls enormously.

13. Seedlings of the yam potato of 1852 ; very hardy, shapely
and productive. A very few, out of many hundreds, are white
flesh, and valuable for culture.

14. Seedlings of an Oregon variety, of 1853. Many of them
hardy, fine shape and flesh. Valuable.

404 [Assemble

In order to re-imburse himself for heavy expenses, the reverend
gentleman is obliged to charge something for his new potatoes.

For his rough purple Chilis, ten dollars a year. This kind'
yielded ninety-two potatoes for one, last year, very fine quality.
Some cultivated last year, by Mr. Delafleld of Geneva, (near it,)
yielded one hundred and twelve pounds weight for one pound.

Seedlings of r?49 are hardy, productive and good. Price seven
dollars a barrel, or three dollars a bushel. The State Society has
tested them this year. They yielded from twenty to sixty-four
pounds weight for one.

Seedlings of 1852 are several choice kinds selected from four
thousand two hundred varieties, grown from seed balls, mostly of
the last mentioned potatoes. This selection was made with great
care as to their heaviness, tlesh, yield and mode of growth, and
they afford a basis, it is believed, for the entire renewal of the
potato crop in our country. My price for them is ten dollars a
bushel.

My potato seed is from the balls of my best varieties mentioned.
It has been tested, and is now warranted to yield a very large pro-
portion of hardy, productive, and shapely sorts. My price is one-
dollar a paper, each containing more than one thousand seeds^
and with directions for cultivating them. They will be sent bj
mail to order, postage paid. Each sort is put up separate.

The Secretary said, in refejence to

THE JAPAN PEA,

One of the extensive class of fabacese, consisting of more than'
three thousand varieties, according to Lindley, in his Vegetable
Kingdom : The following are from Japan — Dolichos hirsutus^
lineatus, incurvus, angularis, (hairy beans) ; cultratus, umbel-
latus, (sharpened.)

Dolichos (Greek) means long. The pea grown by A. H. Ernst,
of Cincinnati, is not hitherto known, and is not in the above list.

No. 133.1 405

\

Mr. R. L. Pell remarked on the

FOREST TREES OF AMERICA AND THEIR USES.

Among those the white oak, Querciis Alba, is justly esteemed
beyond all otliers, and Is used in preference to any for tlie keel
triinnels, side planks and frames of ships, being exceedingly tough,
strong, iind easy to bend, but not easily admitting water. They
grow Well upon gravelly soil, and equally so on a moist clay
which most trees fail to^ flourish upon. Shipwrights generally
agree that the European white oak, is tougher and far mi>re last-
ing than the American ; the grain of the former is closer than the
latter, still it is so nuich prized abroad, that immense quantities
are annually shipped to England ; in half a century I fear it
will be considered our rarest tree. Oaks set out for timber trees,
must not be planted nearer each other than thirty-five teet, and
should be well staked to protect them from the action of the
winds, and surrounded with thorns, or a frame to prevent cattle
or sht-ep from rubbing against them, as the oil contained in their
hair, or wool, is poisonous to them before well established. The
best oak timber is that found in a cold aspect, exposed to bleak
winds. Chiron made Achilles' spear of a tree thus grown. In
tran>plantiiig, the fibres and spongioles must be protected with
the dirt adhering to them; they are the mouths through which
the nourishment is drawn in to maintain it. The large roots are
only useful to sustain the stem. The position of the tree before
removal must be particularly observed, as the part facing the
5outh is much more dilated, as appears in their horizontal sections,
by the excentricity of their hyperbolical circles, being, on trans-
plantation, turned to the north, destroys the tree five times out
•of ten.

LIVE OAK (quercus virens).

A very valuable species, growing on the coasts of several of our
foutiitrn states, within twenty miles of the sea. This tree fre-
-quently reaches the height of fifty feet, but rarely over that; in a
few instances trunks have been discovered twenty-three feet in
circumference. At a distance Irom the observer, when standing
alone, it resembles an apple tree. Its numerous limbs produce an

406 [Assembly

immence number of knees, used in ship building. Mucli of this
timber finds its way to England ; this is to be regretted \ in sixty
years it will be extinct.

Besides these there are twenty-five other oaks, according to>
Michaux, named as follows :

Mossy Cup oak, Quereus olivseformis.

Over-cup White oak, .... — microcarpa.

Post oak, — obtosiloba.

Over-cup oak, — lyrata.

Small Chestnut oak^.... — prinus chincapin.

Yellow oak, — — acuminate.

Swamp White oak, — — discolor.

Chestnut White oak, .... — — palustiis.

Cork oak, — suber.

Running oak, — pumila.

Willow oaky -— phellos.

Upland Willow oak, — cinerese.

Laurel oak, — imbricaiia.

Bear oak, — banisteri.

Black Jack oak, — ferruginia.

Water oak, — aquatica.

Barhamoak, — heterophylla-

Scarlet oak, — coccinia.

Grey oak, — ambigua.

Black oak, — tinctoria.

Pin. oak, — palustris.

Red oak, — subra.

Spanish oak, — falcata.

Barren Scrub oak, ...... — catesbsei.

Rock Chestnut oak, — prinus raoutieoja.

There are likewise twenty-six South American and Mexican
oaks, named by F. Bush, growing from 10 to GO feet high.

ULMUS (THE ELM).
Is one of the easiest trees known to tis to remove or transplant.
When twenty years old they may be removed with complete suc-
cess, provided you cut off all the branches, except thie extreme

No. 133.J 407

top, and water the tree thoroughly when planted ; in a few years
it will surprise you by its wonderful growth. It delights in a
fertile, moist, loamy soil; still it prospers in gravel, but particu-
larly abliors a dry sand. I don't know a more singular timber
than the elm; it bears two extremes admirably, and may either
be kept continually dry or wet, consequently it is used for mills,
water work-, pipes, pumps, ship planks on the bottom of vessels,
aqueducts, etc., and has been found buried in bogs for centuries,
and tlien polished to appear like the finest ebony. It is used by
wheelwrights for hubs, axle-trees; by carpenters for handles
dressers ; by butchers for chopping blocks ; by sextons for coffins ;
by hat makers for hat blocks ; and by carvers. The leaves may
be stripped oil for feeding cattle on in winter ; they prefer them
to oats, and will grov/ ftit upon them. The poet said, fecunda
frondibus ulmi — fruitful in leaves, the elm. The green leaves,
when crushed, will heal a recent wound or cut immediately. The
tree is incomparable for shade, and Virgil says they may be en-
grafted upon the oak. Both these trees, when required for use
should be cut in November or December ; so cut, even sapplingg
will last without decay as long as the heart of old trees. There
are five varieties, the white, Ulmus Americana, Wahoo, Ulmus
Alata,Conimon,Ulmiif Carapestris, Red, Ulmiis Rubra, Dutch Elm,
Ulmus Suberosa.

(THE BIRCH, BETULA.)

Is a tree of easy culture, and grows readily on the most barren
and forbidding soil, whether it be dry, wet, sandy, marshy or
stony, high or low, it is all the same. It is not considered of any
value as timber, still is put to various uses, such as the manufac-
ture of biooms, ox-jokes, hoops, baskets, arrows, dishes, bowls,
ladles, can(jes, buckets and various other domestic utensils. The
inner silky bark was much used in former times to write upon,
before ];)aper was invented — and the outer bark served as covers
for houses before slati s and tiles were known. The roots are
sometimes exceedingly curious, I have seen them representing
birds, beasts and other forms ; the mould taken from hollow, de-
cayed birch trees, is capital for raising rare and tender plants.
If tapped in spring, a clear and limpid liquor flows from the tree,

408 [Assembly

which may be converted into a delicious mead. It possesses many
of the virtues of the spirit of salt, free from its acrimony. A wine
1! ay be made from birch juice, which iiis supposed will cure con-
sumption. It is so volatile that it cannot be preserved in stone
bottlesj still when taken, is perfectly harmless, and a sharpener
of the appetite. There are six Birches, Black Birch, Betula Lenta ;
Yellow" Birch, Lutea; Red Birch, Rubra ; Canoe Birch, Pdpyra-
cea; White Birch, Populi Folia; Common Birch, Alba.

THE BEECH, (fagus.)
This is a fine spreading noble shade tree, furnished with glis-
tening deep green leaves, which may be gathered in Ihe fall be-
fore fr'>st, and used for mattresses in lieu of straw, they lie
much looser together than it does, and remains sweet for eight
years, without becoming musty. I have slept upon them in Swit-
zerland, and found them extremely refreshing. The leaves when
chewed will cure inflamed gums, and cause the teeth to become
quite white. Stagnant water found in the hollows of decaying
beech trees, is said to be a cure for sores, scabs, bruises and wounds,
not only in man but beast. The wood serves many useful pur-
poses, and is converted into dishes, buckets, screws, chairs, bed-
steads, spade handles, &c. The bark is frequently used by
fishermen as floats, instead of corks, being far cheaper. Under
water the timber will last for centuries. Bees prefer the hollow
beech before all other trees, and swine will at all times leave corn
for beech nuts. Chios endured a long siege^ and his whole army
lived upon beech nuts, ground in!o flour and made into bread;
the oil from these nuts is rich and delicious. The huge Argo was
built of this wood.

THE CHESx\UT, (castanea.)
The chesnut ranks among forest trees next to the oak and is
particularly sought after by the carpenter for mill timber, water
works, frames for houses, poles for grapes, posts for gates, wine
vessels — and when well oiled, makes a lasting and exceedingly
durable table. Plantations of this valuable tree should be planted,
as they are fast diminishing throughout our country, being used
extensively for fencing. They are easily gro\\ n from the nut
thus : collect them just before they begin to fall by threshing the

No. 133.] 409

trees with poles, which is of service to them ; spread the nuts on
a floor to sweat ; when they become dry, cover them with sand,
and let them remain thus for twenty days ; then cast them in
water, reject those that float upon the surface and plant the bal-
ance after soaking one night in new milk as you would tulips,
with the point up ; do not remove them under two years, and
permit that time to pass between each transplanting j when set
in the plantation firmly, their own leaves will afford them suffi-
cient nourishment — they bear cold, bleak exposures admirably.

Flour made from chesnuts is very nutritious and much used in
foreign countries for bread. Mixed with honey it is considered a
remedy for blood spitting, and deep seated coughs. The bark
boiled in water will color red.

THE ASH, (fraxinus.)
The timber of this tree is in universal use, and I know not what
the husbandman would do without it. His cartSj ploughs, har-
rows, carriage poles, axle trees, handles for tools, &:c., are made
with this valuable wood. It is equally useful to the mariner.
For his blocks, pulleys and oars he is indebted lo it, as it will not
split when morticed and tenoned. It h:is a natural spring and
elasticity which caused it to be used for bows, spears and pikes
by our f aefatheis in time of war.

An oil is extracted from it which has been supposed to cure
deafness, by being poured warm into the ears, toothache, spleen
&c It is not considered a good shade tree, from the fact that
certain insects inhabit it. December is the proper month to cut
this timber in, when the sap is at rest.

The a.^h, like the cork tree, will grow after the bark has been
entirely strict ofl". There are seven varieties, the White ash,
(Fraxinus Americana), Common ash. Excelsior blue ash, (Quad-
rangulata), Carolinian ash, (Plati carpa). Black ash, (Sambuci-
fwlia), Red a.^h, (Tomentosa).

410 [Assembly

THE MAPLE, (acer.)

This tree is justly held in very high estimation, particularly the
bird's-eye which resembles a peacock's tail, and is extremely pret-
ty. It is only the tops of old trees that take on these beautiful
undulations, consequently the hard maple and the bird's-eye are
synonymon-*; tliey are produced from seeds, which must be bur-
ied one year before they grow, in a dry rich upland soil. It may
likewise grown by suckers and layers.

The timber is preferred by the turner to beech ; he fashions it
into cups, dishes, trays, tables, and the joiner into punel work,
doors, musical instruments, &c. The grain in fineness of texture
may almost compare with the cedar. Cicero paid for a table
made of maple six hundred dollars; King Juba nine hundred;
another in those days was valued at eight thousand four hundred
dollars, and still another at its weight in gold. This last was four
and a half feet in diameter, and three inches thick. For polish-
ing this wood, a man's hand directly from the bath is belter than
any cloth.

The undulations of the curled or bird's-eye mai)le is probably
caused by the ascent and descent of sap, being diverted by the nu-
merous brandies projecting from the trunk : There are nine vari-
eties, viz : the mountain maple (acer montanum), box elder (acer
negundo), sugar maple (acer saccharinum), black sugar maple
(acer nigrum), Norway maple (acer platanoidea), sycamore (acer
psuedo-platanus), moose wood (acer striatum), white maple (acer
eriocarpum), red flowering maple (acer rubrum).

THE BLACK WALNUT (juglans),

Is a magnificent tree when it arrives at maturity. It grows
best in a dry rich loam, in a protected situation. It may be grown
in open prairie or pasture fields, at sixty or seventy feet apart, as
it is not suj)posed capable of injuring the crop, Avhich appears to
grow better under it. The roots spread themselves out beyond
the reach of the plough. In Germany this tree is considered so
valuable that if one dies, or is cut down, another is immediately
planted in its i)lace. No young German farmer is permitted by

No. 133.] 411

the authorities to marry a wife, unless he can prove that he has
planted a certain number of walnut trees. This wood is much
used among us by cabinet makers, for various articles of furniture,
and in our churches for wainscoting and pews. They alford a
magnificent and ornamental tree for a lawn or avenue, and should
be planted certainly not less than sixty feet apart, even along a
road, as the branches and roots extend a great dis\ance. The nuts
are delicious as a dessert, and from it is extracted an oil fit for
frying food in, or burning in lamps. One bushel of nuts yields fif-
teen pounds of kernels, and they seven and a half pounds of oil.
The husks of the nut and leaves of the tree may be boiled slightly,
and the li(|uor poured upon grass plats overrun with insects and
"worms, all of which will be immediately killed, without injury to
the grass. The early spring buds, if taken off and dried, make a
capital pepper. The nuts may be preserved for winter consump-
tion in their own leaves, or if buried, they will keep perfectly for
a 3'ear, and come out of the ground as plump in kernel as when
placed in it In Italy, when a countryman has a pain in his side,
he at once drinks a pint of nut oil, and is cured. The juice of the
rind of the nut will make a gargle that will cure a sore throat. If
a vessel leaks, rub a kernel upon it, and it will remedy the evil
quicker than pitch or wax. Nuts are particularly indigestible un-
less the brown skin covering the kernel is taken off. It resists the
gastric juice of the stomach, causing various indispositions that we
are frequently at a loss to account for.

There are eleven varieties of the walnuts :

Mockernut hickory Juglans tomentosa.

Water butternut hickory do aquatica.

Common walnut do regia.

Butternut do cathartica.

Black walnut do nigra.

Pacanenut hickory do olivse formis.

Bitternut hickory do amara.

Nutmeg hickory do myristicse formis.

Shellbark hickory. . o . . do squamosa.

Thick shellbark hickory do laciniosa.

412 [Assembly

LINDEN (tilia).

There are two kinds of this beautiful tree. The male, which is
very knotty and of a red color, produces neither flower nor seed,
whereas the female blossoms odoriferously, perfuming the air for
a great distance. Though they are of both sexes, they differ en-
tirely in form. They may be raised from seeds or suckers, layers
or branches ; you may even peel off a strip of bark, leaving it at-
tached by a small portion to the mother tree, and cover it with
earth at a distance therefrom, and it will grow. In a rich loam
the linden will make the most rapid and astonishing growth. It
has an upright trunk, smooth bark, beautiful leaf, fragrant blos-
som, and forms an almost impervious shade. Trees the size of a
man's body may be moved even in the month of July, if proper
care and attention is bestowed upon the operation. The timber
is strong and light, and is frequently turned into boxes for the
use of druggists ; architects use it for models of buildings; baskets
are made of the twigs ; the ancients used the smooth side of the
bark for writing tablets ; the Grecians made bottles, pumps for
ships, and lattices for windows of it. The berries, when reduced
to a powder, immediately stop excessive bleeding at the nose ; the
bruised bark is an admirable application to wounds, and the sap,
distilled, is recommended in cases of disease of the heart, vertigo,
apoplexy, &c.

THE ALDER (alnus).

This tree is peculiarly adapted to moist boggy land, where it
grows luxuriantly, and may be planted in two feet lengths, plunged
in the mud, where it at once takes root, and rapidly forms a tree.
This timber lasts under water almost equal to stone. In Italy it
is generally used for piling to build upon, and was highly com-
mended in the days of Vitruvius. The Rialto at Venice is built
upon alder piling. Tanners, dyers and leather dressers use the
bark, which likewise makes an admirable ink. There are three
varieties, the common alder (alnus serulata), European alder (al-
nus glutinosa), black alder (alnus glauca).

No. 133.] 413

THE CEDAR.
Thi:? is one of the most wonderful of ull the tiee tribe in se-
veral respects. It endures many extremes of heat and cold, and
is found enjo} ing the moist climate of the Barbadccs. The hot
and sulti}- Eermudas, and tlie cold and changeable region we
inhabit, as well as the mountain of Asia. In the temple of
Apollo at Utica, there was to be found cedar timber over two
thousand years old. The Sittim, made mention of in the Bible,
is supposed to i^ave been cedar, from whicli the precious utensils
were made ; when they sa d a thing was cedro digna, the meaning
was, worthy of eternity.

THE PINE (piKus).

This tine tree is one of two sexes, male and female; the male
is a looser growing tree than the lemale, and far more knotty ; in
transplanting, great care should be taken never to shorten in the
head, or cut utf the branches; if the root become bruised, it is
far better to sear the ends with a hot iron, rather than cut them,
as this bleeding not unfrequently destroys the plant. Most of
Venice and Amsterdam are built upon piles of a species of pine,
and there are 13,059 huge sticks under the Stadt House at Am-
sterdam, which cost almost as much money as thesuper.^lructure.
The bark ut' the pine tree heals sores ; the inner rind cut small
and boiled, is a good remedy for burns, scalds, and frozen limbs.
The timber is njuch used for shingles, bottles, wine vessels, and
in buildings of all descriptions; the vast beams, sustaining the
roof of St. Peter's church, at Rome, are pine, and were placed
there in the year 336, by Constantine. Tar is made of the
sap of this tree, and from it turpentine, rosin, pitch and various
concretes.

There are twelve pines :

Longleaved Pine, Pinus australis.

Jersey Pine, do moss.

Yellow Pine, do mitis.

Loblolly Pine, do tseda.

White Pine, do strobas.

Wild Pine, do sylvestris.

Pond Pine, do serotinia.

414 [Assembly

Grey Pine, Pinus rupestris.

Red Pine, do rubra.

Pitch Pine, do rigida.

Table Mountain, do pungens.

Stone Pine, do pinca.

SHELLEARK HICKORY (juglans squamosa).
The disposition of this tree's bark, has given to it the name it
bears. It enjoys a low, moist soil, that is occasionally overflowed
by wafer. In its vicinity you will generally find the white oak,
buttonwood, red maple, &c. I name this variety, because of all
its species it grows to the most towering height, frequently ninety
feet. In the spring it throws out its leaves with such rapidity,
that in one month they are of full size, often nineteen inches
long. The wood is tenacious, elastic, and strong, generally split-
ting straight, and is employed for keels of ships, whip handles
and baskets. The strong pellicle that envelopes the kernel of
this nut should be taken off, before eating, as it is indigestible
and apt to adhere to the coating of the stomach.

BUTTERNUT (juglans cathartica).
This fine tree is known by several names ; in New York, for
instance, it is called butternut ; in the eastern States, oil nut ; in
Ohio , the white walnut. The branches spread widely in a hori-
zontal direction, and present a singular appearance. Tlie nut is
rich in oil, which was formerly expressed by the Indians, and
used in their food. Butternut bark boiled, made into a decoction
and sweetened with honey, is an excellent cathartic. Sugar may
be obtained from the sap of this tree by evaporation. The outer
skin, covering the seed of this nut, likewise resists the solvents
of the stomach.

TULIP TREE (liriodendrum tulipifera).
This very beautiful tree grows to a height, frequently 140 feet
and 23 feet in circumference. It is exceeding straight, and the
foliage beautiful. This wood is much used for panels of coaches,
trunks, &c., and is capable of receiving a high polit<hj a decoc-
tion is made from the roots, which is used in intermittent fevers,
cholera infantum, &c., and the bark reduced to a powder, is often
given to horses for worms.

No. 133.] 415

CUTTONWOOD (platakus occidentalis).
Presehts, when growiug luxuriautly by itself, a most magnifi-
cent appearance, ami is remarkable for the auiplitude ot its im-
mense branches. . It is known by many names, for example, in
New- York is buttonwood ; in Ohio, sycamore ; in Virginia, water
beech ; in Canada, cotton tree, and by others the plane tree,

COMMON LOCUST (robinia tseudo acacia.)

The locust grows in some situations 93 feet high, and ranks
amonsc our most superior timber trees. It enjoys a rich sandy
loam in a sheltered situation, and is much used by ship carpen-
ters, being considered by them as durable as any of the oaks. As
its grows old, it increases in durability. For fence posts it is
superior to all other timber; the grain is fine, almo:*t equal to
boxwood, instead of which it is frequently used by cabinet ma-
kers. No park or lawn should be without this beautiful and
highly ornamented tree.

THE WILD CHERRY (cerasus avium )

Frequently grows to the height of sixty feet, and is an exceed
ingly picturesque tree. The wood is reddish, strong and close
grained, ca];able of a high polish, and much sought after by ca-
binet makers. In France wine casks are made of it, as it is
imagined to improve the wine. I have a tree on njy farm, eighty
feet high, and seventeen feet in circumference. The lamented
Downing remarked, when he saw it, that it was the finest speci-
men he had ever seen. All fruit farms should possess this tree,
as it alf.)rds food for multitudes of birds, and they devour count-
less milli'^ns of insects. A poisonous substance is made by dis-
tilling the leaves, known as the laurel water. They are supposed
to be injurious to stock.

THE MULBERRY (morus.)
The fruit and leaves of this admirable and exceedingly valuable
tree, do not receive with us the attention they deservedly enjoy in
many parts of the world, because we do not understand the in-
conqtarable benefit of it. In Europe the leaves are fed to the silk
worm, and the joiner and carpenter consider its wood sufficiently
durable to make bows, hoops, wheels, ribs for small vessels, &c.,

416 [Assemult

and will last under water equal to oak. In Italy, single trees
have been rented for five dollars per season, and have produced
seven pounds of silk in six weeks, worth thirty-five dollars. The
Italians manufactured silk one thousand years before the tree was
introduced into France for that purpose. Henry IV filled the
public highways, gardens, and parks with mulberry trees. The
revenue of this nation from silk is now perfectly incredible ; we
pay her many millions per annum ; all of vrhich might be saved
to our country, and as many millions exported, if our government
would lend agriculturists assistance. Our climate is better adapted
than any other under the sun, which is proved from the fact, that
in all otlier countries it is necessary to hatch the worm by artificial
means, whereas here we are compelled to keep the eggs in an ioo
house, to prevent them from liatching before the leaves are grown.
The leaves, besides nourishing the silk worm, are an admirable
food for sheep, cows, calves and horses, all of which animals will
eat them in preference to grass; and boiled with bran, tliey will
fatten hogs rapidly. The fruit is much enjoyed by poultry, and
if eaten by man, when perfectly ripe, before breakfast in the
morning, will cure ulcers, inflammations of the moutli aud Hiroat,
besides relaxing the stomach. I might give some valuable prac-
tical hints respecting the culture of tlie tree, feeding the worm,
&c., having been the first in this country to feed in the open air
with marked success ; this, however, is not connected with our
present subject, therefore I will leave it to some more fitting oppor-
tunity. Our railroad proprietors should plant them on each side
of their railroad tracks. The time will come when they will be
appreciated.

PAULOWNIA IMPERIALIS.

This is a fine, fast-growing, and exceedingly beautiful tree, of
recent introduction into our country. I obtained it soon after,
and found it easy of cultivation, growing readily from pieces of
root, cuttings, S:c., and producing a very pretty blue flower, in
favorable situations.

During the past summer a severe gale of wind swept my first
specimen even with the surface of the ground. On the first day
of July several shoots sprang up from the root, and on the

No. 133.] 417

first day of AugusI, three of them were fourieen feet high, pro-
ducing leiu es two and a half feet long and two feet wide. It
suffers no kind of vermin to breed upon it, nor dares any catter-
pillar to attack it. When our citizens come to understand the
incomparable benefit of thi3 magnificent tree, for streets, avenues,
and park^, the industrious cultivator will have liis hands full to
meet the demand for it.

OF THE POPLARS.

There are ten, viz : Carolina Poplar, (Populus augutata,)
Cotton Tree, (Populus argeutea,) Balsam Poplar, (Populus bal-
samifera,) Ileart-leaved Poplar, (Populus canadensis,) Grey
Poplar, (Populus canadensis,) Large American Aspen, (Populus
graudidentata,) American Black Poplar, (Populus hudsonica,)
Virginian Poplar, (Populus monilifera,) American Aspen, (Po-
pulus tremuloides)

MAGNOLIAS,
There are seven : Big Laurel, (Magnolia grandiflora,) Small
White Bay, (Magnolia glauca,) Cucumqua tree, (Magnolia cor-
data,) Large Leaved Umbrella tree, (Magnolia macrophylla,)
Long Leaved Cucumber tree, (Magnolia auricutata,) Umbrella
tree, (Magnolia tripetala.)

We have the

White Spruce, Abies alba.

Silver Fir, do balsamifera.

Hemlock Spruce, do canadensis.

Black or Double Spruce, do nigra.

Norway Spruce, \ . . . do picea.

Catalpa Bignonia catalpa.

Iron Wood Carpinus ostrya.

American Hornbean do Americana,

Cypress Cypressus disticha.

White Cedar do thugordes.

Water Locust Gleditsia monosperma.

Sweet Locust do triacanthos.

Coffee Tree Gymnocladus canadensis.

American Holly Hex opaca.

Sassafras Laui'us sassafras.

. [Assembly, No. 133.] 27

418 [AssEMELy

Sweet Gum Liquidamber styraflua.

Black Gum iNyssa sjlvatica.

Large Tupelo do grandidentata.

Sour Tupelo do capitata.

Devil Wood Olea Americana.

Euckeye Pavia tutea.

Champlain Willow Salix ligustrina. ;i

Shining Willow do lucida.

Black Willow do nigra.

Basswood Silia Americana.

White Lime Tree do alba.

Downy Lime Tree do pubescens.

There are historical accounts of many very curious trees grow-
ing in different parts of the world, and one recently compiled by
Mr. Hall, of the Commercial Advertiser, name^:

The great Chestnut tree on Mount ^tna, said to be 196 feet in
circumference, near the suiface of the ground.

The Dwarf tree, near Cape Horn, 2 inches high, with branches
spreading four feet along the ground.

The Ivcry Xut tree, or the Tagua plant, common in South
America, and belonging to the palm tribe. It is used by the
natives to cover their cottages, and from the nuts buttons are
made. In an early stage, the nuts contain a sweet milky liquid,
which solidifies and becomes almost equal to ivory.

Brazil JVut tree grows to the height of from fifty to eighty feet,
and is a very majestic tree. The fruit, in its natural position, is
like a cocoa nut, each one containing from twelve to twenty trian-
gular nuts packed together. When the natives gather these, they
hold wooden buckets over their heads.

The Canrtcn Ball tree grows to the height of sixty feet, and its
flowers are remarkable for beauty and fragrance j they are crim-
son, and grow in large bunches. The fruit resembles enormous
cannon balls, which burst and make a loud noise. From the shell
domestic utensils are made, and the contents contain several acids,
besides sugar and gum, which furnishes materials for an excellent

No. 133.] 419

drink in sickness, before it is perfectly ripe. When it reaches
that stage, a dose of it is exceedingly unpleasant.

The S'.rrowful Tree, near Bombay. There is a singular vegeta-
ble known as the sorrowful tree, so calkd because it only flour-
ishes in the night. At sunset no flower is to be seen, and yet,
half an hour after, it is full of them. They smell sweet, but the
sun no sooner begins to shine than some of them fall ofi" and others
close up, and thus it continues flowering in the night all the year.

The Cow Jree. — This is a native of Venezuela, South America.
Baron Von Huoaboldt thus describes it : On the bare flank of a
rock, grows a tree with dry and leathery leaves ; its large woody
roots can scarcely penetrate into the stony soil. For several
months in the year, not a single shower moistens its foliage. Its
bratiches appeal- dead and dried, yet as soon as the trunk is
pierced, there flows from it a sweet and nourishing milk. It is at
sunrise that this vegetable fountain is most abundant. The na-
tives are then to be seen hastening from all quarters, furnished
with large bowls to receive the milk, which grows yellow and
thickens at the surface. Some drain their bowls under the tree,
while others carry home the milk to their children. It is obtain-
ed by making incisions in the trunk.

The Bread Fndt Tree. — This tree is found on the islands of the
Pacific Ocean. The trunk rises to the height of from thirty to
forty feet, and attains the size of a man's body. The fruit grows
about the size of a child's head. When used for food, it is gather-
ed before it is fully ripe, and baked among ashes, when it becomes
a wholesome bread, and in taste somewhat resembles fresh wheat
bread. This tree supplies the natives with bread, timber for their
houses and canoes. The gum which exudes from it serves as
pitch for the vessels, and from the fibres of the inner bark a cloth
is made to cover their persons.

The Upas Tree. — For ages it was believed that a tree existed in
the East Indies, which shed a poisonous and deadly influence
upon all animals that reposed under its branches; and that so
fatal were its effects, that birds attempting to fly near it fell to the
ground and perished. For a long time it was supposed that such

420 [Assembly

a tree did not exist. But a few years since a tree was discovered
in the East Indies, wliicli, it is believed, gave rise to the wonder-
ful accounts of the Upas tree. It was growing in a location where
there was a constant collection of carbonic acid gas. Consequently
all animals that came near it, inhaled this gas and died. There
is a tree on the Isthmus of Darien, which appears to have a simi-
lar effect upon animal life.

The Tallow Tree. — This tree is found in China. It is called the
tallow tree because a substance is obtained from it resembling tal-
low, and which is used for the same purpose. '. t grows from
twenty to forty feet high.

Lace-bark Tree. — In the West Indies is found a tree, the inner
bark of which resembles lace, or net-work. This bark is very
beautiful, consisting of layers which may be pulled out into a fine
white web, three or four feet wide. It is sometimes used for la-
dies' drtsses.

The Varnish Tree, from which the black Japan varnish is ob-
tained, grows wild in China and Japan. It somewhat resembles
our ash. When these trees are seven or eight years old, they are
capable of supplying varnish. A single man can attend fifty trees,
which yield a pound of varnish each every niglit.

There is a property in the varnish which operates injuriously
to the workmen, causing an inflammation to spread over their
bodies, and their heads to swell. To prevent these effects, they
rub their bodies with oil before going to work, besides preparing
themselves with a course of medicine. In addition to these pre-
cautions, they wrap their heads in cloth and dress themselves in
leather.

All trees are liable to infirmities of various kinds, and an old
author mentions, among others, in rhyme :

The calf, the wind-shock and the knot,
The canker, scab, scurf, £ap and rot.

When your plantations are set out, they must be entirely free
from weeds, which should be cart fully pulled after every rain.

Suckers must be separated from the mother roots with a sharp
knife or spade, and if carefully accomplished, may be transplant-

No. 133.1 421

ed. Still I think it a bad plan, as suckers are more apt to pro-
duce suckers than good straight stocks. If the ground is natural-
ly wet, it must be thoroughly drained, and even if it be dry, drain-
ing, will improve it by admitting air, and carrying off any sub-
stance that may occupy the ground to the detriment of the
growing plant,

Bark-bouiid trees must l^e released by the use of a sharp knife,
which must enter above and be drawn down to the root, pene-
trating to the hard wood on twosidesof the tree; if it opens much,
fill the interstices with fresh cow manure ; this operation may be
performed in February. All small dead or blasted branches should
be cut off near the trunk, and the wound covered with paint or ma-
nure. Sucli blights are sometimes caused by lightning, but more
frequently from the hard baked ground contiguous to the tree,
which should always be kept loose and pliable.

Worms frequently cause diseases in trees by domiciliating them-
selves between the bark and the wood. Their occupation is in-
dicated by the woodpecker. Immediate recourse must be had to
the kuit'e, or pointed wire, and his wormshipmust be ejected, and
the wound filled with c ay.

Long and continued drought frequently burns and sc .rches a
tree to such an extent that it becomes lousy. This may be cured
by boring a hole in the principal root, fill the space with brandy,
and plug it up with a spile made of the same wood.

Crooked trees may always be made straight, by cutting off the
preponderating brandies while in full leaf.

Trees that are bark-bound may be saved by training a shoot
from the root, and inserting it in the green bark above; or if only
girdled on three sides, a piece or pieces of bark from the same
kind of tree may be cleverly fitted to the oark above and below.
If well done, in three weeks the parts will unite.

Mice frequently bark trees in hard winters. This may be pre-
vented by brushing the tree near the ground late in the fall, and
occasionally during winter if opportunity occurs, with stercus hu-
manum diluted in water, or tanners' liqtior, which is the most
cleanly^

422 [Assembly

Moss must be kept off all trees, both forest and fruit. The
proper time to eradicate it is after a hard and soaking rain. It
yields readily to a hair cloth or coarse crash. ^

Old trees are subject to hollowness, canker, snails, hornets, &c.
Hollowness is caused by careless trimming, or by permitting a
branch to be broken off by the wind, and allowing the rough parts
to be exposed to the elements ; the rain enters, and in due course
of time decays the interior. If large limbs are broken by the wind,
they should be neatly cut some distance from the trunk, and the
end painted, or covered with grafting wax. Hollow trees may be
filled with a mixture of hay, horse dung and clay.

Canker on trees is caused by a wound, or by burning sandy
laud. They must be cut out and the orifice well filled with tar and
oil in combination, and the whole covered with hay manure bound
round with a cloth. If, however, gangrene be inside, it can only
be cured by an application of dry sulphur, or some nitrous sub-
stance.

Hornets injure hollow trees by breeding in them ; they may
easily be destroyed stopping up their entrance with goose dung
or by the fumes of sulphur

Molts may be driven away by inserting garlic in their hollow
passages.

Mice may be destroyed by sinking barrels in various parts of
your orchard, half filled with water, and covered with chaff.

Caterpillers by inserting a sponge saturated with double harts-
horn into their webs when they first appear in the spring, may
be thoroughly eradicated, and after the second year will entirely
disappear.

I will now give you a valuable recipe for preserving timber,
cordage, &c., and with it end my present long-winded discourse.
Place common sulphur in a cucurbit glass, and cover it with four
times its weight of strong aquafortis J distil this to dryness; the
sulphur remaining in the bottom must be placed upon glass or
marble, and it will dissolve into oil. This composition, rubbed

No. 133.] 423

upon <"ables, roprs, nets, masts of ships, tables, mathematical in-
struments, or rarities of anj* kind, Avill tinge them with a pleasing
color, which no art can wash out, and preserve them from decay
and worms, either in water above or under the earth, in the snow
and ice of winter, or heat and rains of summer.

The Secretary said the subject of the locust tree and i(s enemy,
the borer, proposed for this meeting, was of great and well known
importance, and lie had the great pleasure now to read from the
work of Dr. Harris, the Librarian of Harvard College, Cambridge
Massachusetts, on insects injurious to vegetation — the volume re-
cently presented to this Institute by the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder,
of Boston — the following excellent instructions given by the dis-
tinguished author, as to the great destroyer of locust trees.

Extract from the volume.

During the mf)nrh of September the Painted Clytus, (Clytus
Pictus.) Leptura picta of Drury , the Clytus flexuosus of Fabricius,
is often seen in abundance, feeding by day upon the blossoms of
the Golden Rod.

If the trunks of our common locust tree, the Robinia Pseudaca-
cia, are examined at this time, a still greater number of these
beetle^ will be found upon tliem, and most often paired. The
habits of this insect seem to have been known as long ago as 1773
to Dr. Foster, who then described it under the name of Leptura,
(Greek for slender,) the latter being derived from the tree which
it inhabits.

Drury, however, had previously described and figured it under
the specific name here adopted, which, having the priority in
point of time over all others that have been subsequently imposed,
must be retained. This Capricorn beetle has the form of the
beautiful Maple Clytus It is velvet black, and ornamented with
transverse yellow bands, of which there are three on the head,
four on the thorax, and six o > the wing covers, the tips of which
are also edged with yellow. The first and fecond bands on each
wing cover are nearly straight ; the third band forms the letter
V, or united with the opposite one the letter W, as in the specio-

424 [Assembly

sus; the fourth is also angled, and runs upwards on the inner
margin of the wing cover tow^ards the scutel ; (the sciitel is a
small triangular shell at the bottom and between the wings ;) the
fifth is broken or interrupted by a longitudinal elevated line, and
the sixth is arched, and consists of three little spots. The anten-
nae are dark brown, and the legs are rust-red. These insects
vary from si>i-tenths of an inch to three-quarters of an inch in
length.

In the month of September these beetles gather on the locust
trees, where they may be seen glittering in^the sunbeams, with
their gorgoous livery of black velvet and gold, coursing up and
down the trunks in pursuit of their mates, or to drive away their
rivals, and stopping every now and then to salute those they
meet with a rapid bowing of the shoulders, accompanied by a
creaking sound, indicative of recognition or defiance.

Having paired, the female, attended by her partner, creeps
over the bark, searching the crevices with her antennae, and
dropping therein her snow-white eggs, in clusters of seven or eight
together, and at intervals of five or six minutes, till her whole
stock is safely stored. The eggs are soon hatched, and the grubs
immediately burrow into the bark, devouring the soft inner sub-
stance that suflSces for their nourishment till the approach of win-
ter, during which they remain at rest in a torpid state. In the
spring they bore into the sap wood, more or less deeply into the
trunk, the general course of their winding and irregular passages
being an upward direction from the place of their entrance. For
a time they cast their chips out of their holes as fast as they are
made, but after a while the pat;sage becomes clogged, and the
burrow more or less filled with the coarse and fibrous fragments
of wood, to get rid of which the grubs are often obliged to open
new holes through the bark. The seat of their operations is
known by the oozing of the sap and the dropping of the saw-dust
from the holes. The bark around the part attacked begins to
swell, and in a few years the trunks and limbs will become dis-
fio-ured and weakened by large porous tumors, caused by the
efforts of the trees to repair the injuries they have suffered.

No. 133.] 425

According to the observations of Gen. H. A. S. Dearborn, who
has <;iven an excellent account (in vol. 6, page 272, of the Massa
chusetts Agricultural Repository and Journal,) of this insect, the
grubs attain their full size by the twentieth of July, soon become
pupae, and are changed to beetles and leave the trees early in
September. Thus the existence of this species is limited to one
year.

Wliitewashingand covering the trunks of the trees with grafting
composition, may prevent the female from depositing her eggs upon
them, but this practice cannot be carried to any great extent in
plantations or large nurseries of these frefs. Perh^^ps it will be
useful to head down young trees to the ground with the view of
destroying the grubs contained in them, as well as to promote a
more vigorous growth. Much evil might be prevented by employ-
ing children to collect the beetles while in the act of providing
for the continuation of their kind. A comrpon black bottle, con-
taining a little water, would be a suitable vessel to receive the
beetles as fast as they were gathered, and should be emptied into
the fire in order to destroy the insects. The gathering should be
begun as soon as the beetles first appear, and should be continued
as long as they are found on the trees — and furthermore, should
be made as general business for several years in succession.

Dr Underbill, of Croton Point, observed — That much may be
said in favor of introducing many noble American forest trees as
ornaments and shades, and for useful purposes as timber. Why
should we not line all our roads with them 1 I do not object to
bringing fine trees from other countries, yet let us first avail our-
selves of the splendid trees which abound in our great forests.
Among the trees imported and now too extensively planted, there
is one which 1 and many others consider a nuisance ; that is the
Ailanthus, the smell of its flowers is very disagreeable and I be-
lieve prejudicial to health. It should be displaced and our
healthy, handsome, noble trees brought in. It is scarcely neces-
sary ihr me to say that I appreciate the fine trees and plants of
other countries as highly as any one. I am for making the best
of our own heritage — improving all that our Creator has given
us J plant the trees — care for them so that when our bones shall

426 [Assembly

have mouldered in the dust our children, and the children of the
country may enjoy their beauty, their shade and their fruit. For
such providence by the present generation, I would stimulate all
to the exertion, and even in thirty years hence many who are
here will enjoy the results of to-day.

Solon Robinson stated the remedial efficacy of the sweet gum
as well ascertained, and then read from The ^gricidfor, on
Sumach, &c.

CULTURE AND PREPARATION OF SUMACH.

Palermo, May 30, 1850.

Dear sir:— In reply to your letter of yesterday's date, on the
subject of the mode of cultivation of sumach in Sicily, I beg to
submit the following remarks : —

Sumach is an article of commerce of great importance to the
Sicilians, as it is also with the Americans. And it is my opinion
that this article, so valuable for manufacturing purposes, for tan-
ning, &c., can be produced in the United States in sufficient quan-
tity to supply the world, if the mode of culture be understood and
proper attention paid to it. I have no doubt that is is the same
kind that grows in the United States, which there runs to the size
of trees. In Sicily they plant the roots or small plants frum two
to three feet apart, but always in regular rows, as we do Indian
corn ; hills about three feet apart, rows about four, so that the
plow or harrow can save the hand labor of the hoe. They hoe it
two or three times before the rains, j&nish in May, and gather it
in July and August. The leaves are the only parts made use of.
After being separated from the twigs by the threshing, (or in this
country both ways — by threshing and by treading otf with oxen
or horses,) the leaves are then ground to the state of fineness in
which you see it is in the United States, being passed through
sieves or bolting cloths of sufficient fineness, and put into bags of
one hundred and sixty pounds each.

The proper season for planting the roots or plants is in Novem-
ber, December, and January. When the season is rainy, the
plants take root better. The root or stump is cut off from four to

No. 133.] 427

six inches above the ground. The scions or sprouts spring up
four to six out of each root, and when in maturity, which in this
island is in July or August, they are cut ofl' at the stump, and
laid in small handfulls (not spread out much, as the sun will turn
tlie leaves yellow) to dry ; say for a day or so ; great care being taken
that no rain falls on them. Perhaps in this country it may ans-
wer to plant nearer tosether than would be advisable in America,
on account of the greater heat of the sun here, and thus shade the
ground better.

The leaves are ground in mills mostly by horse power, but
water or steam power would be much cheaper and better. The
perpendicular running stones weigh nearly 3.000 pounds ; they
run double or single round an upright shaft. The nether
or foundation stone is heavier and one-third greater in diameter
than the running stones. The grinding surface of tliese latter is
slightly lough, being occasionally touched with the pick or cold
chisel. Hard granite stone answers ; here they use a volcanic
stone, which is as hard as marble. There follows round the run-
ning stones a little piece of wood, that keeps the leaves all under
the stones. When ground fine enough, it is sifted or bolted in a
large tight room, with a door to enter and fill the bags. In Sicily
the article is more or less adulterated with spurious stuff, such as
other kinds of leaves, and an article called brucca, which resem-
bles the juniper bush in New England; this has no value in
itself

I believe the first year they do not cut oflf the sprouts. In the
second and following years a curious Ireak of nature produces
a single plant, a foot or so distant from the original root ; and
this little plant it is which they usually make use of to transplant.
Now the plow or harrow would prevent these from growing as
they Would be in the track ; and this may be the reason why they
hoe it. Still I tliink the plow or harrow must be used in our
country, and some way or other contrived to save these little
plants, if wanted. I would recommend you to let me engage to begin
with this mode of cultivating sumach. Let one or two young Sicilian
farmers be hired to go to Virginia for two or three years, who un-
derstand the cultivation not only of sumach, but also of oranges

428 [Assembly

lemons, grapes, and olives, as well as other productions of Sicily.
Their wages in Sicily are from twenty-five to thirty-three cents a
day and find themselves^ it should perhaps be half a dollar a day
in the United States. Their passage to the United States would be
about $25, or a little over; or perhaps our government would
deem it of importance enough to give them a passage either in a
mercliant or a United States vessel. They could take with them
all kinds of Sicilian wheat and other grains, and sumach plants.
I can always obtain in the proper season — say December and Jan-
uary— 20,000 if required; cost, a trifle. If the lemon and orange
trees were introduced — say into Florida, they would stand the
cold much better than those already introduced from Cuba, which
are not of a hardy kind. I can obtain all that can be wanted for
an introduction, and Sicilians to cultivate the trees. The exports
of sumach to the United States last year, were 65,000 bags. Le-
mons and oranges, 350,000 boxes from Sicily; more than three-
fourths from this port. Such is the trade in these articles alone,
besides large quantities of other productions. If I can serve you
or my country in any way beneficially, it will give me great
pleasure to do so.

The soil of Sicily generally is a limestone formation — a reddish
soil, which I think corresponds with the land in Maryland, Vir-
ginia, North and South Carolina,- and the States west of those
named. In Sicily, sumach is cultivated in the valleys or level
grounds, or on the sides of the mountains ; it requires no rain
for two months before harvesting it. The soil of Sicily is so fer-
tile, that I do not think they manure the ground at all for sumach.

We suppose that the reason of the superiority of Sicilian su-
mach over that of other countries, lies in the mode of cultivating
it. All the leaves are the productions of the young sprouts, that
spring up from the stump every year. Being so young, the leaves
are full of life when cut, and have not decayed, like those of old
trees. This, with a dry climate in the latter part of the season,
and the soil suiting the plant, gives it the reputation it has all
over Europe and America.

I am, dear sir, your obedient servant,

JOHN M. MANTON.
W. D. Porter, Esq., U. S. N., Washington.

No. 133.] 429

Dr. Cliurch agreed with Dr. Underhiil, that it was not proper
for the Club to indorse the medical virtues ascribed to trees.

Mr. Robinsoir. Said that the sumach grows large in some parts
of our country. He has seen rails split from the bodies of sumach
ti-ees, for fencing.

President Tallmadge. Said its habit of growth wuth us is small,
a bush.

Mr, Robinson. Some families in Newburgh have followed tor
a living — picking sumach. We import the Sicilian sumach to
the amount of sixty-five thousand bags annually, from that little
island.

Col. Travers, of New Jersey. Its quality is superior to that of
America.

Mr. Robinson. As to planting locust trees ■ burn heaps of
brusli and plant on those spots. They will grow well.

^. Pell. It is well known that locust seed is hard to germi-
nate. The experiment of boring holes into the trees and putting
in sul^ihur, has failed ; it killed the trees, nine out of ten, and
we cut them down.

Mr. Robinson. The naked sides of our rail roads presents
naked front, which ought to bear fruit. Let them be planted
instead of forest trees.

Dr. Underbill. My constant desire is to attain facts of impor-
tance— the truth alone is wanted by us. I have no prejudice
against the Avild cherry tree ; the wood is fine for cabinet work,
but its singular property of attracting caterpillars is so great,
that I consider them a great injury to neighboring trees, sending
forth swarms of insects.. The wild cherry tree has on it a thou-
sand caterpillars, for one on any other tree.

Mr. Pell. I think, on the contrary, that this singular attraction
is highly useful, for it takes away the enemy from other trees in
its vicinity.

Mr. Robinson. I like the wild cherry for this — it is a fine
insect trap.

430 [Assembly

Amos Gore, of New Jersey. I have a row of wild cherry trees
on my place, and tlicy Iiave all the worm nests to themselves.

Dr. Underhill. Who takes the trouble to destroy the nests 1
Before I destroyed rav wild cherry trees, I had plenty of cater-
pillars ; bat now I have not one, where I had a thousand. The
butterfly from the cherry goes to other trees to deposit eggs.

Mr. Van Wjck thought Dr. Underhill correct in several of his
positions, especially the one relating to the great resources of our
own country, in the number and variety of its forest trees. This,
whether for shade, ornament, timber, or usefulness in any way,
our people, as he truly observed, or at least some of them, are too
fond of sending abroad to foreign countries for difierent articles,
as well as plants, merely to have it said, or t^iis no doubt influen-
ces some, that they came from such a great man's estate, grounds
or garde, s. In such a case they cannot be common, as it will
not be in the power of every one to import or have them, and
many would not have them at any rate. Thus they become
fashionable for a time, on account of their rarity. Our forest
trees, many of them, will compare, for beauty, ornament and use,
with any country in the world for all these purposes. Take
every section of our nation, from Maine to Texas, and the mighty
West — all that is wanting is a disposition in our people to trans-
plant, where they can do it conveniently, and procure seeds.
These are easily conveyed from one locality to another, and cul-
tivated at first with a little care and good judgment, and we
should soon have our mansions, homesteads and farms enriched
and adorned with our own native trees and plants. Some of these
are more useful and beautiful than those of any other country.
As a pr()of of this, other countries, and especially Europe, are
continually sending for them, and hav^ been for many years, to
cultivate at home, and, by the assiduous cultivation bestowed,
have succeeded, and even improved some of them.

Another good reason for preferring uur own trees and plants
of this kind is, that we can procure them easier and at less ex-
pense ; it is a cheaper operation. Fruits are different. If we
can import a very rare and fine one of these, and such as we have

No. 133.] 431

notNgot, and its superiority well established, it is right for us to
procurt^ and cultivate it, if we see fit. As to the u.edicinal pro-
perties of some of our trees, it seems doubted whether they pos-
sess generally all the virtues ascribed to them. In some cases
this may be true. When a plant or juices of a tree have effected
the cure of one or two diseases that w^ere considered not only very
ti-ouble>ome, but dangerous. Excited with pleasure from the
relief received, the relieved are apt to ascribe to it more virtues
than it really possesses, and set it down as a remedy for almost
all complaints. The credulity of others, knowing the facts, make
them fall in witli this idea, and trees or plants sometimes thus
get a great name for medicinal properties. The red elm (or ulmus
rubra,) which Mr. Pell mentioned in his able essiiy on our native
ti-ees, which we have just heard, possesses, I believe, great medi-
cinal virtues. Its bark, small branches and leaves, steeped in
water, yield a thick and abundant mucilage, healing for most
cutaneous eruptions, good for deep seated colds and coughs, and
makes a soothing, refreshing drink for the system. It is called
by some the slippery elm. The gum tree of the south, mentioned
by Mr. liohinson, I believe also possesses important medicinal vir-
tues.

Our time having expired, I should like the subject to be con-
tinued over to the next meeting, as there are several other of our
forest trees whose very excellent qualities ought to be fully con-
sidered and pointed out. The subject is a broad one, and it is
almost imj)ossible that ever) thing important which bears upon it
can be thought of, if ever so ably discussed.

The secretary read a letter from Mr. Samuel Allen, of Morns-
town, New Jersey, proposing the subject of the mode of the growth
of pla^its and the oiieratioo of fertilizers, as a subject for discus-
sion by the club. The proposer is a plain, practical farmer, who
will attend the Club to give what he knows about it, and to get
the views of the Club about it. On motion, the subject was
adopted for the next Tuesday, February 22d, at noon.

President Tallmadge adverted to the value of the Italian mul-
berry, not only as to silk, for which purpose he had uuiied with
others in importing the most improved kinds, but also as to its

432 {Assembly

uses as timber. We have some of that importation on our farm
now, but our forest mulbei'ry is a very useful' timber. As a. post
it is ' ne of the most lasting; as ship timber, it is also very suita-
ble and durable. My carpenter advised the use of it for founda-
tion timber in building, on that account. When seasoned, it be-
comes very hard, and is much more easy to saw than to cut.
There is no tree more readily cultivated, and none more durable.

Mr. RobinS'in. The locust trees of our western country are
not troubled by the borer. The buttouwood of our country is
more valuable than is generally supposed, as timber and boards^

Mr. Pell. We often tind the first locust Irees of our planting
fail by the borers, but when we plow between the rows, breaking
up their roots, we soon see a second crop of trees whicli are much
more free from attack. Long Island is very favorable to this
tree, and it flourishes especially on lands so level that they are
occasionally flooded by heavy rains. Such trees are entiielyfree
from the borer.

The Secretary moved that the meetings be held weekly, as
usual, every spring, for receiving and distributing seeds, phmts,
grafts, &c. Carried.

■ Samuel B. Halliday of Providence, Rhode Island, [resented a
barrel of Dover potatoes, and a bag of flesh-colored corn, for dis-
tribution. He says the potatoes are deemed the best cultivated
in that region ; quality good, and the yield fifteen to twenty per
cent, greater than the Mercers ; much less liable to rot, and
sometimes not rotting at all, while other kinds were entirely lost.
Growth also quick. The corn has yielded on a five acre field a
fraction over eighty bushels shelled, per acre. It matures early,
has a small cob, which causes it to be preferred to other kinds.

Subjects for next meeting : American Forest Treet-', and the
process of growth of plants, and the operation of fertilizers.

The Club then adjourned to Tuesday, February 22, at noon.

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

No. 133.1 * 433

Farmers' Club, February 22, 1853.

Present, Messrs, Tallmadge, Denison, Wellington, Church, Liv-
ingston, Warrins, 11. L. Pell, Youmans, Solon Robinson, Captain
Holmes, Griffing and Gore of New-Jersey, Judge Van Wyck, Geo.
Dickey and Archibald.

President Tallmadge in the Chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary.

The President announced the subject for consideration to be the
communication of a Jersey farmer, on "The Progress of the
Growth of Vegetables, and the operation of Fertilizers," and Ame-
rican Forest Trees.

The Secretary then read the following paper, by farmer Robert
K. Tuttle, of Morristown, enclosed to the Club by Samuel Allen,
of that place,

THE PROGRESS OF THE GROWTH OF PLANTS, AND THE
OPERATION OF FERTILIZERS.

The resources from which, and the means by which vegetables
derive their elements, nourishment, and growth — how these are
elaborated and compounded in the process of growing, and when
perfected, what they really are — are questions highly interesting
and important, and yet very imperfectly understood. The most
current opinions and botanical theories are not well supported by
facts and observations. Much, we know, has been done. Valu-
able discoveries have been made, and yet much error is abroad.
Let us endeavor to correct error and disseminate truth — facts
free from the mystification of scientific technicalities.

We have statements published by chemists, professing to be an
analysis of a plant, or of some part of it, giving its elementary
constituents in relative numbers, and also of the soil, by which,
they say, we may know whether the soil contains the food and
elements of which the plant is to be formed, and what is to be
supplied. That they have not accomplished this is evident, be-
cause, in attempting to analyse, much escapes that eludes the
senses, and by the very means used to separate, new compounds
are formed before their primary elements can be known.

[Assembly, No. 133.J 28

434 [Assembly

We are told also by the botanists, that the food, nourishment
and elements of the plant are taken in by the roots, and ascend
up to the branches in a fluid state. That the sap rises in the
spring, and ascends to the branches and buds of the tree.

That the sap does not rise first from the roots is proved by the
fact that the sap is first found in the branches. I have frequent-
ly seen a flow of sap in the branches, when the buds had begun to
grow, and at the same time no sap would be found near the roots.
The apricot has been seen in full bloom^ while at the same time
the soil in which it stood was frozen solid. And I have seen,
many times, logs and sticks of wood that were cut in the winter,
and removed miles from their roots, yet in the spring they were
full of sap, and some produced new sprouts.

Vegetables do not draw their elements and substance chiefly
from the soil, as is generally supposed, because the sap does not
first rise from the roots, as we have just shown, and is also proved
by several other facts. We will refer to a few of thes^. Some
fertilizers increase the product more than ten times. I have seen
plaster of Paris do far more than this, and yet not impoverish the
soil, but improve itj and the same may be said of ashes, guano,
lime, &c. I have mowed and taken off the first crop of a meadow
twenty-three years in succession, without applying any kind of
fertilizers, and without any signs of impoverishment j and so the
soil of the prairie and the forest have produced their annual crops
ever since their first creation, without any signs of impoverish-
ment. We will add but one more of those facts that prove that
the plant does not draw much of its substance from the soil.

" Van Helmont planted a willow which weighed five pounds in
a pot containing 200 pounds of earth ; this he watered for five
years, and at the end of that time the tree was found to weigh
169^ pounds, while the earth in which it stood was found to have
lost only two ounces."

The question now arises if the plant does not draw its nourish-
ment and primary elements chiefly from the soil, from whence do
they come '2*

• Liebig says: "The ultimate constituents of plants ar# those which form organic matter
is general — namely carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. Carbonic acid," he says, "is

No, 133.] 485

Let us see if the Bible does not throw some light upon this
question. In Genesis, second chapter, fourth and fifth verses, we
find these words : " The Lord God made tlie earth and the heavens,
and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every
herb of the field before it grew." We see that every plant was
made, that is its substance, before it was in the earth — before it
grew. Now where was this substance, the elements of the plant
before it was in the earth — before it grew 1 It must have been in
the air. Every plant is either in a state of formation, growing,
or of decomposition, or dissolution into its primary elements. The
same elements that constitute and organize the plants that we see
now have constituted and organized plants many times^before

There is no more creation.
There is no annihilation.

Therefore, if we know where the dissolved plant goes to, we know
where the new one must come from. The atmosphere must be
the great store house from which the plant draws most of its sub-
stance.

The process of growing is carried on chiefly by attraction and
repulsion. Several requisites are essential. Tlie plant must be
in the earth or in a moist place ; water, air, warmth, light and
probably electricity must be present.

The plant being organized with absorbents and exhalents in
every part of it, attracts or exhales, according to it? wants, by the
powers of vegetable life and instinct inherent in it. So, when the
plant is in the midst of its natural elements, and is most abun-
dantly supplied with them, then it will grow in its greatest per-
fection. The atmosphere lying upon the ocean does not hold in
solution so much of dissolved vegetable substance as that lying
upon cultivated lands. Therefore, when the wind blows much
from the ocean while the plant is growing, it is unfavorable ; and
mucli wind from any direction is unfavorable at such a time, espe-
cially where much manure is used. Hence bleak exposures are
not so favorable. Some seasons are more favorable than others

emitted in immense quantities from many volcanoes. Hydrogen is found in water, nitrogea
in the air, and the proper and inexhaustible sources of oxygen are the tropies. A stream of
it u constantly proceeding from the equator toward the poles."

436 [Assembly

for the growth of certain kinds of plants ; they are seen growing
spontaneously in one season, in another they are not seen at alL
And so also of fruit : and this is the case where there is neither
too much nor too little rain. The wind being unfavorable is
probably the chief cause. Fertilizers must operate in two ways^
to wit : By attraction from the air, and by furnishing matter to bo
attracted by the plant from their substance while undergoing dis-
solution.

Minerals, lime, gypsum, &c., and ashes, operate chiefly by at-
traction. And the vegetable and animal manures, by surrounding
the plant with their elements, and while being dissolved ; and
also by attraction from the air during fermentation and dissolution.
Fermentation and subsequent dissolution cannot go on without
the presence of air, warmth and moisture. Therefore manures
must be at or near the surface of the soil, where they will have
air, warmth and moisture ; and where they may attract most from
the air. A soil most suitable for the growth of a particular kind
of plant, is one composed of substances having the greatest at-
traction for the elements of which the plant is being formed.

It may now be said, if the plant draws its substance chiefly
from the air, why is the soil impoverished by continued cropping?
We answer : it appears to be caused by disturbing it too frequently
and leaving it bare too much. It requires covering and rest ; and
why does it want rest ? The animal is the receptacle of vegetable
life ; they bolh require intervals of rest, because they were so
constituted by their Maker. He commanded the Jcavs, while in
a land of great fertility, to let it have intervals of rest.

We have also abundant evidence of the sustaining and renova-
ting effect of rest to the soil, especially if covered. It requires to
be covered the greater part of the time.

The native soil of the prairie and the forest is covered and pre-
served in its fertility. Meadows and pastures are greatly benefit-
ed by having a good covering of grass through the winter.

A soil that has been impoverished by too frequent stirring and
exposure is renovated and improved by being covered for two oi
three years.

No. 133.] 4^7

The soil under old buildings is equal to very rich manure.

Keep the soil well covered the greater part of the time, and let
it have intervals of rest two or three years at a time after one
or two years' cropping, and it will be improved, or greatly pre-
served in its fertility.

It is the excessive ploughing and pasturing that impoverishes
the soil.

ROBERT K. TUTTLE.

MorristowTiy JV. /., January 27, 1853.

PHYSIOLOGY AND FERTILIZERS OF PLANTS.

The President requested members to proceed with the discus-
sion. At his request, Robert L. Pell said the constituent or ele-
mentary principles of vegetables in general are hydrogen, oxygen
and charcoal. These appear to be common to all plants. There
are other substances, such as lime, potash, iron and azote, which
are found in plants, but as they are not common to all, they can
not be considered essential to the constitution of vegetable mat-
ter. The parts which naturalists are accustomed to consider as
distinct in their nature and functions, are six — the stem, or trunk ;
the root ; the leaf; the flower ; the fruit ; and the seed. In
many plants the root appears nearly similar in all its constituent
parts and principles to the stem or trunk : so much so, that the
one appears a continuation of the other.

The stem, which includes the branches, and the substantial
portions of the plant, consists of three parts, the wood, the bark,
and the pith. The bark is protected on the outside by an epider-
mic:, which is composed of numerous layers of minute bladders,
interspersed with longitudinal fibres. The wood lies between
the bark and the pith. It is more dense than the bark, and its
structure more difficult, to be understood. It consists of two sub-
stances, the cellular and the ligneous. The ligneous are dried
lymph ducts.

Between the bark and the wood a new ring of these ducts is
formed every year, which gradually loses its softness as the cold

438 [ASSEMBLT

season advances, and by the middle of winter is condensed into &
compact ring of wood.

These annual rings, visible in most plants when cut transverse-
ly, serve as a mark to determine their age. They decrease in
breadth as the plant advances to maturity, and are found to be
unequal in size throughout, varying as the season is favorable or
otherwise.

The wood consists of two parts, the sap wood and the heart;
the former nourishes the bud. It is supposed that all the saccha-
rine matter of fruit trees is elaborated in the leaves of the pre-
ceding year, and deposited in the albumen, whence it is drawn
the lollowing spring for perfecting the flower and fruit.

Air is indispensably necessary to all plants. It enters through
the cuticle. You may prove this by covering a plant with var-
nish, leaving the top exposed to air. During the first summer it
will inevitably perish. So it is with trees covered with moss,
Which always throw out weak, sickly and sparse leaves, produc-
ing a small quantity of inferior fruit. To the root a plant is in-
debted for its stability in the earth, and partial nourishment. All
roots are fibrous at their extremities, and furnished with a num-
ber of vessels for the purpose of conveying and circulating air
and the juices necessary to their growth.

The leaves are essential to the existence of plants, as they will
perish if totally divested of them, and droop in proportion to the
quantity taken off. The upper and under surface of leaves are
covered with a inembrane, or their bark continued from the stalk.

The flower consists of four parts, the corolla, the pistillum, the
calyx, and stamina.

The calyx is usually of a green color, and is that which sur-
rounds and supports all the other parts of the -flower.* The co-
rolla is of various colors, and variously shaped in diSerent plants,
constituting the copspicuous part of the flower. Then there are
one or more petals. The stamina is the male part of the flower,
designed to prepare the pollen. Each stamen consists of two
parts ; a fine thread which supports the anthera, and the anthera

No. 133.] 439

itself, that contains within it the pollen, and when it comes to ma-
turity, it hursts and discharges it for the impregnation of the ger-
men. Flowers that have not the stamen, are female ; such as have
it, but not the pistillum, are male ; those that have them both,
hermaphrodite; and such as have neither, neuter. The pistil-
lum is the female part of the flower, designed for the reception of
the pollen. It consists of three parts ; the style, stigma, and ger-
meu. The germen is the rudiment of the fruit accompanying the
flower, but not yet arrived at maturity. The style is the part
which elevates the stigma from the germen. The stigma is the
top of tlie pistillum, and is covered with moisture for the breaking
of the pollen. The pericarpum is the germen arrived at maturi-
ty. These are the constituent parts of the flower. In the case of
perennial plants, every flower is formed months before it makes its
appearance ; for example, the rhododendrum may be examined,
or you may carefully separate the coats of the tulip root in the
beginning of September, and the flower which is" to appear in the
spring following, will be found in a small cell, formed by the
innermost coats.

Fruit consists of nearly the same parts as are found in the stem •
of a skin, which is a continuation of the skin of the bark, and of
an outer parenchyma, which is the same substance continued
from the bark, only that its vessels are larger and more succulent.
Next the core there is an inner pulp ; the core is no more than a
hard, woody membrane, enclosing the seed, which is a deciduous
part of a vegetable containing the rudiments of a new one.

The Operations of Fertilizers. — Though plants of diflerent spe-
cies may be found growing on the same soil immediately contio-u-
ousto each other, if they are burned to an ash and analysed, will be
found in every instance to contain either different substances or
different proportions of the same. Grow a grain of rye and a pea
together, the stem of rye will contain a large percentage of silica
and the pea none at all. Grain grown in soils unlike in compo-
sition, always contain the same earthy matter in the same propor-
tion; the relative quantities of alumini, lime, silica, magnesia, will
be the same in all. This shows plainly that the spongiolps of
plants possess the power of choosing from the soil those matters

440 [Assemble

which are capable of maintaining their healthful and growing con-
dition.

Decandolle affirms that plants, like animals, have the power of
selecting from their food, as it passes through their vascular sys-
tem, such portions as are likely to nourish them, and of rejecting,
by their roots when the sap descends, such as are unfit to contri-
bute to their support, or would be-hurtful to them if not rejected
from the system. He further supposes that after a time the soil,
in which a certain kind of plant grows, becomes so loaded with this
rejected matter, that the same plant refuses any longer to flourish
in it. And thirdly, that though injurious to the plant from which
it has been derived, this rejected matter may be wholesome food
to plants of a diflerent order, and hence the advantage to be ob-
tained from a rotation of crops. For experiment, plant a poppy
in a soil that you know to be free from acetic acid, and after it
comes to maturity remove it, and you will find a large quantity
of the acid where it grew. I have obtained a fine crop of wheat
without manure, from a field that had grown clover for three years.
I attributed this totheexcrementitious matter rejected by the clo-
ver, which, though injurious to it, formed an admirable enricher
to the wheat, and came to the conclusion that wheat and clover
maybe grown alternately for an indefinite period, the excrement of
the one enriching the other. Beets raised on a tobacco field, are
unfit for use, being impregnated with the flavor of that detestable
destroyer of men's nerves. It is a singular fact that soda and pot-
ash diminish in quantity in plants, as they advance towards per-
fection. The weight of potash is much greater in unripe, than
ripe grapes.

When seeds germinate they give to the earth acetic acid ; this
immediately renders the lime it comes in contact with soluble,
and returns to the plant when required to produce a desired
eifect ; a wise contrivance of Providence, to store the soil with
alkaline matters, which are generally scarce. These enter by the
roots, and ascend through the proper vessels until they reach the
outer surface of the leaves ; after thus performing their office,
they descend by the bark to the extreme ends of the roots, cast
off the excrement they may contain, and recommence to circulate

No. 133.] 441

again through the leaves, stem, and bark, with the new supply of
liquid imbibed from the earth. This sap is supposed to irritate
the capillary tubes, which are almost as fine as a hair, causing
them to contract an'd expand, thus expelling the liquid to all
parts of the plant. I imagine that electricity has more to do with
the ascent and descent of sap than any other agent. The sub-
stances made use of for green manuring, are buckwheat, rye, red
clover, old grass, corn, seaweed, &c. Dry vegetable substances,
rye and wheat chaff, rye and wheat straw, leaves and other simi-
lar matters; decayed vegetable matter, much mixed with dried
farm yard manure ; peat with lime, and salt, and tanner's bark ;
soot, charcoal, dust, blood, flesh, wool, rags, bones, hair, horns,
refuse from sugar houses, fish, pigeon, and fowls excrement,
guano, of man, the sheep, pig, horse and cow. All these matters
must become liquid before they can enter the roots of vegetables.
Plants perspire very freely when the weather is dry, and diminish
the quantity when it is humid. A sun flower weighing three
pounds, has been known to perspire 22 ounces in 24 hours, where
a man generally perspires about 31 ounces in the same length of
time. If this perspiration of vegetables is checked in any way,
they fade at once For your amusement, place green leaves in
water directly under the rays of the sun, and you will observe
air bubbles collecting on them, which will finally rise to the sur-
face and burst ; if collected in a bottle, you will find the gas pure
oxygen. Thus the sun matures fruits, by expelling oxygen ; he
changes them from sour to a mild sweet substance. Aquatic
plants purify the air by absorbing hydrogen gas and yielding
oxygen. The willow likewise enjoys this power in a remarkable
degree, as is shown by its rapid growth in marshy places where
this gas abounds. The air contained in the bladders of marine
plants is much purer than common air ; in situations wiiere they
abound we are indebted for the purity of the atmosphere in the
day time and impurity at night. If lights were burned at night
in presence of the plants, they would continue to produce pure
air.

All plants have organic elements which they obtain from the
earth and air. Carbon is one of these, and must enter either in a

442 [ASSEMBLT

liquid or gaseous condition, as the cellular substance of most of
the plants is too delicate to admit of even an impalpable powder.
The question whether the carbon comes from the earth or air, has
been often discussed, and is still unsettled in many minds. I be-
lieve it is indebted to the air chiefly, and the earth to the plant,
for the carbonaceous matter it contains. I have a plant that re-
q^uires carbon ; still when suspended in the air it grows luxuri-
antly, throws out its green leaves, and without water sustains
itself. It can only be dependent on the air for its carbon. The
first plants that grew before there was any vegetable matter in
the soil were nourished entirely by the atmosphere. Tulips, hy-
acinths, and otlier plants of the bulbous root family, grow beau-
tifully in pure water, if they are permitted to enjoy the atmos-
phere. Many seeds sown upon substances not containing a par-
ticle of vegetable matter, will grow into pure plants. Sow beans,
for experiment, upon pounded stones or brickbats, in the air ; in
ashoittime they will grow and double their carbon. I have
grown wheat upon a pane of glass, and caused it to assume a per-
fectly green, luxuriant, and beautiful appearance, without the
aid of soil. •

The oxygen, hydrogen, and ammonia of plants is probably ob-
tained through the medium of water, chiefly, it being a compound
of one oxygen to 8 hydrogen, and is more universally distributed
throughout nature, than other chemical substances, and performs
the most important functions to vegetable life. It partakes of
three conditions — fluid, snow, and steam. In the form of fluid it
becomes at least half of all plants, and as it falls in the shape of
rain from the clouds, they become cleansed of all their impuiities,
that minister to the wants of growing plants, which will continue
to take up nourishment without cessation, so long as it is adapted
by fluid to circulate through their system. In the mean time the
leaves are unceasingly, during sunshine, absorbing carbonic acid
gas ; and if any circumstance should prevent the regular supply,
the plant would inevitably die. This carbonic acid gas is formed
by the continual decay of vegetable matter in the soil ; conse-
quently if it is replete with vegetable substances, the roots even
will enj;)y a carbonic acid atmosphere, and as they drink the fluid,
they must necessary absorb more or less acid in solution. The
fluid likewise takes up, as it percolates through the ground,

No. 133.1 443

magnesia, soda, lime, potash, aud causes them to circulate through
the capillary tubes of the plant. Infuse madder and cause plants
to grow in it, and then its fibrous roots will be red ; still the stems
do not partake of the color, showing that the organic coloring
undergoes a chemical change, before it reaches them. Plants
will grow in a weak solution of jelly, sugar or gum, all of which
it has the power to convert into nourishing food.

Snow is supposed to be of advantage to plants in the spring,
when it melts, from the fact that it possesses the power of absor-
bing nitrogen and oxygen, together with ammonia from the atmos-
phere. You may easily discover the value of snow by tlie fol-
lowing experiment. — Place a few willow cuttings in snow water,
and a like quantity in distilled water, you will find that those
immersed in snow will make fine roots, whereas the others in dis
tilled water will scarcely grow at all.

Oxalic acid is composed of oxygen and carbon. It is found in
many plants, though it is not considered to aid them in their
growth. This is the acid discovered in sorrel, rhubarb, and nu-
merous other plants ; sometimes combined with lime, potash, &c.

Ammonia is compounded of nitrogen and hydrogen, and is
very important to all plants. It is a perfectly colorless gas, and is
readily known by its penetrating smell. It will at once extin-
guish a lighted candle, and suffocate animals in an inconceivably
short time. It readily enters into charcoal, porous vegetable mat-
ters, burned bricks and clay, and, mcst surprisingly into water,
which will take up 6 or 700 times its bulk. It promotes the
growth of vegetation in plants, by entering directly into their cir-
culation, and to such an extent in some, that they perspire this
gas freely. All vegetable substance, when distilled, is found to
contain ammonia. Any manure that holds a large percentage of
this valuable gas, will be found an exceedingly efficacious stimu-
lant.

Nitrogen gas circulates through the stems of plants, and is sup-
posed to be absorbed by the leaves and the roots. It is never
found in very large quantities, as compared with other elements.

444 [Assembly

Nitric acid is found in many plants, combined with soda, lime,
or magnesia, particularly in the tobacco and sun flower. It
exerts an influence upon grain and grass crops, and a«3ds much
fertility to soil. Salpetre is formed by nitric acid in combination
with potash. In the districts Tirhoot, Chaprah, and others in
India, they obtain three crops, annually, by irrigating their^fields
with water impregnated with salpetre. Nitric acid, although it
does not appear to form a constituent part of any solid rocks,
still is found in almost all soils, particularly in hot regions, such
as Africa, South America and India. In parts of these countries
it prevails in such large quantities as to be detrimental to plants,
forming a crust upon the soil. This generally occurs when rain
seldom falls. During summers of severe and frequently recur-
ring thunder storms, nitric acid is abundant. This accounts, in
part, for the fruitful seasons we always have, when thunder storms
are frequent.

The decay of vegetation forms large quantities of this acid. The
mammoth cave in Kentucky yields a surprising quantity of the
nitrate of lime. During our war with England, fifty or sixty men
were there kept constantly collecting it. It is for this substance
that the Chinese take the plaster from their walls for manure,
and I cannot but think that it is equal in value to that indispen-
sable ammonia, for all the purposes of agriculture. It enters into
the circulation of the roots, ascends to the highest leaf, and be-
comes decomposed by the sun's rays precisely as carbonic acid
does. Jas. F, W. Johnston mentions in one of his invaluable lec-
ture on agricultural chemistry, that it is uncertain whether this
acid is capable of being decomposed in the roots and. stems of
plants where it is excluded from the light.

' All plants are known to consist of two parts, the first organic,
which may readily be burned in the air ; the second inorganic,
which remains in the shape of ashes. The first is composed of
hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon, of which I have spoken ;
and the second of chlorine, that contains a large percentage of com-
mon salt, and influences the growth of plants where salt is requi-
site. Iodine is supposed to hasten germination in plants, but,
like chlorine, if used in quantities will prove poisonous.

No. 133.] 445

Sulphur has been used advantageously as a top dressing for
several grasses ; when burned, the fumes produce sulphuric acid,
which is not only destructive to plants, but to animal life. When
compounded with oxygen it forms sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol,
which is now much used by the learned agricultural chemist,
Professor Mapes, in the manufacture of his world-renowned im-
proved superphosphate of lime. It combines with lime, mag-
nesia, soda and potash, and thus forms sulphates, which are ex-
ceedingly useful as fertilizers. If your soil is known to contain
magnesia and lime, a diluted application of vitriol will be of great
advantage. When sulphur comes in contact with hydrogen, it
produces sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which imparts a very disa-
greeable odor, similar to that produced by rotten eggs, which is
truly this gas. It may also be perceived in putrefied night soil,
and many other substances. Phosphorus is a solid yellow mate-
rial, like wax in consistence. When combined with oxygen it
burns with a blue flame; united with lime, soda and potash, it
forms a phosphate, and is necessary to the healthful maturity of
all plants and vegetables. Then we have carbonate of potash,
the presence of which is to be discerned in nearly all plants. It
It will eradicate coarse grass and moss from fields, and benefit all
cruciferous and leguminous vegetables. Potash is a compound
substance, consisting of oxygen gas and potassium. There are
also chloride of potassium, sulphate of potash, citrates of potash,
oxalates of potash, and nitrates of potash; these are all found
in different plants, and are necessary in agriculture. In connec-
tion with this subject may be named, but I have not time to enter
into their different merits, chlorideof sodium, sulphuret of sodium,
soda, phosphate of soda, carbonate of soda, all of which abound
in the ash of plants, and are consequently indispensable to their
growth.

Next we have lime, carbonate of lime, sulphate of lime, nitrate
of lime, phosphates of lime, sulphuret and chloride of calcium,
all of which, except, perhaps, calcium, are indispensable to
plants.

Then comes the chloride, phosphate, sulphate, nitrate and car-
bonate of magnesia, all forming inorganic constituents of vegeta-

446 [Assembly

bles and plants. Alumina, sulphate and phosphate, are absorb-
ents of ammonia from the atmosphere, which they fix in the soil,
ready to be taken up by plants.

Silica, silicates of soda, potash, lime, magnesia and alumina,
are found in all sand stones, flint, quartz, &c., and in the ash of
all plants. Oxides, sulphurets, carbonates, and sulphates of iron,
are found in the ash of most plants. Oxides, carbonates, chlo-
rides, and sulphates of manganese, exist in plants, but in less
quantity than those of iron. Soils differ in their properties and
constitution, chemically speaking, still they all contain more or
less organic matter.

There are many theories published accounting for the operation
of manures in promoting the growth of vegetables, none of which
are satisfactory to me. The common opinion is, that the substances
employed as manures, contain those principles "which constitute
the food of plants, and which are a^bsorbed by thejr roots. One
opinion is, that manures act by bringing soils to such a consistence
as is favorable to the growth of the roots of vegetables, and to
affording them water in proper quantity. Another opinion, that
the manures act as stimuli to the roots of vegetables, and thus
excite them to a more vigorous action. Some think that manures
act as solvents on matters previously contained in the soil, and
thus fit them for entering the roota of phmts ; and others, that
they act chemically, by forming combinations which a:e favora-
ble to vegetation.

The Secretary remarked that the reference of the great question
of vegetation by the intelligent Jersey farmer, to this Club or to
any other Club, is an act of wdsdom — long ago recommended in
the ancient maxim of a multitude of counsellors. It is unques-
tionably true, too, that there is an indispensible necestity for an
universal diffusion among men (as Simpson said,) of all know-
ledge Teachers are wanted everywhere, especially in agriculture,
which has many times fallen off more than any other department
of human knowledge. We might speak of its fallen state here in
*his proud western world, of original soils and growth, seemingly
inexhaustible.

No. 133.] 447

Even in the moderate period since I was a young man, we have
seen the world admiring the noble works, practical and scientific,
of Von Thaer, and but the other day, the chemical lectures of a
Leibig, and yet more recently the results of practice, guided by
all the resources of science from Mapes, of New- Jersey. These
teachers have made deep impressions on the public j udgment. And
yet our continent wants a thousand more such men. They ought to
have pay and honor without stint.

Judge Van Wyck. — Mr. Tuttle of Morrittown, N. Jersey, a far-
mer, has proposed the question which the Club has adopted for
discussion to-day. He sent his communication on the subject
through Mr. S. Allen, long a respectable and highly useful mem-
ber of this Club, and who also now resides at Morristown. Mr.
Tuttle proposes, the germination and growth of plants, and their
fertilizers, the source of the latter and how they act upon and in-
fluence the former. He thinks they derive the greatest portion
of their nourishment from above, the atmosphere, heat, light,
moisture, &c., that these enter and [influence the upper parts of the
plant first, and descend to the roots, and through this channel the
greatest portion of food is received. He admits that plants may,
and perhaps do receive nourishment from the soil through the
roots, and receive benefit from it. He gives many plausible rea-
sons, and cites some strong facts for his theory, and very well ex-
pressed, and which knowledge he has no doubt acquired from
close observation and practice as a farmer — the best book perhaps
after all for one to spend much time in studying, to make the most
successful farmer. It is admitted by most scientific agriculturists,
that plants receive food through their foliage, and which
influence their growth much; but in what proportion has not per-
haps been fairly settled. Mr. Tuttle recommends keeping the
surface of the soil covered with a good coat of grass. This cer-
tainly cannot be objected to ; it protects it from the scorching sun
of summer, from the frosts of winter to a certain extent, and
drenching rains of all seasons, and furnishes food for animals.
Such men as J. Sinclair, H. Davy, and many others, all eminent
as scientific and practical farmers, say, the first step of every good
farmer should be to throw over his soil a rich, thick carpet of

448 [Assembly

grass, and keep it there as long as he can. Mr. Tattle said not a
word, as I understood him, about tillage : no doubt if he had, he
would recommend as the best, deep ploughing and stirring the
earth well, and pulverizing it elfectually, so as to put it in the
best state for the reception of the seeds. Mr. Pell, in his essay
took a more extensive view of the whole subject on the growth of
plants and their fertilizers ; he gave a minute and scientific history
of most of the organic and inorganic manures, their chemical
names, the gases they produce, and the various combinations of
these according to the-principles of chemical aflSnity.

Mr. Pell admitted that plants receive nourishment from the
atmosphere through their foliage and other channels. He said
little about tillage ; if he had, he would have advocated the best,
as he has often done in this Club. The final result of the two
papers, then, are not so very different ; light existed in both ;
they were both luminous papers, and if darkness existed any
where, it must be in a different quarter. Agriculture is a mighty
subject, full of important questions and problems, which need
demonstration and solution. The best science and practice, it is
to be hoped, in time will elucidate many of these. Mr. Scott
cited an appropriate case of a farmer in England, having raised
five or six crops of wheat, 30 bushels or more to the acre, in suc-
cession, on the same piece of ground, without putting any manure
on the ground, tilled and stirred it well. We had a particular
account given to this Club not long since, by a member, Mr. El-
liot, of the same operation. Mr. Elliot had a friend living in the
neighborhood where it occurred, who gave him all the particulars
and facts in a letter, and which this Club published at the time.
Here, I think, was a case in which the atmosphere had some in-
fluence as a fertilizer, probably both on the roots of the plant and
that portion of it above the earth, stems, flower, and leaves in
every stage of it, until it reached maturity.

Solon Robinson — The object of this Club is to get at truth ;
therefore we must speak our own sentiments with perfect free-
dom. Now, as to the theory of resting the soil, put forth by our
friend the Jersey farmer, I think that if you let your land lie still,
sir, you will have to lie still yourself. No, sir; Tull was a stirrer

No. 133.] 449

of the land, and he was right. Virginia once let her land lie
still, and she had to run away from it, for it would no longer
sustain her ; it would grow nothing, sir. Mr. Pell never lets his
land lie still; he ploughs much, and he ploughs deep. Professor
Mapes ploughs thirty inches deep, that roots may go deep for
their food, and help the leaves draw from the air. Sir, our old
plan of letting sod get rich and then ploughing it up is a good
plan.

Mr. Scott — The subject of the movement of the sap has been
greatly discussed. The sap which has been elaborated in the ex-
tremities of branches, cannot have been drawn from the atmos-
phere. TulPs system of stirring the soil much and deep, has not

yet been shaken. Mr. Smith, of , has raised successive fine

crops of wheat on the same land by stirring the land much and
often.

The Secretary — A great many years ago, an Englishman came
to Connecticut in search ot a farm. In one of the old towns he
noticed a ruined farm-house, barn, farm in ruins, and the land
showing here and there a mullen. He asked about it, and was
told it was worn out long ago, was deserted and is good for no-
thing. He bought the farm at about one-tenth the price of good
lands, he repaired all the buildings and fences, and in the spring
began with large deep ploughs and strong teams to plough the
farm — first one way and then across — and so on during the sum-
mer season. He put no manure whatever upon it. In the fall
he sowed wheat. His neighbors considered him to be a decided
fool. The wheat came up nobly, to the astonishment of the land
skinners, and the crop was about thirty bushels to the acre, or
about double the common crop of the skinners.

The subject of American Forest Trees to be continued at the
next regular meeting, on the first day of March.

H. MEIGS, Secretary.

[Assembly, No. 133.] 29

No. 133.] 451*

Farmer's Club, Tuesday, March IH, 1853.

REGULAR MEETING.

Present — Messrs. R. L. Pell, Judge Van Wyck, Solon Robinson,
Pike and Gore, of New-Jersey, Nash, R. S. Livingston, Lawton, of
New-Rochelle, Scott, Dickey, Prof. Enderlin, and twenty others,
Solon Robinson in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary.

The chairman stated the subject — The Forest Trees of Ameri-
ca— and asked Mr. Nash if he had anything to reiaark on ths
subject.

Alanson Nash, of New-York, stated :

THE SUGAR MAPLE, OR ACER SACCHARINUM,
Is a tree that grows extensively in most parts of North America.
It is a noble, majestic tree, and one of the most useful and orna-
mental trees in America ; it seeks a cold climate, visited by frosts,
and delights to grow on a rich, strong soil ; the height may occa-
sionally reach one hundred feet, and the size six feet in diameter,
but it usually is from 40 to <S0 feet in the forests, and 3 to 4 feet
in diameter, when full grown. In the open fields and grounds it
is a very bnshy tree, and makes one of the most elegant shade trees,
free from worms and insects. It often grows in vallies and along
streams of wator, but generally the cold lands are most congenial
to the growth of this tree. Its great excellence consists in its
furnishing a sap from which vast quantities of sugar are made
during the months of February, March and April ; an open win-
ter, constantly freezing and thawing, is a forerunner of a good
flowing of sap.

A grove of maple trees is almost equal, acre for acre, to the
sugar cane, to produce sugar and molasses. We have seen Qeldp
of 200 to 300 acres set out with young slioots of the ma})le tree,
and in a few years forming a thrifty growth. In lifieen years, a
sapling taken from the woods and transplanted, will atlbrd a deli-'
cious shade for a dwelling. We have known this tree to grow
400 years in the forest, but generally it is a tree that rarely reaches
the age of 300 years. The maple grows up quickly, and in many
parts of the United States the trees have cime up as a second

[Assembly, No. 133. | *

452* . [AssKMBLir

gro\yth since the country has been cleared and settled, and now
form excellent sugar groves, the most beautiful seen In our
country

The young trees yield the sap much more freely and in greater
qtaantity than the old trees, but drawing the sap from young trees
stops their growth, and in a few years will kill them. A tree
o»ght to arrive at the age of fifty years before it is used for sugar.
We have known full grown trees to produce 500 quarts of sap in
one season. From two to eight pounds of sugar a tree, is a good
yield for a sugar grove iu one season.

The flowing of the SMp is influenced by the wind and weather ;
a southerly and westerly wind in a clear day will start a full flow
of the sap, but a northeast wind of two hours' duration will stop
the running of the sap, even when the iamp(?rature of the air is
lowered but a very few degrees.

The tree often starts up on the moat rocky and rough portions
of land, hut in Kentucky and Ohio, we are told that the maple is
found in immense groves on rich and low grounds. The tree is
found from the Uulf of Mexico to Labrador and llndson's Bay,
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. It ilwarfs in a warm
climate.. Frost seems essential to the growth of this tree.

The fuel of tliis tree is one of the best known, but the timber
soon dec'iys when exposed to the weather ; hence it is little used
for lumber to cover the outside of buildings ; but for timber when
»ii«<.l 'iiider cover and protected, it is strong and durable. The
birds-eye and curled maple timbers are elegant for cabinet work.

T<arge and bushy trees that stand in the open grounds, insular,
and in lavorabie situations for soil and light, sometimes yield
great quantities of sap. It is said that a single tree has been
known to furnish thirty gallons of sap in twenty-four consecutive
bmjrs ;; biit this can only hapj>en where the tree eiijoys pecidiar
a^i vantages for growth and location. The sap is a delicious drink ;
all animals are fond of it ; it comes away from the tree as clear
as ciystaJ, but in tvventy-four hours it will change its color, and
in i^ baurs begin.j to sour and put on more or less of the saci'liar-

No. 133.] 453*

ine fermentation. It first grows of a brown color, then it becomes
ropy and sour, and makes a mucilage like a clot in vinegar. It
makes the best vinegar in the world.

Tlie time for tapping trees to obtain sap is in February, March
and April, but generally more sugar is made in the Northern
States and Canada in April than in any other month. V»^hen the
sprigs and limbs of the maple tree in February and March which
have been broken by ice in the preceding winter, exhibit signs of
the sap dropping from them, the time to tap the tree for making
sugar has come. A two inch auger is bored into the tree three
inches, at about two to three feet from the ground ; then a hollow
spoot or .oyphoa of sumach is driven into the hole tight so as to
prevent the sap leaking. Many sugar makers box the tree with
an axe. Into this box a bit is passed to form a hole for a spout.
This barbarous method destroys the growth of the tree. Clean
pails or tubs of pine ought to be used to catch the sap when it
runs. The sap ought to be caught every day and boiled.

There are many improved methods of making the sugar. We
have seen maple sugar that would vie with the best loaf and lump
sugar. Indeed maple sugar, when boiled clear, and while the
sap is fresh from the tree, will usually granulate or chrystalize
superior to the sugar produced by the cane. Much depends on
the skill and care of the operator in the yield of sugar obtained
from a given quantity of sap. We have known a pound and a
half of sugar obtained from ten quarts of sap, and at other times
it would take twenty quarts to yield a pound.

The sap ought to be boiled down in a kettle set in an arch in
the open air, to prevent ashes and other ingredients from falling
into it.

The sugar will not granulate when the synip or molas;&e9 is
sour or burnt. As the molasses thickens it boils not unlike soap ;
then the fire must be slacked. The process ought to be conducted
sbwly. A few coals kept under the kettle will be quite sufficient
to boil the sugar dry. A wooden paddle may be used to granu-
late the sugar, and this is done by o<>nitant!y stirring the sugar
when it chrystalizes.

45i* [AsgEMBLY

We have ascertained from the United States census for 1850^
that there were produced in the United States in that year, 33,- .
980,459 pounds of maple sugar, besides molasses, of which the
several States furnished the following quantities of sugar :

Paunds.

Maine, 97,541

New Hampshire, 1,392,429

Massachusetts, 768,596

Vermont, 5,159,641

Connecticut, 37,781

New- York, 10,310,764

New-Jersey, 5,886

Pennsylvania, . 2,218,641

Maryland, 47,740

Virginia, , 1,223,905

North Carolina, 27,448

South Carolina, . . , 200

Georgia, 50

Alabama, 473

Mississippi, 110

Louisiana, 260

Arkansas, 8,825

Tennessee, 1.59,617

Kentucky, , 388,525

Ohio, 4,428,648

Michigan, 2,423,897

Indiana, 2,921,638

. Illinois, 246,078

Missouri, 171 ,642

Iowa,. 70,684

Wisconsin, 661,969

Minnesota, 2,950

Total, 32,759,269

Rhode Island, Tvoras^ Oregon, California, Utah, JVeio Mexico, De-
laware and Florida. — These States and Territories are not re-
turned, but there is returned 1,221.194 pounds overplu*.

No. ISa.j 455*

This does not include the amount of maple sugar made by the
Indian population east of the Mississippi, which may be set down
at 3,000,000 of jmnnds. For the Indian population west of the
Mississippi and Lake Superior, say 2,000,000 of pounds. There
was returned to the Census department of Canada in 1849, of
maple sugar made in these provinces :

For Upper Canada, 4,100,007 pounds.

" Xower Canada, 2,303,108 « '

No returns in from Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick, Newfound-
land and Labrador.

The above is independent of molasses made from maple sap,
which may be set down at 20,000,000 of gallons annually made
in North America. The world has seen but few trees of more
importance than the maple.

Mr. Nash also read the following on

AMERICAN HEMLOCK (pinus canadensis).
This tree is a valuable one ; its bark supplies more than one-
half of the tanneries of leather in the United States. The tree
may be cut down in May, .Tune, or July, then the bark peels from
the tr^e with the greatest facility. One wood chopper will strip
a tree one hundred feet long in three hours. This bark coutainss
the tanning principle in greater perfection than any other, except
the oak alone. The tree often grows one hundred and fifty feet
high, and sometimes attains the size of five feet in diameter foui*
feet from the ground- The timber of the aged treea is apt to be
Bhaky, so that when it is sawed into boards they are worthless, for
the reason that they split and crack into narrow strips ; nevei-the-
loss, when sawed one-half inch thick, they make good lathing for
I)lasteriag inside of houses and dwellings. The younger trees
afTord excellent timber and shingles, and make a very durable and
substantial board for covering buildings, and to finish off plain
joiner work in houses. Perhaps one-half of the boards used in tho
New-England Staters fur out-buildings, as well as for the construc-
tion of dwellings, are procured by sawing up logs from the young
and thrifty hemlock. The tree attains to tho ego of one thousand

45©* [Aesemej.y

years. It is a vigorous and healthy tree, stckiE^ the north and
west sides of high rocks, hills, and mountains, while the east side
of the hills and mountains will often be covered with a growth of
the sugar maple, through all the northern parts of the Green
Mountains. The Catskill range, the mountai])S west of Lake
Champlain, and many portions of the Alleghany mountains, are
covered on their northerly and westerly sides with vast forest^ of
the hemlock tree.^ It also grows well in swamps, especially on
high grounds. The high lands of the Catskill range of mountains
yield immense quantities of hemlock timber and bark. More tan-
neries are carried on through the counties of Greene, Sullivan,
Delaware, and Schoharie, than any other part of the United States.
Through the New- England States the hemlock tree is fast disap-
I>earing and will be soon gone. The bark is so thick and heavy
that it has been found more economical to carry the hides to the
region where the tree grows than to transport the bark from the
mountains to the lower country, into the towns and villages.
The hemlock bough is covered with a short and narrow leaf,
which is an evergreen, thickly set and without nvmber. These
boughs, when distilled, form a powerful essence and oil, which,
when applied to bruises and rheumatic swellings, aiford an active
remedy. In cases of typhus and spotted fever, and a low type of
scarletina, sometimes called a cold plague, these boughs boiled in
water and taken hot, and laid around the patient and covered
with blankets, produce a happy stimulant for the perspiratory
organs! The method of using the bark to the best advantage for
tanning is said to be, first to dry it one season in the atmosphere,
with the inner side facing downwards to protect it from the
weather ; the bark is then transported to the tan house and
dressed by shaving off the weather-beaten outside parts of it, then
it is put into a crushing mill, then ground almost as fine a.s saw-
dust. Many improvements have been made from time to time in
the art of tanning with hemlock and other bark. We have heard
of hides being turned into leather in six hours operation, by pass-
ing the skins on a wheel into the warm tan liquor and throwing
them out to the air.

• The hemlock tree, like many others, has been wasted. It alTor-de
a cool, healthy, stimulating, and fragrant shade tree, when grown

No. 133.] 457*

around dwelling*;, and properly pruned. It is one of the most
useful and elegant trees in the American forest.

Timber sawed ont from this tree and kepi housed -will last hun-
dreds of years perfectly sound.

Mr. .Vash — We 0(ipy the following from an address lately de-
livered by the Hon. Zadock Pratt, before the MethaniCvS' Institnte
in New-York, on the subject of tanning, and the hemlo<-k and oak
barks :

I appi'oach the practical business of tanning in our own day
and generation. The first thing to be considered by a practical
titnuer, if he wishes to carry on the business with success, mast be
a good location. Where hemlock or oak abounds, there the ole-
menfary principle of tanning exists. This location ought .to be,
ff course, upon a navigable stream or railroad; for it is much
easier to carry the hide to the bark than the bark to the hide. In
America, the great question of location is settled by the shortest
and cheapest route to what our tanners all over the country nn-
derstand by the word " Swamp." This district lies in the south-
eastern part of New- York city, in the heart of business, ptetty
nearly in a straight line down Spruce and Feriy-street-s, towajds
Brooklyn. It used to be a neglected part of the city, and it vras
iterally a swamp. But the tanners began to buy and build there.^
and for a considerable time the tanning busineSvS was carried on in
the Swamp — I moan the business of tanning the liides — wherea«,
now, it constitutes only the leather market, with the exception of
the morocco tanning, which is still carried on to a considerable
extent.

The " Swamp" is the largest leather market on the earth. It is
a ra^liating point for the distribution of hides and leather for thie
country and for other countries, in about the same way that Willi-
street is the market and centre for financial operations. I sha.111
say little about oak tanning, because there is less of that kind oi"
tanning done, and I have been more familiar with the hemlock.

The ffurcessful tanner fiiah himsc If obliged in onr times to turn
his thoughts to scientific agriculture, for the purposes of economy,
if for no other reason : and he must locate himself where the tree*

ibQ* [Assembly

from which he peels his bavk can be conveniently carried to a saw
mill, in the neighborhood of a profitable lumber market; at the
same time he must endeavor to clioose land which, when tlius
cleare<i, will be worth more than it cost him in the purchase.
The bark which he uses for tanning, and the logs which he saws
into lumber, must each of them pay for the trouble of doing it,
and clear the land, and make it ready for profitable agriculture.
Thus the tanner, if he is wise in location, and lives in a good
neighborhood, or will do what I was obliged to do, bring good
working men to live with him, makes himself useful by creating
a market, clearing the laud, growing up villages, and establishing
whole communities ; for every American tanner, at least, ought
to have foresight enough to see that all his labor produces some
valuable results, not only to the community where he lives, but
to the country which has put him under such great obligations,
by giving him the inheritance which has descended from the blood
of the Fathei-s of the Republic.

Formerly it was thought best to locate upon a good water power
to carry the machinery, but experience has proved that you may
cany a steam engine into any location, and by the burning of tan,
or ground bark, after it has been used, which is called by tlie tan-
ners '• letched," or " spent tan," you may keep steam power with-
out the use of firewood, and at a nominal expeni^e.

liet me now conduct you for a moment into a wilderness oi*
hemlock. The trees are leveled, tlie bark peeled oft', a building
is erected, and a modern system of tanning is set up. But do not
forget that a modern tunning establisliment is not one where our
fathers made soles f»)r your ancestors.

The fact that I have chosen tanning as the su]»ject of my a<l-
drcss call be accounted for in a very simple way ; I liave devoted
inj life to this bu.siness, and if I do not understand tanning I shall
never understand anything. 1 have been acquainted wiUi tan-
ning, in all its forms, during the last fifty years ; njore than half
* century has gone by since I worked in my father's tannery ; I
have witnessed personally every improvement tliat has been made
IB my day, and within my memory^ tlian dming the whole time

No. 133.] , 459*

that had elapsed siuco Simon, llic tuiiner, in whose house Peter,
tho great Apostle, was lodged.

If therefore, in speaking about tanning, I should, by relating my
own experience, seem to be egotistical, I trust that my audience
will forgive me, because I have lived so long that I have more
conlidtuce in what I have experienced than in what I have read.
I wish to say nothing in the spirit of boasting, but rather in the
spirit of gratitude to that kind Providence which has enabled me
to surmount many diOicullies ; and in acquiring a knowledge of
my art, I trust that he has put it into my heart to do some little
good to those that were around me.

I learned my trade with my venerated and beloved father. His
tannery st«xxl near a spring, wiili two pools, two limes, two baits,
and eight tan vats, about as good as the country produced. In
those days we had no letches, pumps, or conductors in the ^ ats.
Ey a long pole and skimmer we skimmed out the tan. Occasion-
ally our spring would fail, then we had to bring the water " un-
der the yoke," so you will see tluit I have known what it is to
" bear the yoke" in my youtli. I am willing to do it still, to de-
velope the resources of such a great and glorious country as this.
Wc ground our bark then by ho]'se power, with the rotating stone
with notched edges. '-Old Pomp,-' 'the family horse, helped us
to grind out a cord of bark a day. In order to draw out the liquor
from the vats, and add stronger, I invented a three-cornered pump,
placed in an eye-board iu*an angle of the vat, which was quite au
improvement, for we had built a little letch above ground, where
the only heat we could rely on was the congenial sun.

This is the first improvement I remember in connection with
tanning. Soon after we made new vats, with conductors under
them running into a junk, and thus by the aid of three men at the
pump, the liquor was raised to the letch. ]>ut soon after tho pre-
fcent mode of ball, or press pumps, c^me into use. by which one
man could do the work of three, and then I began to feel thai we
were half rich.

This was about the timo the last war with England closed.
Toby, of Hudson, had invented a harJi mill, which with some
little improvements has Ix^cu used ever since.

460* . [AsSKMBliY "

Tanning now began to grow into a system, with fulling mills to
soften the hide^s, and conductors to draw off the liquor from the
vats, and a press, or ball pump, with leches and heattrs.

To illustrate more comj'letely what I mean, I may be excufed
for referring to my system, as practiced at the Prattsville tannery ;
for this will show the degree of scientific skill, mechanical inge-
nuity, and moral and comri^ercial influence that may be connect-
or] with the manufacture of the single article of sole leather.

In 1824 I visited the district (then a wilderness) where Pratts-
ville now stands. Nobody had auppo^^ed that there was a wat^x
power there, but a practic-al experiment on the spot, with a miU-
wright, proved satisfactory. My experience in that valley hag
shown a lesson that I would gladly inculcate upon all my fellow-
countrymen, particularly on young men, that to will and to do are
very nearly the same thing. I do not wish to trouble m.y audience
with a minute relation of my experience in the art of tanning, nor
of the system that I adopted, and I shall therefore leave out of
this address what now might prove tedious for you to hear, but I
may publisli it hereafter.

1 now ask your attention fov a little while, as I present some
further views ou the general subject o;' tanning, that have been
incidentally brought to my notice.

The first hemlock leather that was taken to England from the
United States, excited the astonishment of a chemist, and he said
that it was not tanned, but only colored. He declared that he
would take out the color, and bring it back to hide. Sp he went
to work, but after trying to his full satistaction, he found out that
Brother Jonathan had already got ahead of him, and tanned what
the English chemist could not untan.

A cord of hemlock bark weighs about 2,200 pounds. When
lechcd or boiled down, it will make three or four hundred pounds
of dry, hard tan, that can be reduced to the immediate practical
use of the ait of tanning. Why this number of pounds docs not
all enter into the hide, I am unable to explain; but it i-s well
known that a cord of l)ark does not make more than sixty or
eighty pounds. The cause of this great loss has not been deter-

No. 133.] 4 CI*

mined. This is a subject which ought to be investigated ; chem-
ists should turn their attention this way, because there is room
enough here to add a great deal to the wealth of the world.

There is a great difference in the strength of hemlock bark.
That which grows in the region of the Catskill mountains is the
best that I have ever found. The oak bark of Delaware and
Maryland is considered the best of that kind. The hemlock of
Maine and New-Hampshire will not make as much leather, nor
as heavy leather, nor will the bark of Michigan or Ohio. Oak
bark is the best for tanning upper leather and thin .>ole leather,
while hemlock is the best, or quite as good for thick sole leather.

The Buenos Ayres hides are thought to be the b^-st for sole
leather, yet they will not make as many pounds as the Oroaoco
hide. City-slaughtered hides are tanned principally in oak, and
they are used chiefly in the manufacture of harucsse.^, belt straps,
line boots and ladies' shoes.

It may be a matter of curiosity and instruction to know how
long a tannery wiil last. This depends much ujx)n whether
steam is allowed to come in and keep the beams and timbers in a
moist state. The larger the timber is, the sooner it rots. A tan-
nery of a large and improved class will last from twenty to thirty
years, by having the beams renewed two or three times ; and this
is long enough, generally, to consume all the bark that from on^
single neighborhood can be conveniently drawn to the tannerv.
When the tar.-vats are j^unk in clay, they are never known to
wear out , wlien they are filled in witli common earth, or even
tan, if the air can be excluded by having them kept wet on botii
sides, they will last almost any period. The old-fashioned heater
kind of leches will last about three years, and the timber around
them twic-e tliat time.

There are three or fo:ir modes of h^atiiig, that have hitherto
been adopted. The late mode, by the pan, I have (bund to be the
cheapest and safest. Formerly, wood was used, but now, tan wet
from the leches, is in requisition; i; is good, and tlicapcr, and
will answer to make ste?m ard drive all neceE^aiy machinery.

4 6 2 * [ ASSEMBL Y

* I have before me a statistical account of tanneries in the United
States, which has been carefully compiled from the returns of the
last census, a brief summary of whicli I will here give. In the
year 1850, there were GfiiJB tanneries in the Uniled States,
of which there were over 1,000 in the State of Pennsylvania,
while there were only two in the District of Columbia, one in N.
Mexico, four in Florida, eight in Wisconsin, ten in Rhode Island,
fourteen in Iowa, fifteen in Louisiana, and sixteen in Delaware.
New-York comes nearest to Pennsylvania in numbers, for our
State has 942, while Ohio, which has 706, stands next. The ca-
pital invested in all the United States' tanneries amounts to $19,-
000,000, of which more than one quarter is in New-York. 6,000,-
000 of hides, and more than 2,500,000 of skins, besides 0,000,000
of sheep and other small skins, are tanned a year. Almost one-
third of this business is done by the State of New-York. The
value of the raw material per annum is $20,000,000, of which
New-York consumes one-tliird. 21,000 hands are employed in
the business of tanning, while several lumdred thousand are in-
cidentally imployed in cutting timber, drawiug bark, and trans-
porting hides to and from the tanneries to the markets. Upwards
of six millions of dollars are annually paid for labor to the work-
men in the United States' tanneries, and over twelve millions of
sides of leather are now tanned in tlie United States every year,
w^hose value amounts to about $33,000.

I have another table, showing the value or price of sole leather
every year from 1827, when it brought 17^ cents per pound. In
1841, the average price of it throughout the year, in the New-
York market, was 13 cents per pound. During this period of 2-1
vears, the highest price it has averaged waS in the year 1831,
when it brought 19^ cents per pound. It reached its lowest price
in 1846, when the average fox twelve months was only 11;] cents.

No. 133.] 463*

TABLE,

.Showing the average value or price per pound obtained for
hemlock sole-leather, during the following years :

Cents per lb. Cents per lb. Cents pw lb.

1827, 17^ '1830, 17^ 1845, 12j

1828, 18^ 1837, 16 1846, 11|

1820, 18.^ 1838, 17 1847, 14 1-10

1830, 18.^ 1839, 18.^ 1848, 12]

1831, 19^ 1810, 16] 1849, 15

1832, 17] 1841, 16| 1850,, 13]

1833, 15| 1842 14 1-10 1851, 13

1834, 13| 1843, 13 2-3 1852, 14,^

1835, 14| 1844, 13^

1 have another containing the number of sides of sole-leather
inspected in New-York city, from 1827 to 1851. In 1827 there
were 265,552. This amount gradually increased till 1850, when
it rose to 2,200,000.

TABLE.

Sole-leather inspected in New- York city, in the following years :

No. of sidts. No, of sides.

1827, 265,552 1840, 638,112

1828, 284,978 1841, 687,101

1829, 264,878 1842, 886,868

1830, 326,298 1843, 867,210

1832, 440,000 1844, \d)iS{i70

1833, 883,604 1846, 1,874,256

1834, 828,175 1847, 1,168,332

1835, 784,165 ' 1848, 1,325,146

1836, 925,114 1849, 1,750,231

1837, 890.962 1850, 2,100,000

1838, 749,556 1851, 2,184,543

1839, 772,255 1852, 2,000,375

For the last four years the value of raw hides and skins, and
manufactured leather, imported into the United States, was as
follows :

464* [Assembly

TABLE.

Raw hides and aklaa, Maaafactnref of iea.tlior,

imported. imported.

1848, 14,062,009 $208,993

1849, 3,507,300 210,143

lS'j*>, 4,799,031 * 362,409

1851, 5,964,409 411,797

Another table, I have reside out, shows the number of hides,
imported into and exported from the port of New-York, during
each year, from 1827 to 1852, and the number of hides consumed
or made into leather :

Hides imported. Exported. Consumed.

1827, 251,975 41,545 218,430

1828, 268,774 48,309 220,375

1829, 308,987 52,023 256,964

1830, 475,640 26,305 446,335

1331, 772,299 8,017 764,282

1832, 975,091 169,493 • 662,705

1833, 892,198 58,382 833,916

1834, 700,052 169,856 530,1%

1335, 868,331 21,903 836,378

1S36, 912,890 109,273 828,617

1837, 623,925 99,356 524,269

1838, 513,300 25,695 517,605

1839, 561,105 24,186 536,919

1340, 520,251 31,825 488,926

1841, 633,269 4,245 626,024

1812, 635,631 31,286 004,345

1843, 635,431 53,633 599,798

1844, 857,79^) ' 45,915 809,171

1845... 777,640 53,633 . 724,007

1816, 636,583 55,924 580,659

1847, 990,305 15,236 975,069

1848, 972,087 4,025 967,903

1849, 1,227,386 none

1850, 1,461,394 none. 1,187,510

1851, 1 ,866,23'J 2,700 1 ,426,903

1852, 1,433,576 none. 1,429371

No. 133.] 465* •

The chairman said, that great improvMuents had been made
in the raanutacturing of maple sugar. Ke had seen at recent
Fairs, specimens of it, which would lose nothing, when compared
with Stuart's best refined loaf sugar.

Mr. Pike doubted whether the sugar maple yielded sap enough
to be worth having at twenty-five years of age. He had them of
that age, and they do not give sap worth the trouble of tapping
the trees.

Mr. Nash. — The tree requires (fur much sap) a cool, moist,
rich soil ; when transplanted to a dry one, it degenerates. It
loves frosty ground, grows well, and yields abundantly its sap.
When taken to the southward it degenerates. It thrives northerly
to Labrador and to Hudson's Eay. I never saw one growing in a
swamp. It h.ves a 'clear mountainous country. When broken by
ice or cut away by the axe, leave but one chief limb on the body,
and it thrives, I think, by an electrical action.

Chairman. — It does best in Ohio and Kentucky, upon tiie flat-
lands of those States, where it grows in vast groves and forests.

•

Judge Van Wyck. — We have had a very important communi-
cation made to us to-day, by Counsellor Nash, on the produce of
the acer saccharinum, or sugar maple of the United States. The
statistics here given are taken from the latest and best soui'ces at
Washington, show clearly, the tre>e, for its prosperous growth
requires a rich soil, and pretty high northern latitude. From
these it appears that the quantity diminishes much after leaving
Virginia and runs down to almost nothing on the banks of Mis-
sissippi, and the southern section of it. In the western and north-
western States it increases, and in some of them largely. Ver-
mont, for her size and population, gives a large amount. New-
York yields the greatest to — 10,000,000 lbs. ; — this, perhaps, is
owing in some degree to her size, and the numbers engaged in the
business. Ohio from four to five millions. All the northwcfetern
states will increase in quajitity as their population fills up. As
to the inducements of our people to preserve and increase the
numbers of this valuable tree, they are many and strong. The
sugar is more healthy, palatable and cleaner, than that made

466* I ASS.EM.BLT

irom the cane. The caoe sugar of the United States is cleaner
than the sugar of the West India islands and some other quarters.
The market price i>; ahvays a paying one — from 12 to 22 cents
per pound, according to quality. Much depends on the making,
boiling, purifying and refining; if tliese are properly attended
to, it can be made almost as white and beautiful as the best
double refined, made from tlie cane, and much more palatable and
healthy. There is a peculiar flavor imparted to the maple sugar
if properly manufactured, which no other plant producing the
juice has. The produce of sap frora diii'erent trees, is very diQier-
ent, some producing much more than others, according to location,
size, thrift and manner of tapping. I have known trees to pro-
duce 6 or seven pails full in a day or 24 hours, others much less.
A gentleman, a sugar manufacturer, in western New-York, writes :
" Having introduced twenty tubes into a sugar maple, I drew
from it in the same day 23 gallons, 3 quarts of sap, which gave
7^ lbs. of sugar; 33 pounds have been made this season froDi the
same tree, which supposes 100 gallons of sap." It would seem
from this, that only a little more than three gallons for a
pound, though four are commonly allowed. The sugar maple
thrives best when insulated, not near any other tree ; high or lo9r
ground, if rich, and near moisture are best. Great havoc has
been committed of late on the sugar, and all other kinds of this
valuable tree ; this for fuel, cliarcoal and potash, for all of which
it is very fine ; it contains a great deal of the alkaline principle,
and of course produces pearlash in quantity and quality, greater
and better than almost any other tree. The tree should be pre-
served with great care for timber, sugar and ornament, being as
b<?autiful as useful.

Tiie oak is a large family of oui- forest trees ; the white oak the
first in importance. It was remarked by Theophrastus more than
2,000 years ago, that the oaks, and especially the W'hite, attained
the greatest perfection on a high, rough, gravelly, mountaiuous
region, here it grows slower, is more subject to winds and storms,
becomes harder, more compact, lasting, and every way more use-
ful as a timber tree. The while oak of the granite mountains of
New Hampshire and Massachusetts produces timber among the
best, and this tor any building purpose, vessels or houses, and

No. 133.] 467*

especially^the first. The frigate Constitution — ' old Iron -sides' as
the sailors nick-named her — which acquired so much glory for
herself and nation in the last British war, was built of the granite
oak named. This was owing, no doubt, principally to t^e skill,
spirit and bravery of her commanders and their crews, but not a
little to her building, and the materials of which she was built,
as a few facts will show. She was built by George and William
Cleg horn, brothers, of New Bedford in the Bay State, among the
best ship builders of that day, of which they had given many
proofs. These gentlemen not only knew good, well seasoned tim-
ber, but what is of equal importance, they knew how to put it
together so as to stand the hardest knocks. This vessel was built
of timber from the granite hills named. There is much silex or
sand in it; this combines with the potash or alkali, and crystal-
izes. When struck with force it yields and crumbles into fine
pieces or chips. These substances fall into the impression or cut
made by any hard external body, and partially fill it up. It
dulls, breaks aud spoils axes very soon. A cannon ball may
enter it and perhaps pass through it, but it makes a small hole,
easily fills up; it makes no splinters or slivers of any kind. This
is one reason why old ' Ironsides ' withstood the batteries of the
tempests and the enemy's balls as well ai, she did. The black
oak, I believe, stands next to the white in importance. It is a
large, majestic tree ; grows fast ; is more porous ; splits easier
than the white ; but if cut at the proper season, and well pre-
pared, makes good timber. This oak possesses more of the tan-
ning principle ; all of them possess this in a greater or less
degree. It also possesses the property of making the color yellow,
strong and bright; equal, and perhaps superior to any other ma-
terial. Dr. Bancroft, a good chemist and botanist, discovered
this quality in the tree during the Revolutionary war. He re-
sided in Boston, and when he went to England he made it known,
and it was used for that purpose in Europe to a great extent, and
is now. Large quantities were exported from here on that ac-
count. The tree is called black from the dark color of its ex-
ternal bark. I know the tree as well as I know the appk tree ;
its scientific name is quercus nigra tinctoria.

I Assembly, No. 133. |

•»

468* [Assembly

There is a tree called the yellow oak, a good timber tree ; but
whether the color yellow can be made from it, I cannot tell, but
from its scientific name, quercus primus accuminata^l should think
not. The resinous tree constitutes a very large family of our forest
trees. There is the pine, cedar, fir, hemlock, larch, cypress, &c.
These trees, some of them, will grow and flourish in any latitude,
from the polar regions to the equator. They are mostly ever-
greens, some of them very tall and majestic ; beautiful too for
their stems or bodies, limbs and foliage, and all yield more or less
resin or turpentine. We have every kind of them in our country,
in numbers, and some kinds in every section. All are first rate
for timber in different ways. The pine, cedar, larch, hemlock and
cypress rank first, but from the destruction committed by our
lumber merchants and hewers of wood, they will also become
scarce and dear with many others of our forests, and not a very
long time either before this happens. To show how they nurse
and cultivate their forests in Europe, and especially in Great Bri-
tain, the late duke of Athol, a Scotch nobleman, planted on his
estates in the mountainous parts of Scotland, in about 50 years,
nearly two millions of larch trees, and on land that was good for
little else, and did not lose from these one in a thousand, all pros-
pering and doing well, except what has been cut for timber.
Other gentlemen in England and Scotland followed the example,
and transplanted a great many. In England they did not do so
well ; it was supposed to be too far south, and the ground not sufiS.-
cientlyhigh, rough and mountainous. The larch is found to be the
best timber for almost every purpose in husbandry or mechanics.
Boats built of larch in England have been found sound, when the
ribs of another made of oak and built about the same time, were
decayed, and this in about forty years.

Amos Gore, of New-Jersey, presented some seedling potatoes
raised by him from the seed now the third year. They are of
good size, moderate oblong, dark skin. The club tasted them
boiled, and thought them good. Mr. Gore has about fifty bushels
to sell. •

Something was said about the improvement of the blackberry
by cultivation.

No. 133.1 469*

Mr. Lawton had looked into this, and found nowhere any ac-
count of such an improvement. The strawberry is greatly altered
and ameliorated, but blacl^berry never, as far as I have learned.

Judge Van Wyck remarked that an improved crop is obtained
by those who tiike tlie pains to clean the bushes of grass and other
growth, and keep the soil about them in order.

In answer to a question of supply of the blackberry bushes —

Mr. Lawton said that he could now spare about two hundred
roots for fifty cents each. At the coming crop I will present a
bush, with all its fruit on it, to this club, when the members will
be convinced by view and taste of its extraordinary qualities.
We now call it the New Rochelle blackberry.

Members spoke of the various dew and blackberries, but no
one recognized the round and large one in question. The chair-
man had seen the berries of the running blackberry, he believed,
half an inch in diameter.

The Secretary offered the following resolution :

Resolved, That the American Institute be requested to call the
attention of the Government of the United States, and of each of
the States, to the preservation and planting live oak, white oak,
locust, pine and black walnut trees, and white ash, and that suit-
able rewards be offered by the governments to the persons suc-
cessful in such preservation or planting.

Within the last two centuries we have made vast destruction of
some of these most useful trees, especially of the white pine,
And we forget that as this has been the work of our people, now
twenty-five millions in number, and that in the next twenty-five
years that population will double, and before a tree now planted
will be fit for ship or house building, as much timber will be
wanted as in the last period of two hundred years.

Wise and paternal govf rnntents will take sure means to provide
for their woods and forests. England of old had forest laws for
that purpose. The forests were created by the king by commis-

470* [Assembly

sion issued from the Court of Chancery ; and a forest became a
matter of record. Its laws and offices were established. Forests
were granted to subjects. In 1224 Henry III. of England granted
the carta de foresta (forest chart.) The earliest forest laws were
by Canute.

General Chandler — For the last twenty five years maple sugar
in various degrees of refinement has been exhibited at our fairs,
some of it very highly refined. In its most unrefined state it has
a flavor which tastes of the tree, is peculiarly agreeable ; but in
proportion as it is refined, it more and more resembles that of the
sugar cane.

Chairman — To retard the souring of fresh sap they use a very
small quantity of sulphate of lime. The acidity begins almost
immediately after the sap is drawn from the tree.

William Lawton of New Rochelle, presented a stalk with its
branches, of a remarkable blackberry. He understands and be-
lieves that the original bush was discovered by some boys, grow-
ing near a rock in New Rochelle, about five years ago; it was
transplanted to his garden by a neighbor from whom I obtained
a dozen plants in 1848 ; they gave fruit that season. The crop
is now very abundant. Some stalks grow fifteen to twenty feet
high. The berries are round, as large as Hovey's seedling straw-
berries, say three to four inches in circumference, and very deli-
cious ; seeds deeply seated and quite small compared with the
fruit. I counted eight hundred berries from one stalk. They
are readily propagated, but the roots must not be allowed to be-
come dry ; if they do get so, they are very apt to perish. I find
it best to transplant them in spring. They do not do so well if
moved in the fall. The berries are ripe about the last of July,
and last until the second week in September usually. They seem
to love a heavy damp soil and the shade of trees. I do not be-
lieve that cultivation will improve them.

The Secretary has examined a beautiful flower, one of our
native vines, and prepared the following account of it, viz :

No. 133.] - 471*

WISTARIA,

AccordiDg to Lindley, in the vegetable kingdom belongs to the
Fabacea or Bean Bearers. The botanist Nuttall called this vine
Wistaria, in honor of Caspar Wistar, professor of anatomy in the
University of Pennsylvania. They are natives of China and North
America. They flourish in Great Britain. They are deciduous
(leaves fall off) twining plants, and form, when in flower, the
handsomest flower of the garden.

Wistaria Frutescens, or fruit bearing Wistaria : an elegant
climbing plant. Flowers odoriferous ; opening from July to Sep-
tember. Is a native of Virginia, the Carolinas and Illinois. The
standard has a greenish yellow spot at its base.

Wistaria Chinensis or Chinese Wistaria, is a native of China. It
was carried to England in 1816, where it flowers in May and
June, and then again in August. From the first one imported, a
cutting was placed in the garden of the horticultural society of
Chiswick, where it is trained on a wall eleven feet high, and its
branches extend on each side to the distance of one hundred feet,
nearly. It is very hardy and will soon become a universal favo-
rite. It was originally Glycene Chinensis — a name which it still
bears in some places.

Wiitaria Floribunda : an elegant plant; native of Japan, not
yet introduced here, or in Europe. It is the Dolichos Polysta-
chos of Thunberg. Wistaria is easy to cultivate by layers, or by
cuttings. Flourishes most in light soils, and is best when trained
on south walls.

Noble specimens of Wistaria have been cultivated by John J.
Palmer, president of the Merchants' bank, and by Augustin
Averill. The vine of the latter is, we believe, of an hundred
feet in height — the vine being for the most part of a size, as uni-
form as a rope. The large bunches of lilac-colured flowers ap-
pear to cover it by thousands.

The Secretary read the following translation made by him from
Revue Scientijique, Paris, on chemical classification of organic
substances, by professor Gerhadt, of Montpelier.

472* [Assembly

" The most beautiful results which organic chemistry has at-
tained within the few years past, consist, without contradiction,
in the artificial reproduction of substances of an animal or vege-
table origin. At this day, the chemist no longer extracts his
Formic (ant) acid from the little insect whose name it bears,
and who secrete it — but with far greater advantage from sugar,
starch or gum. They also extract oxalic acid, employed in the
fabrication of painted cloths j for sugar, starch or gum furnish it
promptly and economically. From blood, horns or flesh, the
cyanures are made and urad obtained, and the latter from the
excrement of birds, reptiles and insects.

" With this uric acid is prepared the crystallisable principle
contained in the allantoic liquor of the fcetus of the cow, tlie ren-
net. With wax it forms the acid contained in mutton suet, from
the fat of a man, and from butter. With wax, whale fat, all thick
oils, the succinic (amber) acid is produced, and much finer, and
in larger quantities, than that from resin. We make starch sugar ;
the essence of bitter almonds gives us benzoin. We make the
acid of valerian and of butter with the products of the fermenta-
tion of sugar. These beautiful discoveries, and many more with
which organic chemistry is enriched — being artificial reproduc-
tions ot substances — would, unless we knew the processes, tempt
us to believe that the chemist had supernatural power or magic
power ', to behold, in fact, the creation of living nature, born, as
it were, in the crucibles and vessels of the chemist. The trans-
mutation of the base metals into gold seems less difficult.

" The processes are either analytic or by agents of combustion,
synthetic. The first are far more familiar in chemistry than the
latter. A crowd of animal and vegetable substances have been
produced by making the reacting oxygenants, such as nitric acid,
hydrate of potash, aqueous chlore, chromic acid, act upon other
substances more carbonized or more hydrogenated. By the aid
of these re-actives we have (as it were) burned, or rather simpli-
fied, the most complex molecules presented by the organic king-
dom. In this view the chemist is acting directly against the
course of vegetation. The carbonic acid and the water are re-
duced, the oxygen taken away, the carbon and hydrogen main-

No. 133.J 473*

tained in combination with oxygen alone, or with the ammoniacal
elements, according as the vegetable economy requires to produce
essential oils, fatty, woody, sugary, or those albuminous substances
destined for the support of the animal kingdom.

Amos Gore, of New-Jersey, exhibited samples of very large,
heavy, white flint corn, grown by him in New-Jersey. I never
tread on my corn ; I use a scratcher or cultivator having but few
teeth j I plough first away from my corn, then to it; I use a sub-
soil plough pretty early in the season in the middle of my rows,
a foot deep ; the roots are not then in the way ; I seldom use the
hoe much ; there is no occasion for it in my method of cultivating
corn ; I leave three stalks in each hill, and four feet every way
between hills.

The Club called Mr. Gore's seedling potato the " Gore Potato."
The subject of forest trees and plants for next meeting.

Adjourned to Tuesday next, at noon.

H. MEIGS jSecretary.

PREMIUMS

^Awarded at the Cattle Show of the American Institute^ October j 1852.

THOROUGH-BRED HORSES.

Judges — Robert R. Morris, James Bathgate, John De Graw.

C. T. Howell, Woodside, L. I., for the best stallion, " Clarion,"
silver cup or $25. Daniel Abbott, Brooklyn, L. I., for the second
best stallion, silver cup or $20. William Webber, New- York, for
the third best stallion, " Fiddler," silver cup or $15. H. M. Mor-
ris, New- York city, for the best three years old colt, silver cup or
$10. J. B. Monuot, New-York, for the best two years old colt,
silver cup or $8.

HORSES FOR ALL wbRK.

Judges — A. 0. Houghton, A. B. Raymond, Robert R. Morris,
A. Hatfield.

Joseph H. Godwin, New- York, for the best stallion, " Cassius M.
Clay," silver cup or $25. James Bigart, Pawlet Vt., for the
second best stallion, silver cup or $20. S. C. Roe, Chester, Orange
county, N. Y., for tjie third best stallion, silver cup or $15.
Jackson Nichols, Flushing, L. I., for the best mare and colt, silver
cup or $20. Henry Booth, Morrisania, N. Y., for the second best
mare and colt, silver cup or $3. William M. Rysdyk, Chester,
Orange county, N. Y., for the best three years old colt, silver cup
or $10. Timothy Jackson, Jamaica, L. I., for the second best
three years old colt, silver medal. Jackson Nichols, Flushing, L.
I., for the best two years old colt, silver cup or $8. Smith Free-
man, Ridiway, N. J., for the second best two years old colt, silver
medal.

452 [Assembly

matched akd farm horses.

Judges — Thomas Williams, Jr., James W. Wilson, Brainard
Montague.

G. C. Hathorn, Jr., N. Y., for the best pair of matched horses^
silver cup or $25. Charles H. Wheeler, N. Y., for the second
best pair of matched horses, silver cup or $15. A. J.Heard,
Orange county, N. Y., for the third best pair of matched horses,
silver cup or $10. Jackson Nichols, Flushing, L. I., for the best
pair of farm horses, silver cup or $20. Todd & Robertson, Mott
Haven, X. Y., for the second b^st pair of farm horses, silver cup
or $15.

JACKS.

Judges — Robert Magaw, William Covert.

A. B. Estes, N. Y., for the best Jack, silver cup or $10. A. B.
EsteSj N. Y., for the second best Jack, silver medal.

NATIVE STOCK.

Judges — Thompson C. Munn, R. D. Baldwin, Jacob D. Van
Winkle, Daniel Quinby.

Robert R. Morris, Throg's Neck, Westchester county, N. Y., for
the best cow, silver cup or $20. James Twaites, We:^tchester, N.
Y., for the second best cow, silver cup or §15. D. A. Shuart,
Windsor, Orange county, N. Y., for the third best cow, silver cup
or $10. James Bathgate, Fordham, N. Y., for the best two years
old heifer, silver cup or $15. James Patten, Newburg, N. Y., for
the best bull calf, silver medal.

GRADE STOCK.

Judges — Isaac Skinner, John Wait, Samuel McCord.

Francis Morris, Throg's Neck, N. Y., for the best bull, sil-
ver cup or $25. Jonathan Thorne, New -York, for the best one
year old bull, silver cup or $10. Robert R. Morris, Throg's Neck,
Westchester county, N. Y., for the second best one year old bull,
silver medal. William L. Cowles, Farmington, Conn., for the
third best one year old bull, Trans. Am. Institute. J). A. Shuart,
New-Windsor, Orange county, N. Y., for the best bull calf, silver

No. 133.] 453

cup or $10. Edward Wait, Montgomery, Oranoje county, X. Y.,
for the second best bull calf, silver medal. George McDowell,
Newburgh, Orange county, N. Y., for the third best bull calf, Trans.
Am. Institute. John A. Smith, Montgomery, Orange county, X.
Y., for the best two years old heifer, silver cup or $15. Robert
R. Morris, Throg's Neck, Westchester county, N. Y.,for the second
best two years old heifer, silver cup or $10. William H. Paine,
Bloomingdale, N. Y., for the third best two years old heifer,
Trans. Am. Institute. Elnathan Gazley, Clinton, Dutchess county,
N. Y., for the best one year old heifer, silver cup or §10. Sam'l
Love, 53d street. New- York, for the second best one year old
heifer, silver medal. William H. Bartlett, Amenia, Dutchess
county. N. Y., for the best heifer calf, silver cup or §^0. James
Bathgate, Fordham, N. Y., for the second best heifer calf, silver
medal. Robert R. Morris, Throg's Neck, Westchester county, JT.
Y., for the third best heifer call. Trans. Am. Institute.

SHORT HORKS.

Judges — J» W. Sherwood, Daniel Dean, Edward H. Smith.

Samuel T. Taber, Chester Ridge, Dutchess county, N. Y., for
the best bull, " Backwoodsman,"' silver cup or $-25. James Lenox,
Fifth-avenue, New-York, for the second best bull, -General Tay-
lor," silver cup or $1 5. Jeremiah Van Drekle, Tenth-street, New-
York, for the third best bull, silver cup or §10. J. C. Jackson,
Astoria, L. I., for the best two years old bull, "Astoria," silver
cup or $15. Bathgate Brothers, Morrisania, N. Y., for the best
two years old bull, silver cup or §10. John P. Doty, tor the best
yearling bull, "Valiant,"' silver cup or §10. J. C. Jackson, As-
toria, L. I., for the best bull calf, silver cup or §10. W. J. Beck,
Morrisania, N. Y., for the second best bull calf, silver medal.
Dudley G. Culver, Dutchess county, N. Y.,for the third best bull
calf. Trans. Am. Institute. James Bathgate, Fordham, N. Y., for
the best cow, " Emma," silver cup or $20 . Francis Morris, Throg's
Neck, N. Y.J for the second best cow, silver cup or $15. Robert
R. Morris, Throg's Neck, N. Y., for the third best cow, "Fanny,"'
silver cup or $10. J. C. Jackson, Astoria, N. Y., for the best two
years old heifer, silver cup or $15. Daniel P. Haight, Washing-
ton, Dutchess county, N. Y., for the second best two years old

454 [Assembly

heifer, silver cup or $10. Samuel T. Taber, Chestnut Ridge,
Dutchess county, N. Y., for the third best tivo years old heifer,
Trans. Am. Institute.

DEVONS.

Judges — W. H. Sotham, Loiillard Spencer, Horace Bailey.

L. Hurlbut, Winchester, Conn., for the bull "Prince Albert.'
This bull having received tlie highest premium at the Exhibition
of 1851, cannot, under the rules, receive a premium at the
present Exhibition, said animal having no superior on the
ground— diploma. J. N. Blakeslee. Watertown, Conn., for
the best bull, silver cup or $25. William L. Cowles, Far-
mington. Conn., for the second best bull, silver cup or $15.
W. P. k C. S. Wainwright, Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y.,
for the best two years old bull, "May Boy," silver cup or $15.
Chester N. Case, Harwinton, Conn., for tlie second best two years
old bull, silver cup or $10. J. N. Bl-keslee, Watertown, Conn.,
for the third best two years old bull, Trans. Am. Institute. W.
P. and C. S. Wainwright, Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y.,
for the best yearling bull, silver cup or $10. W. L. Cowles, Far-
niington, Conn , for the second best yearling bull, silver medal.
W P. and C. S. Wainwright, Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y.,
for the best bull calf, silver cup or $10. L. Hurlbut, Winches-
ter, Conn., for the second best bull cnlf, silver medal. J. N".
Blakeslee, Watertown, Conn., fjr the third best bull calf, Trans.
Am. Institute. L. Hurlbut, Winchester, Conn., for the best cow,
"Beauty Third," silver cup or $20. W. P. and C. S. Wain-
wright, Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y., for the second best
cow, "Elena," silver cup or $15. L. Hurlbut, Winchester, Conn.,
for the third best cow, " Elfy," silver cup or $10. W. L. Cowles,
Farmington, Conn., for the best two years old heifer, "Ellen,"
silver cup or $15. W. P. and C. S. Wainwright, Rhinebeck,
Dutchess county, N. Y., for the second best two years old heifer,
''Gazelle," silver cup or $10. J. N. Blaktslee, Watertown, Conn ,
for the third best two years old heifer, Tran*. Am. Institute.
W. P. and C. S. Wainwright, Rliinebeclc, Dutchesscounty, for the
best yearling heifer, "Editha," silver cup or $10. W. P. and
C. S. Wainwright, Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, for the second

No. 133.] 455

best yearling heifer, "Minna," silver medal. E.G. Taile, West
Farms, N. Y., for tlie third best yearling heifer, " Kate," Trans.
Am. Institute. J. N. Blakeslee, Watertowny,Conn., for the best
heifer calf, silver cup or $10. E. G. Faile, West Farms, N. Y.,
lor the second best heifer calf, " Fanny," silver medal. E. G.
Faile, West Farms N. Y., for the third best heifer calf, Trans.
Am. Institute.

Extra Stock.
J. N. Blakeslee, Watertown, Conn., for twenty-one head of
Devon stock, $40.

AYRSHIRES.

Judges — John Rae, John Dick, Hiram Nash.

Wm. Watson, West Farms, N. Y., for the best bull, silver cup
or $25. Wm. Watson, West Farms, N. Y., for the best two years
old bull, silver cup or $20. J. H. Rogers, Morristown, N. J., for
the second best two years old bull, "Luke," silver cup or $10.
J. C. Tiffany, Coxsackie, Greene county, N. Y;, for the best year-
ling bull, silver cup or $10. William Watson, West Farms, N.
'Y., for the best bull calf, silver cup or $10. J. C. Tiffany, Cox-
sackie, Greene county, N. Y., for the second best bull calf, silver
medal. J. C, Tiffany, Coxsackie, Greene county, N. Y., for the
third best bull calf. Trans. Am. Institute. William Watson,
West Farms, N. Y., for the best cow, silver cup or $20. J. C.
Tiffany, Coxsackie, Greene county, N. Y., for the second best cow,
silver cup or $15. William Watson, West Farms, N. Y., for the
third best cow, silver cup or $10. J. C. Tiffany, Coxsackie,
Greene county, N. Y., for the best two years old heifer, silver cup
or $15. J. C. Tiffany, Coxsackie, Greene county, N. Y., for the
second belt two years old heifer, silver cup or $10. Robert R.
Morris, Throg's Neck, Westchester county, N. Y., for the third
best two years old heifer, " Lady Coit," Trans. Am. Institute.
J. C. Titfany, Coxsackie, Greene county, N. Y., for the best year-
ling heifer, silver cup or $10. William Watson, West Farms, N.
Y.-, for the second best yearling heifer, silver medal. William
Watson, West Farms, N. Y., for the best heifer calf, silver cup'
or $10.

456 [Assembly

alderneys.
Judges. — John Rae, John Dick, Hiram Nash.
A. V. Butler, No. 44 East Twenty-first-st., for the best two
years old bull, sUrer cup or $15.

MILKING cows.

Judges— Seeley C. Roe, T. L. Wyckoff, A. H. Hubbard, Henry
Robinson.

Robert H. Morris, Throg's Neck, Westchester county, N. Y.,
for the best cow in milk, " Cornelia," silver cup or $25. James
Bathgate, Fordham, N. Y., for the second best cow in milk, sil-
ver cup or $15. James Bathgate, Fordham, N. Y., for the third
best cow in milk, silver cup or $10.

WORKING OXEN.

Judges — George M. Hubbard, Hudson McFarlane, Daniel Quin-
by, Asa B. Munn.

N. B. Smith, Woodbury, Conn., for the best pair of working
oxen, silver cup or $20. John B. Gedney, White Plains, N. Y.,
for the second best pair of working oxen, silver cup and $15. A.
A. Hotchkiss, Sharon, Conn., for the third best pair of working
oxen, silver medal.

FAT CATTLE AND SHEEP.

Judges — George W. Allerton, W. H. Hoffman, Backus Culverj
Thomas F. Devoe.

Bryant Lawrence, for the best pair of fat cattle, silver cup or
$20. John B. Gedney, White Plains, N. Y., for the second best
pair of cattle, silver cup or $1 5. Charles Symons, No. 1 52 Fourth
avenue, for the best fat ox, silver medal. Robert R. Morris,
Throg's Neck, Westchester co., N. Y., for. the best fat cow, silver
medal.

Fat Sheep. — Elnathan Gazley , Clinton, Dutchess co., for the best
fat wether, silver cup or $10. Elnathan Gazley, for the second
best fat wether, $5. John Wait, Goldenham, Orange co., N. Y.,
for a fat ewe, $3. E. L. Barlow, La Grange, Dutchess co,, N. Y.,
lor an extra fine and large wether, diploma.

No. 133.] 457

LONG WOOL SHEEP.

Judges— J. C. Tiffany, N. W. Wilson, John Carll, John D. Van
Vecliten.

Edward Havilaud, Dutchess co., N. Y., for the best buck, silver
cup or $10. Bathgate Brothers, Morrlsania, N. Y., for the second
best buck, silver medal. Nathaniel Hallock, Milton, Ulster co.,
N. Y., for the third best buck, Trans. Am. Institute. John Dick,
White Plains, N. Y., for the best pen of ewes, silver cup or*$10,
Wm. Watson, West Farms, N. Y., for the second best pen of ewes,
silver medal. E. L. Barlow, La Grange, Dutxjhess co., for the third
best pen of ewes. Trans. Am. Inst. Wm. Watson, West Farms,
for the best pen of buck lambs, silver medal. Edwin Haviland,
Dutchess CO., N. Y., for the second best pen of buck lambs, Trans.
Am. Inst. E. L. Barlow, La Grange, Dutchess co., N. Y., for the
best pen of ewe lambs, silver medal. Wm. Watson, West Farms,
N. Y., for the second best pen of ewe lambs. Trans. Am. Inst.

MIDDLE WOOL SHEEP.

Judges— J. C. Tiffany, N. W. Wilson, James D. Van Vechten,
John Carll.

D B Haight, Washington, Dutchess co, N Y, for the best buck,
silver cup or $10. Alfred Broadway, No 68 Amos-street, for se-
cond best buck, silver medal. Francis Morris, Throg's Neck, N
Y, for the third best buck. Trans Am Inst. Daniel B Haight,
Washington, Dutchess co, N Y, for the best pen of ewes, silver cup
or ^10. Edward Wait, Montgomery, Orange co, N Y, for the se-
cond best pen of ewes, silver medal. Daniel B Haight, Washing-
ton, Dutchess CO, N Y, for the third best pen of ewes. Trans Am
Inst. Alfred Broadway, 68 Amos-street, for a superior ewe,
Trans Am Inst. Daniel B Haight, Washington, Dutches co, NY,
for the best pen of buck lambs, silver medal. Edward wait,
Montgomery, Orange co, N Y, for the second best buck lambs,
Trans Am Inst. Edward Wait, Montgomery, Orange co, N Y, for
the best pen of ewe lambs, silver medal.

458 [Assembly

merino sheep.
Judges— John Harold, Charles W Hull, Charles Wright.

A L Bingham, West Cornwall, Vt, for the best buck, silver cup
or $10. J N De Forest, Dover, Dutchess co, N Y, for the second
best buck, silver medal. Chas Harrison, Orange co, N J, for the
third best buck, Trans Am Inst. J N De Forest, Dover, Dutchess
CO, NY, for the best pen of ewes, silver cup or $10. AL Bingham,
West*Cornwall, Vt, for the second best pen of CAves, silver medal.
J N De Forest, Dover, Dutchess county, N Y, for the tliird best
pen of 3'earling ewes. Trans Amer Instilute. A L Bingham, West
Cornwall, Vt, for the best buck lambs, silver medal. J N De
Forest, Dover, Dutchess county, N Y, for the second best pen of
buck lambs. Trans Amer Institute. A L Bingham, West Corn-
wall, Vt, for the best pen of ewe lambs, silver medal. J N De
Forest, Dover, Dutchess county, N Y, for the second best pen of
ewe lambs, Trans Amer Institute, Chas Harrison, Orange, N J,
for lambs, Trans Amer Institute.

SAXONY.

Judges — John Harold, Charles W Hull, Charles Wright.

Walter Wakeman, North East, Dutchess county, N Y, for the
best buck, silver cup or $10. W^ilter Wakeman, North East,
Dutchess county, N Y, for the best pen of ewes, silver cup or $10.
Walter Wakeman, North East, Dutchess county, N Y, for the best
pen of lambs, silver medal.

shepherd's dogs.
Judges — PI W Tibbits, Bryan Lawrence, James Dick.
George W Allertim, New York, for the best shepherd's dog,
Trans Amer Institute.

swine.
Judges — Samuel G Striker, Peter H Brinck, Asa B Munn.

William Watson, West Farms, N Y, for the best boar over two
years old, silver cup or $10. Samuel Brewer, 132d-strect and
Eighth-avenue, for tlie second best boar over two years old, silver
medal. William W Smith, corner Forty-first street and Eighth-
avenue, for tlic third best boar over two years old, Trans Amer

No. 133.] 459

Institute. George W Tliatclien, Pelliam, N Y, for the best boar
over one year okl, silver cup or $8. J Mott, Newtown, N J, for
the second best boar over one year old, silver medal. Samuel
Brewer, 132d-street and Eighth-avenue, for tlie third best boar
over one year old, Trans Amer Institute. Samuel Love, New-
York, for- the best sow over two years old, silver cup or $10.
Samuel Brewer, 132d-street and Eighth-avenue, for the second
best sow over two years old, silver medal. Samuel Brewer, 132d-
street and Eighth-avenue, for the third best sow over two years
old. Trans Amer Institute. James Hough, Westchester, N Y, for
the best sow over one year old, silver cup or $8. John Murch,
Newtown, L I, for the second best sow over one year old, silver
medal. Samuel Brewer, 13"2d-strcet and Eighth-avenue, for the
third best sow over one year old. Trans Amer Institute. Samuel
Brewer, 132d-street and Eighth-avenue, for the best litter of pigs,
silver cup or $10. George W Thiitchen, Pelham, N Y, for the
second best litter of pigs, silver medal medal. Samuel Love,
New-York, fur the tliird best litter of pigs, Trans Amer Institute.
C Van Winkle, Paterson, N J, for a mammoth hog, weight 1,200,
lbs., silver cup or $10.

POULTRY.

Judges — William L Laing, John Dick.

Roswell L Colt, Paterson, N J, for the best and greatest varietj
of poultry, silver cup or $8. Henry Johnson, Paterson, N J, for
the second best and greatest variety of poultry, silver medal.
William Ilolden, Forty-fourth street ancl Sixth-avenue, New York,
for the third best and greatest variety of poultry. Trans Amer
Institute. R L Colt, Paterson, N J, for the best pair of turkeys,
American Poulterer's Companion. Charles V Faile, West Farms,
N Y, for the best pair of mongrel g ese, American Poulterer's
Companion. Wheeler Hale, Ij'ifry-fourth str^t, New- York, for
the best pair of tame geese, American Poulterer's Companion, R
L Colt, Paterson, N J, for the best pair of Bremen geese, American
Poulterer's Companion. R L Colt, Paterson, N J, for ihe best lot
of Muscovy ducks, American Poultry Yard. Rol ert R Morris,
Throg's Neck, Westchester county, N Y, for the best lot of com-
mon ducks, American Poultry Book. James C Taylor, Ilolmdel,

460 [Assembly

N J, for the best lot of Dorking fowls, American Poultry Yard.
B Brockett, New Haven, Conn, for the best specimen of Chitta-
gong fowls, American Poultry Yard. William Moore, for the
best Shanghai fowls, five varieties, American Poultry Book.
Wheeler Hale, Fifty-fourth street. New- York, for the second best
Shanghai fowls. Trans Amer Institute. William Moore, for the
best Spanish fowls. Trans Amer Institute. Henry Johnson, Pater-
son, N J, for the best Java fowls, Amer Poultry Book. Robert R
Morris, Throg's Neck, N Y, for the best native or dunghill fowls,
American Poultry Yard.

PREMIUMS

Awarded hy the Managers of the ^Qth Annual Fair of the American
Institute^ October 1852.

AGRICULTURAL & HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

FARMS, MARKET GARDENS, AND FIELD CROPS.

Judges. — Nicholas Wyckoff, James De Peyster, Thomas Bell,
Alanson Nash, David Banks.

E II Kimball, Flatlands, L I, for the best farm of 100 acres,
silver cup or $50. R B Coleman, Flatlands, L I, for the best
farm of 50 acres, silver cup or $25. James J Mapes, Newark, N
J, for the best farm of 25 acres, silver cup or $10. William Baity,
Morrisania, N Y, for the best market garden, silver cup or $20.
Henry Robinson, Newburg, N Y, for the best field of wheat, 18
acres, silver cup or $15. T Shillingsford, Clinton, N J, for the
best field of corn, silver medal. J J Scofield, Morristown, N J,
for an orchard of quinces, silver cup or $10.

HOPS.

S Leland, Morrisville, Madison co, N Y, Wm B & A Miles,
agents, 59 Chrystie street, for a bale of superior hops, silver
medal. E Leland, Morrisville, Madison co, N Y, Wm B & A
Miles, agents, 59 Chrystie street, for a bale of superior hops, silver
medal.

WOOL.

Judges.— R Grant, John F Greene, Joshua Bailey.

H N Dox, Livingston, Nelson co, Va, for excellent specimens of
Saxony wool, silver medal.

4G2 [Assembly

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS.

Judges. — Nicholas Wyckoff, Thomas Bell, John G Bergen.

Jacob P Giraud, jr, Bergen, N J, for the best general display of
corn, silver cup or $S. Archibald Henderson, Middle Village, L
I, for the best forty ears of wiiite corn, silver medal. Richard De
Cantillon, Nyack, Rockland co, N Y, for forty ears of white corn,
Farmer's EocyclopEedia. Alfred Williamson, English Neighbor-
hood, N J, for a sample of superior twelve-rowed white corn,
Bridgman's Kitchen Garden. Jacob P Giraud, jr, Bergen, N J,
for tne best forty ears of yellow corn, silver medal. Irwin Stew-
art, Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, L I, for forty ears fine yellow corn,
Farmer's Encyclopsedia. Frederick Wright, East Newark, N J,
for the best forty ears of sweet corn, Farmer's Encyclopgedia.
Jabez Robertson, Bedford, Westchester co, N Y, for the best Me-
diterranean wheat, silver cup or $8. Solomon D Crispell, Hurley,
Ulster CO, N Y, for fine Mediterranean wheat. Farmer's Encyclo-
paedia. William Schutt, Maiden, Ulster co, N Y, for the best
white wheat, silver medal. J P Davies, Saratoga co, N Y, for fine
white wheat. Farmer's Encyclopaedia. Ebenezer Sherman,' Sears-
ville, Orange co, N Y, for the best bushel of rye, silver medal.
Solomon D Crispell, Hurley, Ulster co, N Y, for fine samples of
rye, Browne's Trees of America. George Nesbitt, Delaware co, N
Y, for the best bushel of oats, silver medal. Peter Crispell, jr,
Hurley, Ulster co, N Y, for fine sample of oats, Stephen's Book of
the Farm. Thomas Whitson, Flushing, L I, for superior black
oats, Browne's Trees of America. Ebenezer Sherman, Searsville,
Orange co, N Y, for the best buckwheat, Colman's European Agri-
culture. Solomon D Crispell, Hurley, Ulster co, N Y, for a fine
sample of buckwheat, Allen's American Farm Book.

FLOUR AND MEAL.

Judges. — Edward Cromwell, Anselm B. Haner, Step. Valentine.

Hecker & Brothers, Croton Mills, Cherry street, N Y, for the
best flour (wheat), silver cup or $8. William Collins, " Mill of
the Genesee," for the second best barrel of wheat flour, silver
medal. B F Gibbs, Harpersfield, Delaware co, N Y, for superior
rye and buckwheat flour, silver medal. Cornelius Stewart,
Changewater Mills, N J, for kiln dried meal, silver cup or $8.

No. 13a.] 4C3

Hecker & Brothers, Croton Mills, Cherry street, N Y, for the best
prepared flour, gold medal. Qiiinby & Co, 177 Spring street, for
a fine sample of prepared flour, diploma.

PRODUCTS OF THE DAIRY. BUTTER.

Judges. — Lauience M. Luther, Peter Coutant, Peter B. Mead.

James S. Hopkins, Goshen, Orange co., N. Y., for the best spe-
cimen of butter, siver cup or $15. S C Duryea, Crawford,
Orange co, N Y, for the second best specimen of butter, silver cup
or ^10. Charles Powell, Bloomingrove, Orange co, N Y, for the
third best specimen of butter, silver medal. Thomas Helme,
Goshen, Orange co, N Y, for the fourth best specimen of butter,
Allen's American Farm Book. F A Brewster, Hampton, "Wind-
ham CO, Conn, for a sample of very superior butter, silver medal.

CHEESE.

Judges. — Jesse K Weeks, Charles M Carpenter, William S Ba-
deau.

Z Smith, Vernon, Oneida co, N Y, for the best cheese, silver
cup or SI 5. JO Dale, Lewis co, N \ , for the second best cheese,
silver cup or $10. WW Dowd, Ashtabula co, Ohio, for the third
best cheese, silver medal. William Pillmore, Lewis co, N Y, for
the fourth best cheese. Farmer's Encyclopedia. Lysander Phel-
ton, Gustavus, Ohio, for the imitation English cheese, silver medal.
Robert Norton, Rushford, Alleghany co, N Y, for the best pine-
apple cheese. Farmer's Encyclopedia. Samuel Muller, Lewis co,
N Y, for fine specimens of Sapsago cheese, American manufacture,
diploma. Lenton Hauge, Lewis co, N Y,for imitation Limburger
cheese, of good quality, diploma.

HAMS.

Judges.— William Ebbitt, William Hall, P B Mead.

J A Amelung, 39th street, New York, for a patent covered ham,
diploma. Horace Billings, Bairdstown, Illin., D L Lambert, 27
Water-street, agent, for a patent covered ham, diploma.

FRUIT.

Judges.— William Reid, Thos Hogg, Jr, P B Mead.

John W Bailey, Plattsburgh, N Y, for the greatest number of
choice-named varieties of apples, silver cup or $8. William S

464 [Assembly

Carpenter, Harrison, West Cliester co, N Y, for the second greatest
number of clioice- named varieties of apples, silver medal. Ira
Condit, Orange, Essex co, N J, for the third greatest number of
choice varieties apples, four numbers Hovey's Fruits. William A
Underhill, Croton Point, N Y, for the best table apples. Do wning's
Fruits. Caleb H Earl, Newark, N J, for the second best table
apples, Thomas' Fruit Culturist. Messrs Hovej^, Boston, Mass,
• for the greatest number of choice-named varieties of pears, silver
cup or $8. Jeremiah Briggs, Jamaica, L I, for the second best
number of choice-named varieties of pears, silver medal. John
Tonnele, Bergen, N J, for the third best varieties of choice-named
pears, four numbers Hovey's Fruits. S T Jones, New Brighton,
Staten Island, for the best freestone peaches, Downing's Fruits.
Henry N Mott, Shrewsbury, N J, for the second best freestone
peaches, Thomas' Fruit Culturist. S T Jones, New Brighton, Sta-
ten Island, for the best clingstone peaches, Barry's Fruits. S T
Jones, New Brighton, Staten Island, for second best clingstone
peaches, Cole's Fruit Book. S T Jones, New Brighton, Staten Is-
land, for the best dish of plums, Downing's Fruits. A P Cumiugs,
Williamsburgh, L I, for the second best dish of plums, Cole's
Fruit Book. William A Underhill, Croton Point, N Y, for the
best quinces, silver medal. R T Underhill, Croton Point, N Y,
for the second best quinces, Barry's Fruits. Roswell L Colt, Pa-
terson, N J, for the third best quinces, Thomas' Fruit Culturist.
Isaiah Tillson, Rosendale, Ulster co, N Y, for the best cranberries,
silver medal.

GRAPES.

Judges. — P B' Mead, Alexander Gordon, David Hunter.

R T Underhill, Croton Point, N Y, for the best Isabella grapes,
silver medal. Wm. A Underhill, Croton Point, N Y, for very fine
Isabella grapes, four numbers of Hovey's Fruits. Thomas R Por-
ter, Mattewan Point, N J, for fine Isabella grapes, Allen, on the
Vine. Wm A Underhill, Croton Point, N Y, for the best Catawba
prapes, silver medal. R T Underhill, Croton Point, NY, for very
fine Catawba grapes, four numbers Hovey's Fruits. S T Jones,
New Brighton, Staten Island, for fine Catawba grapes, Barry's
Fruits. R T Underhill, Croton Point, N Y, for York Madeiras,

No. 133.] 465

best native grape, other than Catawba and Isabella, silver medal.
Roswell L Colt, Patterson, N J, for the best foreign grapes, silver
medal. Theodore Fowler, Fishkill Landing, N Y, for superior
flavored Isabella and Catawba grapes, Downing's Fruits.

DISCRETIONARY.

Caleb H Earl, Newark, NJ,for a pyramid of apples, Downing's
Landscape Gardening. Isaac Q Undeihill, Secaucus, Hudson Co,
N J, for a collection of apples, fine specimens. Rural Architecture.
H J Redfield, Genesee co, N Y, for fine Doyenne pears, Barry's
Fruits. Thomas R Porter, Mattewan Point, N J, for tomato figs,
Downing's Ladies' Flower Garden. Lewis C Lighthipe, Orange,
N J, for a collection of pears and apples, Barry's Fruits. Charles
Harrison, Orange, N J, for a collection of apples. Cole's Fruit
Book. Cornelius T Smith, Nyack, Rockland co, N Y, for a col-
lection of apples, fine specimens, Barrj's Fruits. Ira Harrison^
Orange, N J, for a collection of apples, fine specimens. Cole's Fruit
Book. William Rankin, Hillpark, Newark, N J, for a fine speci-
men of de I'Angoulline pear. Trans Am Institute. R Mattison &
Co, Genesee Falls' Nursery, Rochester, N Y, for a fine collection
of apples and pears, Downing's Fruits. Mcintosh & Co, Cleve-
land, Ohio, for the best general display of fruit, silver cup or $10.
E T R Applegate, Highstown, N J, for extra fine specimens of
Gloria Mundi apples, Barry's Fruits. Samuel W Carhart, Mon-
mouth, N J, for a fair seedling apple, Trans Amer Institute. Ri-
chard Reed, Clarksburgh, N J, for extra fine Gloria Mundi apples,
Trans Am Inst. George Thompson, N J, for a bushel of excellent
peaches. Trans Am Inst. S E G Rawson, New-York, for a fine
show of apples. Trans Am Inst. R. K. Delafield, West Brighton,
Staten Island, for several varieties of fine peaches, Trans Am Inst.

FLOWERS SPECIAL EXHIBITION.

Judges — Robert Cawley, Isaac Buchanan, Daniel Boll, Alfred
Biidgeman, Wm W White.

J S Burgess, gardener to William E Burton, Glen Cove, L I,
fbr the best blooms of named dahlias, silver medal. George C.
Thorburn, Astoria, L I, for very fine named dahlias. Boudoir
Botany. Garret H. Stryker, sen, 52d street, New-York, for fine

[Assembly No 133.] 30

4Q6 [ASSEMBLT

named dahlias, Parson's Rose Manual. Mateo Donadi, Astoria
L I, for the best twenty named roses, silver medal. Charles More^
3d avenue and 98th street, New- York, for twenty-five named
roses, Boudoir Botany. Mateo Donadi, Astoria, L I, for the best
seedling roses, silver medal. John Craustoun, Castle Point, Ho-
boken, N J, for the best floral basket, silver medal. Matthias
Coleman, Williamsburgh, L I, for a beautiful floral basket, Bou-
doir Botany.

GENERAL DISPLAY OF FLOWERS.

Judges — P B Meadj Wm S Carpenter, David Hunter, Charles
Knight.

George C Thorburn, Astoria, L I, for the largest and best dis-
play of dahlias, silver cup or $15. Mateo Donadi, Astoria, L I,
for a large and beautiful display of dahlias, silver cup or $10.
Matthias Coleman, gardener to A. P. Cummings, Williamsburgh,,
for a large display of beautiful dahlias, silver cap or |8. Joseph
Shaw, 6 th avenue and 11th street, for a large display of fine
dahlias, silver medal. Thomas Dunlap, 634 Broadway, New-
York, for a display of beautiful dahlias, silver medal. William
Wright, Newarkj N J, for a fine display of dahlias, Downing's
Horticulturist. Charles More, 3d avenue and 98th street, for a
display of fine dahlias, Hovey's Mag of Horticulture. William
Goddard, Craneville, N J, for a display of fine dahlias, Leucher
on Hot Houses. Archibald Henderson, Middle Village, L I, for
good supply of dahlias, Parson's Rose Manual. Mateo Donadi.
Astoria, L I, for the largest and best display of roses and cut
flowers, silver cup or $8. William Cranstoun, gardener to E A
Stevens, Hoboken, N J, for a beautiful display of cut flowers, sil-
ver medal. Charles More, 3d avenue and 98th street. New- York,
for a fine display of roses and cut flowers. Parson's Rose Manual.
Matthias Coleman, gardener to A P Cummings, Williamsburgh,
for a display of beautiful flowers, Leucher on Hot Houses. Mrs
A Henderson, Middle Village, L I, for the best display of bou-
quets, silver cup or $8. John Cranstoun, Hoboken, N J, for a
beautiful display of bouquets, silver medal. Mrs A A Smith,
Brooklyn, L I, for a fine display of bouquets, Downing's Horticul-

No. 133. 1 467

turist. Richard Riddock, for a good display of bouquets, Hovey's
Mag. of Horticulture. Mrs A Henderson, Middle VilJage, L I,
for the best flower basket, silver cup or $8. John Cranstoun,
Hoboken, N J, for a beautiful flower basket, silver medal. Thos.
Cavanach, Brooklyn, L I, for a beautiful flower basket, silver
medal. A Henderson, Middle Village, L I, for the best basket of
wild flowers, Boudoir Botany. John Cranstoun, Hoboken, N J,
for a pretty bouquet of wild flowers, Parson's Rose Manual. A
Henderson, Middle Village, L I, for the best floral design, silver
cup or $10. James McKenna, farmer to S T Jones, Staten Island,
for a pretty design of dahlias and corn, Trans Am Inst. Sophia
Kortum, for a pretty floral basket, Trans Am Inst.

VEGETABLES.

Judges — ^Wm M White, Isaac Buchanan, Charles Knight.

H C Murphy, Yellow Hook, L I, Patrick Condon, gardener, for
the choicest assortment of culinary vegetables, silver cup or $8.
J A Perry, New Utrecht, L I, Nicholas Hally, gardener, for the
second best assortment of culinary vegetables, silver medal. J P
Giraud, Jr, Bergen, N J, for the greatest variety of vegetable roots
for cattle, silver cup or $8. J A Perry, New Utrecht, L I, N
Hally, gardener, for the second best variety of vegetable roots for
cattle, silver medal. J A Perry, New Utrecht, L I, Nidi's Hally,
gardener, for the best long blood beets, Bridgeman's Gardener's As-
sistant. J A Perry, New Utrecht, L I, Nicholas Hally, gardener,
for the best turnip-rooted beets, Working Farmer. S T Jones,
New Brighton, Staten Island, J McKenna, gardener, for the best
sugar beets, Browne's Muck Book. William Harsell, Ravenswood,
L I, T Ryan, gardener, for the best mangel wurtzel beet, Working
Farmer. C G Winn, West Cambridge, Mass, for the best cauli-
flower. Working Farmer. J A Perry, New Utrecht, L I, Nicholas
Hally, gardener, for the best drumhead cabbage, Buel's Farmer's
Companion. J A Perry, New Utrecht, L I, Nicholas Hally, gar-
dener, for the best Savoy cabbage, Buist's Kitchen Gardener.
Charles Williams, Newark, N J, for the best table carrots. Work-
ing Farmer. J A Perry, New Utrecht, L I, Nicholas Hally, gar-
dener, for the best parsnips for table. Trans. Am. Institute. Ros-
^el\ L Colt, Patterson, N J, for the best celery. Farmer's Library.

• 468 [Assemble

Irwin Stewart, Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, L I, for the second best
show of celery, Buist's Kitchen Gardener. S C Jackson, Astoria^
L I, for the best egg plants, Brown's Muck Book. M M Petit,,
Rockaway, L I, for the best white onions, Bridgeman's Gardener's
Assistant. Ebenezer Sherman, Searsville, Orange county, N Y,.
for the best yellow onions. Farmer's Dictionary. Ebenezer Sher-
man, Searsville, Orange county, N" Y, for the best red onions, Al-
len's Farm Book. Wm S Carpenter, Harrison, Westchester co, N
Y, for the best seedling potatoes, Stephens's Book of the Farm.
Furman Hunt, Gowanus, L I, for the best potatoes for the table^
Bridgeman's Gardener's Assistant. Roswell L Colt, Paterson, N"
J, for the best potatoes for cattle, Farmer's Dictionary. Joseph
Bartlett, for the second best potatoes for cattle. Buel's Farmer's
Companion. Wilson Hunt, Gowanus, Long Island, for the
best cheese pumpkins, Farmers' Dictionary. Eli Ferry, Spuyten
Duyvel creek, Westchester co, N Y, for the best pumpkins for
cattle, Working Farmer. Abram Stockholm, Bush wick L I, for
the best and largest pumpkin, Blake's Farmers' Everyday Book.
Eli Ferry, Spuyten Duyvel creek, Westeliester co, for the best
crook neck squash. Working Farmer. G W Cammann, Fordham,
N Y, for the best and largest squash, Blake's Agricultui-e. Archi-
bald Henderson, Middle Village, L I, for the best tomatoes, Farm-
ers' Dictionary. Irwin Stewart, Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, L I,
lor the second best tomatoes, Buist's Kitchen Garden. Roswell
L. Colt, Patterson, N J, for the best salsify, Buist's Kitchen Gar-
den. Irwin Stewart, Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, L I, for the best
white turnips, Bridgeman's Gardner's Assistant. Archibald Hen-
derson, Middle Village, L I, for the best yellow turnips, Buist's
Kitchen Garden. Roswell L Colt, Patterson, N J, for the best
ruta baga, Farmers' Dictionary.

Discretionary. — Jotham, Wilson Bloomingdale, N Y, for three
extra large squashes. Trans Am Inst. John W Duryea, New
Utrecht, L I, three extra large heads of cabbage. Trans Am Inst.
Reuben B Clark, W Washington market, N Y, for a peck of extra
fine Carolina potatoes. Trans Am Inst. Oneida Community, N Y,
for a peck of extra line pinkeye potatoes. Trans Am Inst. Sam-
uel W Carhart, Monmouth, N J, for an extra large pumpkin,,

No. 133.1 469

Trans Am Inst. Samuel Auld, 22 "West-street, for a superior
quality of potatoes from French seed. Trans Am Inst.

MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

Reuben B Clark, West Washington market, for the best honey
in the comb. Miner's Bee Manual. Whitington & Wilde, 7 Dutch-
street, for the best mustard, diploma. Charles W Walker, Atlan-
tic Docks, Brooklyn, L I, for a fine specimen of mustard, diploma.
Robert Burnet, 374 Broadway, for superior wire works, silver
medal. Jules Lachaume, Yonkers, for beautiful terra cotta flow-
er pots, diploma. John A Amelung, 39th-street, N Y, for a fine
specimen of lard, diploma. Jane McCullock & Co, 237 Washing-
ton street, for the best assortment of preserves, silver medal. Mrs
Sarah Goodwin, -Mo. 9 State-street, for a pretty vase of wax fruit,
Trans Am Inst. Mrs D L Well, Brooklyn, L I, fora vase of well
executed wax fruit, Trans Am Inst. Mrs Richard Charlton, west
22d-street, for a beautiful vase of wax flowers, diploma. Mrs
Edgar A Barber, Albany, N Y, for a splendid vase of artificial
flowers, diploma.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

Judges — Paul Stillman, John McNary, A 0 Houghton, John 6
Bergen.

Hadley Falls Co, Hadley, Mass, A B Allen & Go, agents, 189
Water-street, for the best cheese press, silver medal. Solomon
W Ruggles, Jr, Hartford, Ct, for the second best cheese press, di-
ploma. Longett & Grifiing, 25 Cliff-street, for the best cider mill
and press, silver medal. John B Wickershara, 312 Broadway, for
the best parallel wire fence, gold medal. S Wilkinson, Middle-
town, N Y, for the best grain cradles and scythe snath, silver me-
dal. Parish Furnace Co, D J Millard, Clayville, Oneida co, for
superior hay knives, scythes and forks, (a gold medal having been
before awarded) diploma. S Harris, Pine Plains, N Y, for supe-
rior grain and grass scythes, silver medal. Tuttle Manufacturing
Co, for superior steel hoes and rakes, silver medal. J W Quincy,
81 John-street, for the best scythe snath with patent fastening,
diploma. Ralph & Co, 23 Fulton-street, for the best fanning mill,
"Grant's patent," (a silver medal having been before awarded)

470 [Assembly

diploma. E J & M Jerome, Hempstead Branch, L I, for the se-
cond best fanning mill, diploma. J Arkson, Jersey City, N J, for
the best guage clevis for plows, diploma. Jewell, Hall k Coy
Rochester, N Y, for the best grain separator for milling, silver
medal. J X & D Ellmore, Elmira, N Y, for the second best grain
separator, diploma. John D Taplin, Dutchess co, N Y, for a supe-
rior grain thresher and cleaner, silver medal. J G Gilbert^
for a superior grain thresher and cleaner, silver medal.
E J & M Jerome, Hempstead Branch, L I, for the second
best thresher and cleaner, diploma. J "\Y Jenkinson, Hudson, N
Y, for a good cheap iron post for fences, diploma. Ralph k COy
23 Fulton street, for excellent wrought iron wheelbarrows, diplo-
ma. Longett & GriflBng, 25 Cliff street, for superior wrought iron
wheelbarrows, diploma, D S Hall, Lowell, Mass, for the best
corn and cob crusher, diploma. J G Gilbert, 216 Pear street, for
the best hay, straw, and corn stalk cutter and crusher, silver me-
dal. H W Bsrtholf, for the second best hay and straw cutter,
diploma. T G Moore, 123 Henry street, for a good carriage jack,
diploma. A S Babcock, Albany, X Y, for the best draining tile,
silver medal. A &: T Crane, Newark, N J, for the best gate, silver
medal. M P Coons, Troy, N Y, for a good sample of ornamental
fence, silver medal. John G Perry, Kingston, R I, for the best
meat cutter, diploma. Ralph k Co, 23 Fulttm street, for the best
•wood and metal meat cutter, diploma. Longett k Griifing, 25 Cliff
street, for the best sub-soil plow, silver medal. J D Willonghby,
Carlisle, Pa, for the second best grain drill, diploma. A B Allen
& Co, 1S9 Water street, for the best display of agricultural and
horticultural implements, gold medal. Ralph k Co, 23 Fulton st,
for a good display of agricultural implements, silver medal. W F
Ketchum, Buffalo, N Y, for a mowing machine, gold medal. No.
546 Schnebly's reaping machine, No. 1,456 Rapeljes k Co*s reap-
ing machine. No. 1595 Burral's grain reaper, No. 1,841 Forbush's
reaping machine. No. 1,941 Manny's combined mowing machine,

No. , McCormick's mowing and reaping machine, and N. 51,

Chaffe's model reaping machine.

These machines all show a high order of merit, and several of
them have done good service in both kinds of work ; one of them
is entirely new, and two of them have not been in a condition for

No. 1«3.] 471

the conimittee to know what they might do. Under these circum-
stances, the committee have thought thej could not give such an
opinion of their comparative luerits as would be creditable to the
Institute, or just to the exhibitors, and therefore suggest that this
statement be published.

J W "Wright, Chicago, Illinois, for Atkin's automaton raker,
silver medal. Benjamin F Miller, 74 Trinity Place, for wrought
iron picket fence, diploma. Ralph & Co, 23 Fulton street, for a
good corn mill, diploma. Longett & Griihng, 25 Cliif street, for
the best assortment of agricultui-ai implements, gold medal. Lon-
gett & Grilling, 25 Cliif street, for the best grain drill, silver medal.
Longett & Griffing, 25 Cliff street, fjr the best horse rake, silver
medal. Wm R Palmer, North Carolina, for a superior threshing
machine, silver medal. John Jones, 189 Water street, N Y, for
the best garden syringe, silver medal. Mark Poole, Myrtle-aven-
ue, Brooklyn, for the second best garden spring, diploma. Mark
Poole, MyrLle-avenue, Brooklyn, for a greatly improved watering
pot, silver medal,

TESTING OF PLOWS,

Judges. — Ralph Hall, D K Sherwood, A M Suydam.

John Moore, 193 Front street, N Y, for the best plow, combin-
ing the greatest number of requisites to plow a furrow 12 inches
wide and 8 inches deep, silver cup or $10. B Myer, Xewark, N
J, for the second best plow, combining the greatest number of re-
quisites to plow a furrow 12 inches wide and 8 inches deep, silver
medal.

PLOWING MATCH.

Judges. — Nicholas Wyckoflf, John M Terrier, A 0 Houghton.

Joseph SwannelI,New York city, for the best plowing with Rug-
gles, Nourse & Mason's plow. No. 73^, silver cup or $15. Augus-
tus Carlton, Sutton, Worcester county. Mass, for the second best
plowing, silver cup or §10. Asa B Munn, Orange, N J, for the
third best plowing, silver medal.

472 [Assembly

spading match.

Judges. — Alanson Nash, Abraham Turnure, Thomas Williams.

Archibald Henderson, Newtown, L I, for the best spading, sil-
ver cup or $10. James Malony, Nyack, Rockland co, N Y, for the
jwcond best spading, silver cup or $8. Thomas Daily, Nyack,
Rockland co, N Y, for the third best spading, silver medal.

MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT.

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL DRAWINGS.

Judges.— T. S. Shepard, John B. Snook, John W. Ritch.

E. G. Thompson, 12 Dey-street, for the best architectural draw-
ing, diploma. C. F. Anderson, 44 Wall-street, for an architectu-
ral drawing, diploma. J. H. Chapel, Williamsburgh, L. I., for
the best mechanical drawing, silver medal.

BATHS.

Judges — Edward Gray, D. M. Reese, Isaac Greene.

Ferdinand Holme, 9 Oliver- street, for the best bath, silver
medal. Windle & Co., 56 Maiden Lane, for the second best bath,
diploma.

Minor's Works.
John W. Locke, 47 Ann-street, for a bath, Webster's Dictionary.

BELLS.

Judges— Edward Hodges, Thomas Hall, James. P. Allaire.

Meneely's Sons, West Troy, Hitchcock & Co., agents, 116
Broadway, for church bells. A gold medal having been before
awarded, diploma.

BLANK BOOKS AND BOOK-BINDING.

Judges— Thomas S. Smith, Edward G. Taylor, George C.Mann.

C. S. Boynton, 160 William street, for the best blauk book,
gold medal. Bowne & Co.. 150 Pearl street, for the second best
blank book, silver medal. Collins, Bowne & Co., 174 and 176
Pearl- street, for the third best blank books, diploma. Edward
Walker k Sons, 114 Fulton-street, for the best bookbinding, (Vir-
tue's bible,) gold medal. Wm. M. Thompson, 169 William-st.,
for a superior specimen of pictorial binder's stamps, gold medal.

474 [Assembly

boats and oars.
Judges — Eugene Farr, Wm. Dela Montagnie, R Fish.
C. J. Thorns, 178 Chambers-street, for the best race boat, silver
medal. E. Page, 20 West-street, for the best oars, siver medal.

GEN-E^S BOOTS AND SHOES.

Judges — N. A. Rogers, Jos. Bradley, P. S. Underhill.

Johu Ready 127 Nassau-street, for the best patent leather boots,
and the best calf dress boots, silver medal. Edwin A. Brooks,
150 Fulton street, for a good cork sole boot, diploma. William
Snell, 43 Fulton- street, Brooklyn, L. I., for an ingenious crimp-
ing machine for moulding gaiter boots, silver medal.

LADIES BOOTS AND SHOES.

Judges — Chas. Middleton, A. S. Rogers, Henry Nunns.

Benjamin Shaw, 73 Canal-street, for the best white satin fair
stitched gaiters, and a case of superior ladies' fancy gaiter boots,
and slippers, gold medal. S. Cantrel, 336 Bowery, for the best
case of imitation of French shoes and boots, silver medal. Geo.
Nicholls, New- York, for the workmanship on white gaiter boots,

for very superior talent, gold medal.

I

fiRITTANNIA WARE.

Judges — Lucius Hart, James Y. Watkins.

John H. Whitlock, Troy, N. Y., for cast and turned Brittannia
ware. A silver medal having been before awarded, diploma.
Yale & Curtis, 106 Elm-street, for a safety fluid lamp, diploma.

BRUSHES.

Judges— R. Tweed, J. C. Skaden, H. R, Mount.

William Cross, 25 John-street, for specimens of hair brushes,
diploma. Steele & Co., 53 Nassau-street, for specimens of feather
brushes. A gold medal having been before awarded, diploma.

CABINET W^ARE.

Judges— J. C. Baldwin, G. Ponsot, E. W. Hutchings.

P. Weller, 178 Centre-street, fur the best carved mouldings,
silver medal. Christophe Volkert, 93 Elm-street, for the second
best carved mouldings, diploma. Isaac Duryea, Broome-street,
for a bureau and wash stand, made of red cedar, silver medal.

No. 133.] 475

Thomas Riley, 71 Bowery, for inlaid boxes, diploma. M Fischer,
39 Avenue D, for inlaid boxes, diploma. Alfred Speer, Aqua-
knock, N J, for the best secretary and writing desk, diploma. Jas
H Cook, 36 Broadway, for the second best writing desk, diploma.
J H Fraser, 144. Chambers street, for beautiful show cases, silver
medal. G Van Zile & Co., 29 Bethune street, for the best newel
posts, silver medal. Christophe Volkert, 93 Elm street, for the
best inlaid wood work, silver medal. Peter Q Smith, 343 Atlan-
tic street, Brooklyn, L I, for a mahogany secretary, diploma. J &

5 C Crombie, Nashua, N H, N P Kimball, agent, 74 Beekman st,
for a front door and sashes, a silver medal having been before
awarded, diploma.

Minor^s work.
CAS Holder, 188 Spring-street, for a superior piano-forte case,
Webster's Dictionary.

CAKES AND CONFECTIONARY.

Judges — James R Smith, Wm Hall, John W Chambers.

Benjamin Wilt, 324 Grand-street, for the best plum cake, silver
medal. Robert Anderson, 250 Fulton-street, Brooklyn, L I, for
the best ornamented cake, diploma. H. Tateoesyan, Williams-
burgh, L I, for superior fig paste, diploma.

CARPETS.

Judges — Josiah P. Knapp, George W Betts.

A Glominski, of the Troy Carpet Mills, X Y, George Hastings

6 Co, agents, 5 South William-street, for the best designs for car-
pets, gold medal.

CARRIAGES, SLEIGHS, AND AXLES.

Judges — John R Lawrence, Isaac Ford, Laurens Reeve.

Isaiah C Wolf, Newark, N J, for the best top wagon, gold medal,
John C Ham, 360 Broadway, for the second best light top wagon,
silver medal. Smith k Sons, East Brooklyn, L I, for the best
wagon without top, gold medal. L N Hermance & Co, Kingston,
N Y, for the best sleigh, silver medal. Alfred E Smith, for the
best steel converted patent axles, silver medal. Matthias Sou-
verel. Orange, N J, for a carriage shaft safety bolt, silver medal.

476 [Assembly

Holmes & Bassett, 100 Maiden-lane, for carriage trimmings and
rosettes, diploma. Arnold Stivers, Newark, N J, for carriage
mountings, silver medal. C L Chaplain, Newark, N J, for good
spokes, diploma. Bedford & Crane, Newark, N J, for good carriage
bows, diploma. C A Ball, 195 Sixth-avenue, for a pair of de-
tached harness shafts, silver medal. M G Hubbard, Rochester,
N Y, for a self-adjusting short-turning carriage springs and geer-
ing, gold medal. John Chatterson, 351 Broome-street, for a pole-
hook for light wagons, diploma.

CASTINGS.

Judges — N M Stratton, Lewis S Dod, James L Jackson.

P Schwickhardt, Williamsburgh, L I, J G Gilbert, agent, 216
Pearl -street, for the best castings, gold medal. Morritz Seelig,
Williamsburgh, L I, J G Gilbert, agent, 216 Pearl-street, for the
second best casting, gold medal. Slater & Steele, Jersey city, for
castings and machinery, silver medal. Adolph Leconte, Staten
Island, for a zinc and bronze statuette, galvanized, gold medal.

CLOAKS AND MANTILLAS.

Judges — H McCune, A M Cameron, Wm B McKenzie, Charles
Street.

George Brodie, 51 Canal-street, for the best white embroidered
satin cloak, gold medal. Molyneux Bell, 58 Canal-street, for the
best embroidered velvet cloak, gold medal.

CLOCKS AND WATCHES.

Judges — J Y Savage, Jr, Samuel Hammond.

John Stokell, Jr, 189 Front-street, Brooklyn, L I, for the work-
manship on an eight-day skeleton clock, gold medal. J H H
Hawes, Ithaca, N Y, for a calendar clock, for its mechanical ar-
rangement, gold medal. Jerome Manufacturing Co, New Haven,
Conn, Chauncey Jerome, agent, 49 Cortlandt-street, for an inlaid
clock, diploma. Litchfield Manufacturing Co, Litchfield, Conn,
F C Andrews, agent, 3 Cortlandt-street, for an inlaid clock, di-
ploma.

No. 133.] 477

CLOTHING.

Judges — John T Henry, E W Tryon, Israel Brown.

Ellis & Isleton, 439 Broadway, for the best children's clothing,
gold medal. P L Rogers & Co, corner Fulton and Nassau-streets,
for the second best children's clothing, silver medal. Herman
Schwietering, 42 John-street, for a superior specimen of buttons,
silver medal. Mariner's Family Industrial Society, 322 Pearl-st,
for specimens of clothing highly creditable, diploma. Samuel M
Perkins, Auburn, N Y, for patent seamless coats and vests, gold
medal. L W Badger, Auburn, N Y, for patent seamless gloves,
mittens and pantaloons, diploma.

COMBS.

Judges — G R Cholwell, L. Ciiapman.

S C Noyes & Co, Mass, Noyes & Grady, agents, 6 Murray street,
for superior horn dressing combs, silver medal. J Russell, Wil-
liamsburgh, L I, for ornamental coc^.bs, silver medal. A Moul-
ton, 53 Nassau street, for superior shell combs, silver medal.

coopers' work MINORS.

Judges — Hugh Aikman, Francis O'Brien, J McJ Bensel.

J W Hopkins, 153 Third street, for the workmanship on a
small keg, Webster's Dictionary. J, M. Hopkins, 153 Third
street, for the workmanship on a small keg, Webster's Dictionary.

COTTON GOODS.

Judges — Haynes Lord, Wm. E. Shepard.

Robert Rennie, Lodi, N J, Sturges, Shaw & Co, agents, 54 Pine
street, for printed lawns, gold medal. J J Kilton, Coventry, R I,
Lord, Warren, Salter & Co, agents, 4G Broad street, for the best
brown sheeting, silver medal. Sieam Cotton Manufacturing Co,
Providence, R I, for the finest brown sheeting, silver medal.
Wamsutta Mills, New-Bedford, Mass, Willard & Wood, agents, 40
Broad street, for the best bleached shirtings, (a gold medal haviog
been before awarded,) diploma. Williamsville Co, Providence,
R I, for the second best bleached shirting, silver medal. New-
York Mills, Utica, N. Y., Charles Carville, agent, 17 Broad street,

478 [Assembly

for superior shirtings, twilled jeans, and pantaloon stuff, gold
medal. White Rock Manufacturing Company, Nesmith & Co,
agents, 52 Broad street, for bleached shirtings, diploma. B S
Walcott & Son, New-York Mills, N Y, Charles Carville, agent, 17
Broad street, for cotton shirtings, silver medal. Graniteville
Manufacturing Company, Graniteville, S C, Spring, Bradley &
Buffum, agents, 22 Broad street, for brown shirtings and sheet-
ings, diploma. Graniteville Manufacturing Co, Graniteville, S C,
Spring, Bradley & Buffura, agents, 22 Broad street, for brown
drills, diploma. J & W Slater, Slatersville, R I, Spring, Bradley
& Bufium, agents, 22 Broad street, for superior corset jeans, di-
ploma. Lancaster Company, Lancaster, Mass, Schouler, Newton
& Cumston, agents, 44 Broad street, for plain ginghams, silver
medal. A & W Spiague, Providence, R I, Hoyt, Tillinghast &.
Co., agents, 54 Broad street, for the best madder prints, gold
medal. G M Richmond, Providence, R I, Nesmith & Co, agents,
52 Broad street, for madder prints, diploma. Globe Printing Co,
Fall River, Mass, Hoyt, Tillinghast & Co, agents, 54 Broad street,
for purple prints, diploma. Philip Allen & Sons, Providence, R
I, Lawrence, Clapp & Co, agents, 35 Broad street, for the best
prints, gold medal. American Print Works, Fall River, Mass,
for the second best prints, silver medal. American Print Works,
Fall River, Mass, for printed shirtings, diploma. John N Genin,
214 and 513 Broadway, for superior hosiery, silver medal. Jo-
seph Milward, 31st street, near 8th avenue, for superior lace
shawls, silver medal. Wm Beatty, Philadelphia, Pa, McGregor,
Timpson & Co, agents, 47 Broad street, for cotton diaper, diplo-
ma. American Linen Thread Company, Mechanicsville, Saratoga
CO, N Y, for the best linen thread, (a gold medal having been be-
fore awarded,) diploma. N G B Dexter, Pawtucket, R I, for su-
perior darning and filling cotton, silver medal. John Barnes &
Co, Fountain Springs, R I, Burnham, Plumb & Co, agents, 43
Cedar street, for colored thread, diploma. Elizabeth Pearne, 47
Downing street, for linen, and linen pillow caseS; silver medal.
Atlantic Duck Company, East Haddam, Conn, Benj Flanders &
Co, agents, 80 South street, for the best cotton duck, silver medal.
Woodbury Mills, Baltimore, Md, Benj Flanders & Co, agents, 80
South street, for the second best cotton duck, diploma. Phenix

No. 133.J 479

Mills, Paterson, iV J, H W Peck & Co, agents, 130 Front street,
for cotton duck, diploma.

CUTLERY.

Judges. — W N Seymour, Thos C Van Hoesen, Francis Many.

Ames Manufacturing Co, Chicopee, Mass, Hitchcock & Co,
agents, 116 Broadway, for handsome dress swords, gold medal.
Waterville manufacturing Co, Waterbury, Conn, F G Wheeler &
Co, agents, 23 John-street, for the best variety of pocket cutlery ;
a gold medal having been before awarded, diploma. South river
cutlery co, Conway, Mass, P W Gallaudet, agent, 81 John-street,
for fine specimens of ivory table cutlery, silver medal. Lamson,
Goodnow & Co, 7 Gold-street, for superior cook's knives ; a gold
medal having been before awarded, diploma. Eagle works, Win-
sted, Conn, R N Perley, agent, 77 Platt-street, for ivory handles
on knives, diploma.

DAGUERREOTYPES.

Judges. — H C Shumway, Chas W Jarvis, J N Gimbrede.

J Gurney, 189 and 349 Broadway, for the best daguerreotypes,
gold medal. Mead and Brothers, 233 Broadway, for the 2d best
daguerreotypes, siver medal. Brinckerhoff & Co, 383 Broadway,
fur the 3d best daguerreotypes, diploma. Samuel Root, 363 Broad-
way, for imitation crayon daguerreotypes, silver medal. S A
Holmes, 289 Broadway, for excellent daguerreotype views, diplo-
ma. C C Harrison, 86 Duane-street, for camera instruments, a
gold medal having been before awarded, diploma. H Stidolph,
41 Hester-street, for imitation metallic guilding on wood, silver
medal

DIES AND CHASING.

Judges. — Wm. Gale, W. H. Bridgens.

L T Boland, 178 Fulton-street, for the best crests and
ornaments ; a silver medal having been before awarded, diploma.
Thomas Pittis, 296 Pearl-street, for the best stencil plates ; a
silver medal having been before awarded, diploma. C C Wright,
52 John-street, for superior dies for medals, gold medal.

minor's work.
Frederick Loew, New-York, for a pair of dies for silversmiths,
Webster's Dictionary.

480 [Assembly

dentistry.

Judges. — F. H. Clark, Geo Clay, J Parmly.

Ambler & Avery, 31 Washington Place, for the best dental me-
chanism, and a new mode of attaching spiral springs to a full set
of teeth, gold medal.

minor's work.

Albert McNulty, 21 Bond-street, for superior dental mechanism,
Webster's Dictionary.

DRUGS AND CHEMICALS.

Judges. — James R Chilton, Wm W Ellet, Isaiah Deck, John H
Currie.

Withington and Wilde, 7 Dutch-street, for the best powdered
spices, diploma. C Watson, Lowell, Mass, for the second best
powdered spices, diploma. Wm. Colgate k Co, 4 and 6 Dutch-
street for the best pearl starch, silver medal. F. Ramppen, corn.
Court and Dean-street, Brooklyn, for the second best pearl starch,
diploma. S Kuh & Klriescher, 58 Goerck-street, for the best che-
mical preparations^ acids, &c., silver medal. T C Jones, & Co. 757
Washington-street, for superior chemical preparations, silver
medal. John Van Deventer, 87 Barclay- street, for the best paste
blacking; a silver medal having been before awarded, diploma.
E C Hazard, C8 Barclay-street, for the second best paste blacking,
diploma. J. Sniffin, Jr, & Co, Brooklyn, for the best sperm cand-
les, silver medal. Josiah Macy & Sons, 189 Front-street, for the
second best sperm candles, diploma. William Walker, 166 Cherry-
street, for the best assortment of perfumery ; a silver medal having
been before awarded, diploma. J G A Sacca, 54 and 56 Dey-
street, for the second best assortment of perfumery, diploma. Wm
Colgate, 4 and 6 Dutch-street, for the best family washing, and
fancy soaps, gold medal. North American Soap Co, cor Rutgers
and Cherry street, for the second best washing soap, diploma.
Jointa Lime Co., Glenn's Falls, N Y, for the best burned lime,
diploma. H W Monroe, 37 Chamber-street, for the best mineral
paint, diploma. Frederick Desbrosses, Manhattanville, N Y, for
the best stearine candles, silver medal.

No. 133.] 481

C Mauly, Greenpoint, L I, for the best priis;>iate potash, silver
medal. Israel Howe, Troy, N Y, for the second best prnssiate pot-
ash, dij)loma. E. Gunning, 1 18 Eighth avenue, for the best leather
preservative paste, diploma. B T Eabbitt, 70 Washington, for th0
best yeast powder, diploma. Thomas Andrews, 136 Cedar street,
for the best saleratus and soap powder, silver medal. Tilden &
Co, New Lebanon, N Y, for the best medicinal extracts, a silver
medal having been before awai-ded, diploma. American Pharma-
ceutical Institute, 39th street, between Eighth and Nintlj. avenues,
for the second best medicinal extracts, diploma. S 0 Dunbar,
Taunton, Mass, for the best black writing ink, silver medal. J E
Hover, Philadelphia, Pa, for the second best black ink, diploma.
J Thompson, Williamsburgh, L I, James Pyle, agent, 114 Warren
street, for the best transparent soap and w^ashing compound, di-
ploma.- William Johnson, 55 Frankfort street, for the second best
transparent soap, diploma. Belling & Vogel, 460 Houston street,
for the best vermicelli and macaroni, silver medal. Joseph Lom-
bard, 350 Sixtli street , for second best vermicelli and macaroni,
diploma. L C Dale, Boston, Mass, for excellent tooth powder,
diploma. Walter Baker & Co, Dorchester, Mass, for the best
chocolate and cocoa, silver medal. J Govearts, 376 Pearl street,
for the best sweet chocolate aixl cocoa, silver medal. Zinser &
Scholl, 175 William street, for the best sealing wax and bleached
shellac, diploma. W W Eose, 17 Wall street, for second best
sealing wax, diploma. Hastings & Co, Boston street, for the best
polishing material, diploma. R Johnson, 65 Greet street, for the
best starch polish, diploma. W Colgate & Co, 4 and 6 Dutch st,
for a fine quality corn starch for culinary purposes, diploma. J
G Minor, 39 Wall street, for metallic paint, diploma. C H Meyer,
6th avenue, between 40 and 41st street, for excellent refined
camphor, diploma. Ai'thur Nix, Macomb's Dam, for superior
bleached wax and wax tapers, silver medal having been before
awarded, diploma. Jas Macombie, 601 Broadway, for furniture
polish, diploma. J R Burdsall, 84 Maiden Lane, for arnica lini-
ments, diploma. L Feuchwanger, 141 Maiden Lane, for a cabinet
of chemical and other preparations, silver medal. Gail Bordon,
Jr, Galveston, Texas, for meat biscuit and fine beef lard, a gold
medil having been before awarded, diploma. Jackson & Domeneck,

{Assembly, No. 133.) 31

483 [Assembly

143 Water street, for a fine sample of crystalized piperliie, silver
medal. Jessup & Childs, 243 West Sixteenth street, for pure
white lead in oil, diploma. Eugene Dupey, 609 Broadway, for
flavoring extracts of good qualit}^, diploma. J Husband, Phila-
delphia, Pa, for pure calcined magnesia, diploma. Wm Blake, 84
Pearl street, for fire-proof paint, a silver medal having been before
awarded, diploma. Alden & Co, 113 Chambers street, for cream
coffee and concentrated milk, silver medal. S O Dunl:»ar, Taun-
ton, Mass, for liquid magnesia, diploma. Jas Pyle, 114 Warren
street, for Chinese washing fluid, diploma. C De Burg, N Y, A
B Allen & Co, agents, 189 and 191 Water street, for super phos-
phate of lime for manure, diploma. Lindermann & Steffins, 117
John street, for French varnish, diploma.

. EDGE TOOLS, HARDWARE, &C.

Judges — Geo. H. Swords and J. Conger Berry.

0 & C Bush, Fall River, Mass, for chain bolts, diploma. B E
Woodall, West Winsted, Conn, for polished steel fire sets and
stands, silver medal. C C Spring & Co, Worcester, Mass, J Upson,
agent, 15 Gold street, for improved screw wrenches, diploma.
Abraham Krowl, corner 8tli avenue and 38th street, for superior
made horse shoes, diploma. B Hammond, North Bennington, Vt,
W N Seymour & Co, agents, 4 Chatham Square, for steel squares,
diploma. W & B Douglass, 48 Dey street, for wrought iron butts,
diploma. Goodwin & Byron, (i69 Hudson sti-eet, for superior saws,
diploma. Claude Ducreaux, 3G4 Broadway, for a sample of cut
screws, silver medal.

Waterbury Brass Co, L Wetmore, agent, 11 Spruce-street, for
brass kettles ; a gold medal having been before awarded ; diploma.
J W Gascoigne, 187 Pearl-street, for iron wire, diploma. Wm C
Lane, East Thirty-ninth-street, near Third-avenue, for a pair of
hooks for hoisting boxes or barrels, diploma. W S Eaton, Cam-
bridgeport, Mass., Dunlap & Wright, agents, 85 Fulton-street,
Brooklyn, L I, for patent centre bitts, diploma. C W Bontgen &
Co, Newark, N J, for superior skates, silver medal. S Jaggers,
Newark, N J, Beynolds & Daniels, agents, 13 Gold-street, fur spe-
mens of rules, diploma. Tuttle Manufacturing Co, Naugatuck,
Conn, for superior steel hoes and rakes, silver medal. Massachu-

No. 133. 1 483

setts Shovel Co, Worcester, Mass, S Balcom, agent, for patent im-
proved shovels, diploma. J M Wells, Clinton county, NY, for
drawing knives, diploma. W & B Douglas, Middletown, Conn,
Jolin Bailey, agent, 48 Dey-slreet, for galvanized puinp chains,
diploma. W Churchill, Hamden, Conn, Long & Davenport, agents,
10 Platt-strec^t, for superior augers; a silver medal having been
before awarded ; diploma. Thomas Douglass, 5 Piatt street, for
superior steel squares, diploma. Benedict & Burnham Manufac-
turing Co, Waterbury, Conn, John Bailey, 48 Dey-street, for rolled
brass and German silver, silver medal. R H & J G Isham, 103
Front-street and 83 Pearl-street, for emery and sand paper, and
cloth ; a silver medal hciving been before awarded ; diploma. Davis
& Blake, Portland, Me, Thomas Dutton, 83 Pearl-street, for a pa-
tent box opener, diploma. Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing
Co, Waterbury, Conn, John Bailey, agent, 48 Dey-street, for brass,
copper and German silver wire, silver medal. Clark k Brooks,
Chester, Conn, Pettibone & Co, agents, 14 Platt-street, f<»r iron
screw hooks and eyes, diploma. Hayden & Sanders, 219 Pearl-
street, for superior oil cans, diploma. I^ovett Morse, Taunton,
Mass, for cut tacks and brads, diploma. Crocker & Co, Old Colo-
ny Iron Co, Taunton, Mass, E J Bussing & Co, agents, 33 Cliff-
street, for very superior shovels, diploma. D. Simmons & Co,
Cohoes Falls and 7 Gold-street, for very superior finished hatchets;
a gold medal having been befure awarded ; diploma. H. Aiken,
Franklin, N H. for the best saw-set and improved brad-awl and
other tools, silver medal.

ENAMELKI) IRON AND IRON FURNITURE.

Judges — Jordan L Mott, Robert Marshall, Jas R Waller.

Salamander Marble Co, 135 Water-street, for the best enameled
mantels, gold medal. J H Keyser k Co, 56 Cliff-street, for the
second best enameled mantels, silver medal. Enamel Marble
Mantel Co, 3 John-street, for the third best enameled mantels, sil-
ver medal. Mirror Mantel Co, Boston, Mass, Geo Walker, 89^
Leonard-street, and Chilson Richardson k Co, 374 Broadway,
agents, for beautiful cast iron mirror mantels ; a gold medal having
been before awarded ; diploma. A K Pattison, 407 k 409 Cherry-
street, for beautiful enameled stair-rods, silver medal. M Gould,

48^4 [Assembly

Platt-street, for the best German silver and brass stair-rods, silver-
medal. J W Sergeant, 31 & 33 Dey-street, for the second best
brass stair-rods, diploma. T J Gillies, 308 Broadway, for supe-
rior spring chains, gold medal.

ENGRAVING. _

Judges — F C Strype, Henry W Herrick, Wm" Howland.

A H Ritchie, 23 Chambers-street, for the best engraving on steel,,
gold medal. T B Welch, Philadelphia, Pa, Wm Terry, agent, 113
Beekman-street, for the second best engraving on steel, silver
medal. John E. Buttre, 61 Fulton-street, for the third best en-
graving on steel, diploma. A W Overbaugh, 21 Horatio- street,,
for a beautiful specimen of engraving on gold, gold medal. Chas
Maggii, 7 Nassau-street, for the best specimen of lithography, sil-
ver medal. Endicott & Co, 59 Beekman-street, for the second best
specimen of lithography, diploma. Wm Roberts, 13 Chambers-
street, for the best specimen of wood engraving, silver medal.

Minors^ Wo7'k.

P Van Vleclf, 305 Fifth-street, for the best w^ood cut^ Webster's
Dictionary. H H Nichols, 131 East Twenty-eighth-street, for tfi.^
second be.st wood cut, Webster's Dictionary.

FINE ARTS.

Judges — John McDougal, J N Gimbrede, C W Jarvis.

John Kennedy, Twenty-third street, between Second and Third
avenues, for an elegant marble mantel-piece, gold medal. J F
Lippitt, corner of Greenwich and Clarkson streets, for a mantel
and statue of American marble, silver medal. Joseph Lassalle,.
140 Pacific-street, Brooklyn, for a copy of the Greek slave in
bronze, silver medal. Richard Barter, 97 Third-street, fur a com-
position bust of Catherine Hayes, diploma. Louis Bail, 457
Houston-street, for a parlor freize and cap in plaster, diploma.
W J Hanington, 364 Broadway, for a stained glass church window,
figure of St Peter, silver medal. Samuel West, 95 Fourth-avenue,
for a likeness in stained glass, silver medal. E R Greeinis, 57
Fourth-avenue, for decorations on glass, silver medal. Francis
Melville, 142 State-street, Brooklyn, L I, for a crayon drawing,

No. 133.] 485

■diploma. Donald McKenzie, corner of Thirty-eighth street and
Second -avenue, for pencil, crayon and water color drawings,
diploma. WK Hallock, 103 Fourth-avenue, for a colored crayon
drawing, diploma. Mrs L B Wight, Springfield, Mass, fur crayon
drawings, diploma. Agnes McPherson, 67 Christie-street, for a
"water color drawing, diploma, James W Leveridge, 271 Spring-
street, for a pencil drawing, diploma. Louis Bail, 457 Houston-
street, for a pencil drawing, diploma. William H Grew, 144
Grand-street, Williamsburg, L I, for a water color drawing, diploma.
R J Blakelock, 8 Patchin-place, for a pencil drawing, diploma.
Gilbert T Woglom,for a monochromatic drawing, diploma. Lewis
Hallock, 103 Fourth-street, for oil paintings, diploma. S Ellis,
corner of Murray-street and Broadway, for modelling from a da-
guerreotype, diploma. Geo W Fordham, 106 Thompson -street,
for a monochromatic drawing, diploma. N Lemy, Atlantic-street,
Brooklyn, L I, for a plaster statue of Gen Scott, diploma.

FIRE ARMS.

Judges — Joseph Hall, Joseph Rose, Jr, John P Moore.

Allen & Thurber, Worcester, Mass, Onion & Wheelock, agents,
99 Maiden-lane, for the best fowling-pieces, rifles, revolving and
self-cocking pistols, gold medal. J B & J Amory, Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin, Moore'& Baker, agents, 204 Broadway, for the second
best rifle, diploma. Marston Fire Arms Manufacturing Co, 36i
Chatham-street, for the best specimens of rifles and pistols, loading
at breech, silver medal. Ames Manufacturing Co, Chicopee, Mass,
Hitchcock & Co, agents, 116 Broadway, for the best brass cannon,
silver medal. Reynolds & Brother, Goodwinville, N Y, for treble
case safety fuse for blasting, diploma. Walter Hicks, 47 Dey
street, for the best percussion caps, silver medal. Crittenden &
Tibbals, South Coventry, Conn, R D Sollace, agent, 19 Cortlandl
street, for the second best percussion caps, diploma.

KIRE WORKS.

Judges — John A Bunting, William Ebbitt, Geo S Riggs, William
C Arthur.

J G & Isaac Edge, Jersey City, N J, for <he best display of fij-e-
works, $100. J G &, Isaac Edge, Jersey City, N J, Ibr the second

486 [Assembly

best display of fire- works, $50. Isaac Edge, Sen, Jersey City, K
J, for the third best display of fire -works, $25.

FISHING TACKLE.

Judges — George W Usher, John G Bolen.

J Si J C Coni'oy, 52 Fulton-street, for the best rods and reel's^
silver medal. J B Crook & Co, 50 Fulton-street, for the second
best rods and reels, diploma. Job Johnson, East Brooklyn, L I^
for the best fish-hooks, silver medal. John Jones, 80 Hester-
street, for the best fishing net, diploma.

GLASS, CHINA AND EARTHENWARE.

Judges — Henry W Haydock, James Neeves, Davis Collamore.

William Oppitz, 136 Nassau-street, for the best engraved glass,.
(a gold medal having been before awarded,) diploma. Brooklyn
Flint Glass Co, 30 South William-street, for the best flint, cut,
colored and fancy glass, gold medal. Haughwout & Dailey, 563^
Broadway, for the best painting and gilding on china, gold medal.
Gottsclialk Grelling, 563 Broadway, for the artistic skill displayed
on the porcelain vase " nymph at the waterfall," gold medal.
Charles Cartlidge & Co, Green Point, L I, for American porcelain,
gold medal. P Yearsley, Philadelphia, Pa. J M McCullough.
agent, 108 Broad-street, for glass shades and sheet glass, diploma,.
Woodward, Blakelys & Co, for the best Rockingham ware, (a gold
medal having been before awarded,) diploma. W Harrison
Brothers, East Liverpool, Ohio, G Harrison, agent, Jersey City, for
the second best Rockingham ware, silver medal.

Minor^s Works.

Frederick Hoffe, 130 Nassau street, for engraving on glass,
Webster's Dictionary. Philip Smith, 01 Frankfort-street, ibr a
good specimen of stained and cut glass, Webster's Dictionary.

glaziers' diamonds.

Judges — S. N. Dodge, D. Jacobus.

E. Karelson, 69 Nassau-street, for glaziers' diamonds and bril-
liants for engravers, silver medal.

No. 133.] 487

I

HATS, CAPSj AND FURS

jtulges — ChajJes St. John, Nathan Starr, Edgar T. Ryder.

Juhn N. Geuiu, 214 Broadway, for the best moleskin hat, sil-
vt-r medal. F.H. Amidon, 649 Broadway, for the second best
moleskin hat, diploma. F. H. Amidon, 649 Broadway, for the
best silk riding hat for ladies, silver medal. A Freeman, 90
Fulton-street, l(>r the best soft pearl hat, diploma. John N.
Genin, 214 and 513 Broadway, f jr the best misses' and children's
angola and fancy hats, silver medal. A Freeman, 90 Fulton-st.,
for the second best misses' an'^ children's angola and fancy hats,
diploma. John N. Genin, 214 Broadway, for the best nav y, army,
and fancy caps, silver medal. Francis Landry, 693 Broadway,
for the best Russian sable and victorine and muff, silver medal.
John N. Genin, 214 and 513 Broadway, for the best Hudson Bay
sable victorine md muff, and othtr [furs, and white polar bear
skin, silver medal.

STRAW HATS.

Judges— €l^rles Miles, T. A. Napier, D. K. Granger, J. H.
Hills.

D. Thayer, jr., Franklin, Mass., M. Gay, agent, 173 Pearl-st.
for the ]>et fine split straw bonnet, silver medal. D. Thayer, jr.
Frankliq Mass, M. Gay agent, 173 Pearl-street, for a ftmcy split
straw bomet, diploma.

GRAINING.

Geoge Clark, E. B. Derby, George Palmer.

Heiry Fox, 66 Horatio-street, for the best imitation of marble,
silveroiedal. Patrick Matthews, corner 25th-st. and 7th ave-
nue, or the second best imitaion of marble, diploma. John
Grant Morrisania, N. Y., for the best imitation of oak and other
wood, silver medal. William M. Gambling, 273 Sixth avenue,
for tfe second best imitation of oak, diploma.

HEMP.

Jdge* — Joseph Cowdiu, John Travers.

Tiomas Hf^mmingway, Lexington, Ky., John C. McGregor,
aget, 134 Pearl-street, for a superior bale of hemp, gold medal.

488 [Assembly

C. McWay & Sou, Williamsburgh, L. I., for superior dressed
hemp, silver medal. James M. Hughes, St. Louis, Mo., Hewittj
Lees & Co., agents, 28 Broadway, for excellent samples of Mis-
souri hemp, silver medal. Hall Goshun, Mason county, Missouri,
J. 0. Sweetser, agent, 103 West-street, for an excellent specimen
of hemp, diploma.

INDIA RUBBER GOODS.

Judges — S. W. Smith, James R. Smith.

New- York India Rubber Co., 43 Maiden Lane, for samples of
India rubber goods, silver medal. L. P. Porter, 43 Maiden Lane,
for superior India rubber cants, silver medal. Good} ear India
Rubber Co., Naugatuck, Conn., for India rubbei gloves and mit-
tens, diploma. D. Hodgman, 27 Maiden Lane, for India rubber
goods, diploma.

JEWELRY.

Judges— M. G. Baldwin, A. G. Peckham, B. W.Clapp,
Roshore & Wood, 4 & 6 Liberty street, for gold lockets, and

gold and silver thimbles, of very superior workmanship, gold

medal,

LAMPS AND CHANDELIERS.

Judges — W. H. Starr, James Donaldson, John Mitchel.

Cornelius & Co, Philadelphia, Pa, Haughwout & Daile^, agents,
563 Broadway, for the best specimens of chandeliers, &c, dsplaying
much taste and artistic skill, gold medal. Allcock, Allen a Co, 51 9
Broadway, for the second best specimen of chandeliers, &(y silver
, medal. William Cooley, Middletown, Conn, E P tk. D Bnning,
agents, 21 Mercer street, for line specimens of lamps, &:c silver
medal. D D Miler, 170 Water street, for brass lanterns am trum-
pets, silver medal. N T Beers, Fulton street, Brooklyn, "or an
improved street lantern, diploma.

LEATHER.

Judges — A. H. Kimmcl, George Evans, William Dymoc, H.
M. Warren.

Obadiah Ennis, 20 Ferry street, for the best black moroccc di-
•pkwna. H M Crawford, Philadelphia, Pa, S & W Lumsden, aguts,

No. 133.] 489

3 Ferry street, for the best calf skins, gold medal. Waterbury
Leather Manuracturiiig Co, George Brown, agent, 38 Spruce street,
for the best colort^tl and bronze morocco and calfskins for suspen-
ders, silver medal. A H Brahe, 27 Ferry street, for the best oak
sole leather, silver medal. Ely & Keese, 22 Ferry street, for the
second best oak tanned sole leather, diploma. Hurley & Miles,
80 Gold street, for the second best oak and hemlock tanned sole
leather, diploma. Levi Shepard k Sons, Norfolk, Conn, H Eice,
agent, 58 Spruce street, for the best bark tanned skivers, diploma.
David Moti'at, 5 Jacob street, for the best black russet bridle
leather, silver medal. T Scott k Sons, 3 Jacob street, for the best
russet leatlier, diploma. John H Bowie k Co, 25 Ferry street, for
the best leather hose pipe and fire buckets, a gold medal having
been before awarded, diploma. Joseph Rogers, Jr. Danbury, Ct,
for the best parchment for drum heads, diploma.

LOCKS, &c.

Judges — Theophilus Culp, Samuel Boyd.

W ^c E T Fitch, New Haven, Conn, for superior cabinet locks
and extension centre bits, gold medal. Jas Kyle, 561 Hudson st,
for specimens of locks, diploma. Blake Brothers, Chester, Conn,
D C Ackerman, agent, 14 Piatt street, for samples of butts, di-
ploma.

BANK LOCKS.

Judges— T. B Stillman, S. D. Tucker.

J H. Buttcrworth & Co, Dover, N J, for the best bank locks,
gold medal. Muri)hy &, Butler, 87 Elizabeth street, for a change-
able powder proof bank lock, silver medal. E C Gcffin, 62 Can-
non street, for a bank lock, silver medal.

Machines, models and inventions.

Judges— Isaac W. Ayres, A. B Taylor, Jas. Bogardus.

Hewes k Phillip, Newark, N J, for a 25 horse power steam engine,
gold medal. Wm. Vine, Jr, Hartford, C.>nn, for a gold-beating
machine, gold medal. S T McDougall , 258 Pearl street, for a plat-
form scale, improved arrangement in weights, gold medal. Blake
& Johnson, Waterbury, Conn, J V D Wyckoflf, agent, 152 Broad-
way, lor improved cast steel geared rollers, gold medal. F Har-
ris & Sons, Elizabethtown, N J, for a smut machine, a gold medal

490 [AsStMBLT

having been before awarded, diploma. H H Green, 128 Fulton
street, for a type casting machine^ silver medal. AVm Gee, 66
Gold street, fur a bottling machine, silver medal. John Tremper,
Buffalo, N" Y, for a steam valve, silver medal. G. Snyder, Rhine-
beck, N Y, John Bullock, 208 Broadway, agent, for a model of a
hay press, diploma. John H. Vonderleigh, 480 Cherry street, for
a brass sr-rew wrench and screw brace, diploma. Duncan & West,
51 Beekman street, for mangling macliines, a silver medal having
been before awarded, diploma.

I M Singer k Co, 285 Broadway, for the best sewing machine, (a
gold medal having been before awarded,) diploma. John W
Cochran, Williamsburgh, L I, for the best c[uartz crusher, gold
medal. Sloan & Leggett, corner of Lexington-avenue and Thir-
tieth-street, for regulating water in the steam boiler, gold medal.
Joseph Pine, 119 Walker-street, for the running gear on fire en-
gine, gold medal. Adirondac Steel Co, Jersey City, N J, for the
best American steel, (a gold medal having been before awarded,)
diploma. Ari Eavis, Boston, Mass, for a dovetailing machine,
gold medal. A C Powell, Syracuse. N Y, for a machine for cut-
ting bolts, kc, gold medal. G P Gordon, 138 Fulton-street, for a
c^rd press, gold medal. Junius Judson, Rochester, N Y, for a
governor valve, silver medal. E & T Fairbanks, St Johnsbury,
Vt, for hiy, depit, and rolling mill scales, silver mtdal. P G Gar-
diner, 10 Wall-street, for a superior car axle, silver medal. S
Perry, E Goddaid, agent, 24 Bowery, for a paper manufactiu-er's
cutting machine, silver medal*. Ezra Gould, Newark, N J, for
good workmanship on slide lathe and gear cutter, silver medal.
Brown & White, Windsor Locks, Conn, for an engine lathe for
turnino- and boring conical shapes, silver medal. A W Metcalf,
144 Centre-street, for steam whistles, silver medal. Child &
Tainter, Worcester, Mass, for a planing machine, silver medal.
Thos Prcsser k Son, 22 Piatt -street, for boilermakers' tools, silver
medal. John A Collins, 208 Broadway, for a quartz crusher,
silver medal. Andrew P Scott, Forty-third street, near Eighth-
avenue, for a drilling machine, diploma. F. Van Dorn, Somerset,
N J, for a mill train, diploma. D & N Saunders, Hopkinson, R I,
for screws, diploma William B Leonard 75 Merchants' Ex-
change, for a hydraulic metre, diploma. H Beidan, for a quartz

No. 133] 491

crusher, diploma. Wilson "Wright, 97 Forsyth-street, for a jack
screw, dii^loma. Windell Wright, 290 West Nineteenth-street,
for a friction clutch, diploma. Stillman, Allen k Co, Novelty
Works, for gauges, diploma. B Brundred, Son &, Co, Oldham,
near Paterson, N J, for a cotton throstle, gold medal. Blvrelscher,
5S Goerck-street, for superior fire bricks, gold medal. J &: W
McAdanif, Boston, Mass, for a paging machine, gold medal. J T
Foster, 47 Dev street, for a machine for picking up stones, silver
medal. E H Ashcroft, Boston, Mass, for a steam gauge, silver
medal. B H Otis, Binghamton, N Y,for a morticing, boring, and
drilling machine, silver medal. Edward Harrison, New Haven,
Conn, for a Hour mill, (a gold medal having been before aAvarded,)
diploma. Olcott & Bros, Rochester, N Y. for locomotive lamps,
(a silver medal having been before awarded.) diploma. Baldwin
& Cunningham, Nashua, N H, for a boring machine for cylinders,
silver medal. H Boardman, Plattsburgh, N Y, and 123 Fulton-
street, N Y, for a steam boiler, silver medal. C S: G W Wood-
ward, 77 Beekman-street, for a steam valve, silver medal. R
Dudgeon, E Lyons, agent, 466 Grand-street, for hydraulic jacks,
silver medal. Union Power Co, 49 Dey-strcet, for a centrifugal
pump, good for low lifts, silver medal. Jos Echols, American
Hotel, for a pneumatic pump, silver medal. S Ingersoll, 114
Avenue C, for a pall wrench, silver medal. J L White, Corning,
N Y, for a locomotive truck, sOver medal. Lewis Bollman, 62
Beach-street, fi>r a lathe for conical work, silver medal. R W
Parker, Roxbury, Mass, for a method of banding pullies, silver
medal. Samuel Hall, 129 Amos-street, for bolts, nuts and wash-
ers, silver medal. Wm H Lazelle, 220 Centre-street, for the best
apple peeler, silver medal. Thurston, Greene & Co, Providence,
R I, for a hydraulic governor for steam engines, silver medal. E
Oliver, 4 Jefferson-street, for a rat trap, diploma. E Stebbins,
thicopee, Mass, for faucets, diploma. J Ball & Co, corner Centre
and Reed streets, for water pipe, diploma. G J Wright, 290 West
Nineteenth street, for a condenser for drawing wool and other
fibres, diploma. Steele, Burridge & Stannard, Jersey City,
for a x^laning machine for iron, diploma. H S Hyde, Troy,
New- York, for a railroad locomotive truck, diploma. H F
Patton, for a machine for splitting morocco, diploma. G G

492 [Assembly

Sheppard, 187 Water-street, , for scales, diploma. James St.
John, 97 Forsyth-street, for jack screws, diploma. M Devol, 55
avenue D, for a small engine and boiler, diploma. Victor Giroud,
526 12th-street, small engine and boiler, diploma. J T Bruen,
Hastings, Westchester co., N Y, H H Hedges, agent, 6-1 Duane-
street, for a new mode of hanging and guiding saws for sawing
stone, silver medal. J T Bruen, Hastings, Westchester co, N" Y,
H H Hedges, agent, 64 Duane-street, for a cylindrical cutter, sil-
ver medal. E Davies, Trenton, N J, for fire brick, diploma.
Bates, Hide & Co, Bridgewater, Ct, for a cotton gin, diploma. Tal-
lafero & Cummings, Maysville, Ky, N D Hunter, agent, 398 Broad-
way, patent heating smoothing-iron, diploma. J B Holmes, 47
Dey-street, for a capstan, diploma. G Pollock, 23 Centre-street,
for a lift and force pump, diploma. S W & R M Draper, W B
Cummings, agent, Kingsboro', Mass, for a mill pick, diploma. A
L Phillips & Co, Chester, Mass, for a fulling mill, diploma. T
Sharp, Chatham Four Corners, N Y, for a horse power, diploma.
J A Bragaw, Hartford, Ct, for a screw wrench, diploma. Union
Power Co, 49 Dey-street, for an oscillating pump, diploma. A
Hutchinson, 108 Wall-street, for a model of engine and propeller,
diploma. W. C. Van Housen, Leeds, Greene co., N. Y, for a ba-
lance gate, diploma. Stephen E. Parrish, 15 Canal-street, for a
floor clamp, dlpLjma. Henry Underwood^ Tolland, Ct, fora ma-
chine for scarfing and splitting leather, diploma. Townsend'Dur-
yea, 140 Grand-street, Williamsburgh, for a machine for polishing
daguerreotypes, diploma. Rees & Hoy t, 37 Spruce-street, for lea-
ther belting, driving machinery in machine room, (a gold medal
having been before awarded) diploma. .F M Ray, 104 Broadway,
for India rubber car springs, (a gold medal having been before
awarded) diploma, Paul Stillman, Novelty Works, for a register
steam gauge, silver medal.

jMinon^ Works.
E H Smith, 258 Pearl-street, for a brad and shoe nail machine,
Webster's Dictionary.

SPECIAL.

Steam Condenser.
Judges — J W Ayres, James Renwick, H R Dunham, Horatio Al-
len.

No. 133.] 493

Joseph P Picison, 5 Wall-street, for double vacuum steam con-
denser, gold medal.

Suh-marij^e Boat
L, Alexander, 16 Broadway, for a sub-marine boat, gold medal.

Stone-dresi,mg and Polishing Machines.
Judges — Joseph Cowdin, Julm A Bunting, Edwin Smith.

Charles Wilson, Springfield, Mass, for a superior stone-dressing
machine, gold medal. Albert Eames, Springfield, Mass, for the
best polishing machine, gold medal.

Iron Roofing.
Judges — Edwin Smith, John A Bunting, B Aycrigg.

Bogardus & Hoppin, cor. Centre and Ditane streets, for a beau-
tiful and light constructed iron roof, silver medal.

Gas Burner.

Judges — Wm C Arthur, Thos Carter.

Wm Mallerd, Lowell, Mass, for an anti-corrosive gas burner,
gilver mtdal.

Discretionary.

Jac='b Grosvenor, N Y, for a good hay press, diploma. James
Rodgers, N Y, for a register tor measuring the revoluiious of a
steam engine, silver medal. J Laidlaw, west 24th-street, near
10th avenue, for a protector gas metre, silver medal. Napoleon
Hayman, 59 Marion-street for bells and bell materials, diploma.
A W Gary, Brockport N Y, for a centrifugal pump, (a gold medal
having been before awarded) diploma. J B Gridley, N Y, for a
good bridge, diploma. Allen & Wells, N Y, for a cut-off, gold
medal. J D B Stiilman, N Y, for an improved harpoon, silver
medal. Pierce & Valentine, 122 Water-stjett, for a superior safe,
gold medal. T 1) Jackson, 65 Nassau-street, for a superior an-
nunciator, (a gold medal having been before awarded) diploma.

Minors^ Work.

Alex. C Heckert, Williamsbugh, L I, for a working model of a
steam engine, Webster's Dictionary.

494 [Assembly

manufacturers' articles — weavers' reeds, etc.
Judges — Alex Knox, P A Leonard, C. W. Crosley.

J A Gowdey & Son, Providence, R I, for superior weavers' reeds,
gold madal. A D Williams, Utica, NY, Andrews & Jessup, agents,
70 Pine-street, for the best wire harness, silver medal.

mathematical and philosophical instruments.
Judges— Aaron Piand, Daniel Pike, Wm. H. Ellet.

James Prentice, 315 Broadway, for the best mathematical in-
struments, gold medal. Fehrens & Albrecht, 139 Nassau-street,
for the second best mathematical instruments, silver medal. Gen-
nert & Holzke, 25 Maiden-lane, for the third best mathematical
instruments, diploma. Clias Copley, 159 Atlantic-street, Brook-
lyn, for fine specimens of globes, gold medal. Wm. Norton, 40
Fulton- street, for good thermometers, silver medal. P J Sherman,
158 William-street, for simple and convenient spirit levels, silver
medal. Henry Fitz, 237 Fifth-street, for the best acromatic teles-
cope; a gold medal having been before awarded ; diploma. A
Derne, 367 Pearl-street, for good spy and opera glasses, silver
medal. Ira S. Bullard, Geneva, N Y, for a good barometer, diplo-
ma. Dr Kinnie, I & L Houghton, agents, 38 Cedar-street, for a
good electric machine, diploma. Louis Dresches, 25 Division-
street, for a good electric machine, diploma. M Chichester, 109
Wall-street, for a wantage tube, diploma. G C Wcesman, 11
Spruce-street, for an excellent ship-carpenter's gauge, silver medal.

Minors^ Work.

B D F Wells, 237 Fifth-street, for an acromatic telescope, Ap-
pleton's Mechanics' Dictionary.

MUSICAL instruments. '

Judges— Wm L Bloomfield, Warren Hill, T S Shepherd.

A G Badger, 1^1 Broad\vay, for the best diatonic and beohm
flute, silver medal. J Jacobs, 100 Chatham-street, for the best
tamborine and banjo, diploma. Jacob Cohen, 20 West Broadway,
for the second best banjo, diploma. Jasper Godone, 403 Broad-
way, for superior music stands, diploma.

No. 133.1 495

NAV.*L ARCniTECTrr.E.

Judges — Wm Skiddy, Edward K Collins, C Vanderbilt.

D D Westervelt, Seventh-street, East river, for the Lest model
of a pilot boat, silver medal. Robert Underbill, 235 East Broad-
way, for a model of a }acht, diploma.

NEEDLEWORK, EMBROIDERY AKD FANCY ARTICLES.

Jiid2;cs— ^frs James R Smith, Miss A A Smith, Miss M Hamil-
ton, Mrs C M French.

Mrs Stonehill, 7 Division-street, for the bett case of ladies' bon-
nets, silver medal. Mrs Wm Simmons, 564, Brcadv/ay, for the
second best case of ladies' bonnets, diploma. Mrs Lyon Isaac, 5
Division. street, for the third best case of ladies' bonnets, diploma.
Miss Laura R Hazen, 220 Third-avenue, for a paper bonnet and
ti'imming, for originality and ingenuity, diploma. Miss Julia J
Marcet, 91 Orchard street, for beautiful floss silk embroidery, sil-
ver medal. Jane F Marshall, 67, Greenwich street, for the best
twisted iilk cjubroidery, diploma. Jas Schiess, 134 Spring street,
for a beautiful embroidered cambric handkerchief, silver medal.
Ximenia Hains, 123 West Twenty-eighth-street, for a black merino
shawl, embroidered to imitate fine cashrdere, silver cup or $10.
H 11 Easterbrook, Bristol, R I, for the best worsted embroidery
(picture of Washington), silver medal. Abigail S Howell, 098
Washington street, for the second best worsted work, diploma.
Viary O'Connor, corner Summit and Columbia-streets, Brooklyn,
for tlie third best worsted work, diploma. Miss Harmon, 12
Bond-street, for worsted embroidery, diploma.

Mrs Letitia Price, 216 Columbia street, Brookl} n, L I, for an
embroidered chair, the best landscape pattern, silver medal. Sis-
ters of Charity, Syracuse, for an embroidered chair, diploma. Mrs
Anna Stein, ISO Bowery, for a splendid piece of raised embroidery,
copied from nature, silver medal. Miss Blish, Delaware co, N J,
for the second best raised embroidery, excellent piece, well done,
diploma. Mrs J Wild, 109 Division street, for the third best raised
embr»idery, diploma. Miss M Hamilton, 12 Vand;:m street, for
the best bullion embroidery, silver medal. Miss A E Buys, 263
Atlantic street, Brooklyn, L I, for the second best bullion work

496 (Assembly

diploma. Misses Joel, 138 MacDongal street, for the best specimens
of crochet w^rk, silver medal. Miss H L Gilchrist, Charlestown,
N H, for the second best crochet work, diploma. C Linlierr, 293
Broadway, for the best hair w^ork, silver niodal. Eobert Link &
Brother, 181 Broadway, for excellent hair work, silver medal.
Mrs Sarah A Eeed, 8 Leroy street, for the best hair embroidery
and chenille work, silver medal. Mi?s Adah Peter, Syracuse, N
Y, for the second best chenille work, diploma. Chas Schikinger,
2 Rutger street, for a case of artificial flowers, diploma. Mrs E
Nott, 349 Hudson street, for the best basket of paper flowers, and
best wax fruit, silver medal. Mrs Van Skeeline, 381 Broadway,
for th3 second best paper flowers, diploma. W C Hickman, 44
Madison street, for the best shell flowers, diploma. Eliza Smith,
Brooklyn, L I, for the second best shell flowers, diploma. Miss E
Harris, 14 Bergen street, Brooklyn, L I, for the best wax flowers,
diploma. Mrs Morris, 89 Second street, for second best wax flow-
ers, diploma. Miss E Harris, 14 Bergen street, Broc-klyn, L I, for
the second best wax fruit, diploma. E E Webber, 136 East 21st
street, for two elegant workboxes, silver medal. Miss Adeline
Gardner, 189 East 85th street, for a fancy box and frame made of
leather, diploma. John N Genin, 214 and 51 G Broadv.ay, for a
case of fancy embroidered articles for children, gold medal.

Quilts.

Mrs Francis Hunt, 25 Hester street, for the best quilt, diploma.
Mrs Foster, Williamsburg, L I, for a quilt, diploma. Lucinda
Stinson, Williamsburg, L I, for a quilt, diploma. Emily Merrill,
276 Grand street, for the best knit spread, diploma. Mrs Miles
Cook, 104 Bridge street, Brooklyn, L I, for a knit spread, diplo-
ma. Miss N" W Purdy, Rye, N Y, for a white quilt, superior
workmanship, silver medal. Mrs Rosina Farrington, 114 Leroy
street, for a quilt, diploma.

Minor^s Work.

Second Ward Scliool, Williamsburg, L I, for a case of fancy
work, We])ster*s Dictionary. Mary A Wangler, 317 Second aven-
ue, for embroidery on perforated paper. Handbook of Needlework.

No. 133.] 497

PAPER HANGINGS, UPHOLSTE»Y, &C.

Judges. — J L Gratacap, Geo A Curtis, John W Miller.

Greaves Power, Brooklyn, L I, for the best varnished marble paper
hangings, silver medal. James Fackrell & Son, Planefield, N J,
for the best oak and marble paper hangings, silver medal. Robert
Graves, Brooklyn, L I, for the second best oak and marble paper
hangings, diploma. John Waters,' Fulton street, Brooklyn, L I,
for the best spring mattress, silver medal. Philip Neppard, 62
Vesey street, for the second best spring mattress, diploma. De-
meure Mauritz & Chatain, 53 Centre street, for the best spring bed
bottom, silver medal. Institution for the Blind, 8th avenue, E
Johnson, agent, for a well made hair mattress and cushion, silver
medal. Alfred R Philips, 58 Sullivan street, for a' beautiful spe-
cimen of work in hanging paper, silver medal. Eustace & Ebert,
189 Pearl street, for flocks for paper hanging manufacturers, sil-
ver medal. Edward Dixon, 26 West 14th street, for superior
curled hair and hair seating, silver medal.

PENMANSHIP AND GOLD PENS.

Judges. — W M V Williamson, Hiram Dixon, A B Clarke.

D F Brown, 64 Court street, Brooklyn, LI, for the best speci-
mens of off-hand commercial and ornamental penmanship, silver
medal. W A Dunlop, New Orleans, La, for the best specimens of
pen drawing, diploma. David Stanton, 39 Hester-street, for very
superior specimens of off-hand penmanship, diploma. Spencer &
Rendfll, 2 Maiden-lane, for the best specimens of gold pens; gold
medal having been before awarded, diploma.

PIANO-FORTES.

Judges — William Vincent Wallace, John Pychowski, Henry C
Watson.

Firth, Pond & Co, 1 Franklin-square, for an iron frame piano,
silver medal. Charles J Holder, 188 Spring-street, for a piano-
forte, silver medal. Geo Hews & Co, Boston, N P B Curtis, agent,
447 Broadway, for a piano-forte, diploma. T Gilbert & Co, Bos-
ton, Mass, Horace Waters, agent, 333 Broadway, for an -^olian
attachment, diploma. H B Horton & Co, Akron, Ohio, for a me-

[ Assembly No. 133.] 32

498 [Assembly

lodeon, silver medal. E D Warren, Boston, Mass, for a reed
organ, pedal notes, fine, silver medal.

PREP. OF NATURAL HISTORY.

John G Bell, 289 Broadway, for a superior case of stuifed birds,
silver medal.

SADDLERY, HARNESS, AND WHIPS.

Judges — John B Bull, Robert R Story, P Trainor.

Joseph Hawley, Newark, N J, for covered harness furniture^
silver medal. C P Caldwell, 170 Pearl-street, for a superior case
of whips, gold medal.

SHAWLS AND MOUSSELINE DE LAINES.

L W Duncan, Franklin, Essex county, N J, William Watson- &
Co, agents, 43 Exchange-place, for the best printed tvool shawls,
silver medal. Hamilton Woolen Company, Merriam, Brewer &
Co, agents, 34 Broad-street, N Y, and 25 Federal-street, Boston,
for the best printed de laines and cashmeres, gold medal. Wake-
field Mills, Germantown, Pa, G WCarlston, agent, 43 Cedar-st,for
the best woolen scarfs, silver medal. DunVan & Cunningham,
Franklin, N J, A H McCurdy, agent, 30 Broad-street, for printed
and embroidered long shawls, silver medal. Duncan & Co,
Franklin, N J, William Watson & Co, agents, 43 Exchange place,
for printed and embroidered long shawls, silver medal. Jas Roy
& Co, Watervliet, N Y, Hoyt, Tillinghast & Co, agents, 54 and 56
Broad-street, for the best plaid long shawls, silver medal. L W
Duncan, Franklin, N J, C W Mallard, agent, 77 Pine street, for
the second best printed wool shawls, diploma. Utica Globe Mills,
N Y, Hoyt, Tillinghast & Co, agents, 54 and 56 Broad-street, for
printed wool shawls, diploma. F J Mabbett, Jr, 77 Cedar-street,
for Sontag scarfs, diploma. B M Wild, New Brighton, Pa, for
embroidered woolen shawls, diploma.

SHIRTS.

Mrs R Van Houten, 83 Nassau-street, for the best shirt, silver
medal. J Agate, 256 Broadway, for the second best shirt, di-
ploma.

No. 133 ] 499

SIGN PAINTING.

Judges — C D Couenhoven, George W Fordham, Alex Brandon.

Hale & Co, 80 Nassau-street, for the best writing and enamel-
ing on glass, gold medal. Arthur T White, 147 Grand-street, for
the best sign lettering, diploma. Cramer k Christie, 50 Centre-
street, for the second best sign lettering, diploma.

Minor''s work.

Wm McCully, 86 Fulton-street, Brooklyn, L I, for the best sign
lettering, Webster's Dictionary. John G Quick, Brooklyn, L I,
for the second best sign lettering, Webster's Dictionary. J H Van
Norden, 118 Bedtord-street, for the best ornamental sign, Web-
ster's Dictionary.

RAW AND MANUFACTURED SILK.

Raw Silk.

Judges — Geo M Haywood, John W Chambers.

Miss Harriet Summy, Manheim, Pa., for the best twenty pounds
of reeled silk. Van Schaick premium of $10 and a bronze medal.
Miss Harriet Summy, Manheim, Pa, for the best bushel of Paphos
cocoons. Van Schaick premium of $5 and a bronze medal. Miss
Harriet Summy, Manheim, Pa, for the best bushel of peanut co-
coons. Van Schaick premium o^ $5 and a bronze medal.

Manufactured Silks.

Judges — A M Cameron, James Myers.

Jolin Ryle, Paterson, N J, for a beautiful specimen of sewing
silk, silver medal. John Ryle, Paterson, N J, for the best printed
silk handkerchiefs, silver medal. Shepherd & Howe, 36 Piue-st,
for tlie second best printed silk handkerchief, diploma. Newport
Silk Manufacturing Company, Newport, Ky, W T Jennings & Co,
agents, 223 Broadway, for superior silk vestings, silver medal.

SILVER PLATING.

Judges — Ralph J Anderton, John Jones.

Jackson & Miller, South Sixth-street, Williamsburgh, L I, for
plating on door knobs, diploma. Windle k Co, 56 Maiden-lane,
fbr the best electro plated castors and tea setts, silver medal.

500 [Assembly

Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Mass, Hitchcock & Co,
agents, 116 Brpadway, for the second best electro plated castors
and tea setts, diploma.

Minors^ Works.

Aaron Watson, 38 White-street, for superior plating on door
knobs, Webster's Dictionary. Geo. Self, 38 White-street, for supe-
rior plating on door knobs, Webster's Dictionary.

SILVER WARE.

Judges — Peter Van Ness, Wm Adams, J W Hughes.

James S Vancourt & Co, 83 Duane-street, for superior silver
ware, silver medal. Albert Coles & Co, 6 Liberty-place, for su-
perior silver ware, silver medal.

Minor's Work.

L H Lent, 62 Butler-street, Brooklyn, L I, for a silver trumpet
and cap, Webster's Dictionary.

STATIONERY AND PRINTING.

Judges — Geo C Morgan, Geo F Nesbitt, H Jeroliman.

Samuel Taylor, Easton, Pa, for superior slates, diploma. S
Spooner, 16 Greenwich-street, for superior typography, Boydell's
Shakspeare, silver medal. Laflin, Brothers, Herkimer, N Y,Bas-
sett, Aborn & Motley, agents, 35 Park Row, for admirable speci-
mens of blue and cream laid 4to post paper, gold medal. Chas.
Watson, Brooklyn, L I, for the best adhesive gum, silver medal,
J Wilson, Brooklyn, Nathan Lane & Co, agents, 69 Wall-street,
for the second best liquid gum, diploma. J & W McAdams,
Boston, Mass, for a pen lifter for ruling account books, silver me-
dal. Chas Williams, Goldsmith's Hall, Philadelphia, Pa, for the
best marble paper, diploma. John LSalisbury, 53 Liberty-street,
for labels for manufacturers, diploma. Stephen E Parrish, Canal
street, E B Clayton & Sons, agents, IGI Pearl street, for the best
seal and copying presses and stands, gold medal. Francis & Lou-
trell, 77 Maiden-lane, for the second best copying presses, diplo-
ma. H H Green, 123 Fulton-street, for specimens of book type,
diploma. J & W McAdams, Boston, Mass for elaborate speci-

No. 133.] 501

mens of blank book ruling, silver medal. A Demarest, N"o 1
Pine street, for the best seals and envelopes, diploma. J 0 Flyn,
100 Nassau- street, for illuminated envelopes, diploma. Hamil-
ton & Co, 15 St Peter's-place, for specimens of card printing, di-
ploma.

STOVES, FURNACES, GRATES AND RANGES.

Cooking Sieves and Ranges.

Judges — Joseph P Simpson, C Rikeman.

John T Budd, 6 Horatio street, for the best range, silver medal.
Chilson, Richardson & Co, 374 Broadway, for the second best
range, diploma. T Southard, 233 Water street, fcr the best coal
cooking stov^es, silver medal. Warren, Sweetland & Co, Cresent,
Saratoga county, N Y, for the second best coal cooking stove, di-
ploma. A C Barston, Providence, R I, for the best wood cooking
stove, silver medal. Dutee, Arnold & Co, Providence, R I, for
the second best wood cooking stove, diploma.

Stoves for Warmingj and Hot Air Furnaces.
Judges — John Hecker, Hiram A Norris, Horatio D Sheppard.

D Culver, 52 Cliff street, for the best hot air furnace, gold me-'
dal. Chilson, Richardson & Co, 374 Broadway, for the second
best hot air furnace, silver medal. Bliss & Langley, 239 Water-
street, for the third best hot air furnace, diploma. J M Thatcher,
211 Water street, for the best portable hot air furnace, silver
medal. N A Boynton, Boston, Mass, Chilson, Richardson & Go,
agents, 374 Broadway, for the second best portable hot air fur-
nace, diploma. Gardner Chilson, Boston, Mass, Chilson, Richard-
son k Co, agents, 374 Broadway, for the third best portable hot
air furnace, diploma. Warren, Sweetland & Co, Crescent, Sarato-
ga county, N Y, Hopkins, Duff & Butler, agents, 235 Water-street,
for the best parlor stove, silver medal, ^m Quinyer, 59 and 61
avenue C, tor a porcelain stove, diploma. Joseph D Andrews,
210 Water street, for the best hall and oflSce stoves, silver medal.
Chilson, Richardson & Co, for the second I^est hall and office
stove, diploma. D Culver, 52 Cliff-street, for an extensive dis-
play of plain and ornamental registers, and a pedestal register^.

502 [Assembly

silver medal, Chilsou, Richardson & Co, 374 Broadway, for ele-
gant enamelled, polished, and japanned registers, diploma.

GRATES.

Judges. — Jordan L Mott, James R Walter.

W & N Jackson & Sons, 238 Front-street and 891 Broadway, for
the best grates, gold medal.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Judges. — D M Reese, M D, C R Gilman, M D, J M Carnochan,
M. D.

J M Sanderson, 3 Barclay-street, for the best truss, gold medal.
Palmer & Co, Springfield, Mass, for the best artificial leg ; a gold
medal having been before awarded, diploma. Nicholay k Faber,
66 Lispenard-street, for an artificial leg, for its aptitude and econ-
omy, and adapted to the poor, silver medal. Wm C Stone & Co,
201 Washington-street, Boston, Mass, for the second best artificial
leg, silver medal. John S Drake, 10 46th street, for the third
best artificial leg, diploma. Benj. Welch, Salisbury, Conn, Rush-
ton & Clark, agents, 277 Broadway, for splints, &c, silver medal.
Wm S Thomas, Norwich, Chenango co, N Y, JiBartlett, agent, 71
Nassau-street, for meritorious cupping instruments, diploma.

TRUNKS AND CARPET BAGS.

Judges. — J Johnson, John Black.

P Trainor, 378 Broadway, for the best travelling trunks, silver
medal. John Belgrame, 234 Church-street, for the 2d best travel-
ling trunk, diploma.

TOBACCO.

Judges. — Jas R Smith, Wm Ebbitt.

Simeon B Williams, Cincinnati, Ohio, for excellent chewing to-
bacco, diploma.

AVIGS.

Judges. — Wm Dibblee, Julien Pierron, Frederick Gibbins, J A
Pazzoni.

minor's work.

John Mooney, 439 for a wig, a fine piece of work, Webster^s
Dictionary.

No. 133."| 503

WOOD TURNING.

Judges. — Saml. Shardlow, Francis Wolif.

Mead & Pope, 41 Hester-street, for a stove pattern, silver medal.
Wm Gardner, 19 Canal-street, for a superior specimen of oval
turning, silver medal, J H Doughty, 387 Grand-street, for a spe-
cimen of turning, diploma.

WOOLEN GOODS.

Judges —Henry Sheldon, J W Corlies, W H Scofield, Jas B
Parsons.

Vassalboro' co, Yassalboro', Francis Skinner & Co, agents, for
the best black cassimere, gold medal. Alpheus Morse, Eaton
N Y, John Slade k Co, agents, 18 Broad-street, for the second best
black cassimere, silver medal. Millville Manufacturing Co, L S
Bush & Co, agents, 32 Broad-street, for the best fancy cassimeres,
gold medal. Edward Seagrave, Blackstone, Mass, McCurdy,
Aldrich & Spencer, agents, 30 Broad-street for the second best
fancy cassimeres, siver medal.

Evans & Seagrave, Blackstone, Mass, McCurdy, Aldrich & Spen-
cer, agents, 30 Broad street, for the third best fancy cassimeres,
diploma. Hockanum Co, Kockville, Conn, Willard & Wood,
agents, 40 and 42 Broad street, for the best black satinet, gold
medal. L Bassett & Co, Lee, Mass, Willard & Wood, agents, 40
and 42 Broad street, for the 2d best satinet, silver medal. Cha-
pin & Root, Albany, N. Y., Bowers & Beeckman, agents, 33 Broad
street, for the third best satinet, diploma. Dexter Manufactur-
ing Co, Pleasant Valley, John Slade & Co, agents, 13 Broad street,
for the best Beaver cloth, gold medal. Oriskany Manufacturing
Co, Oriskany, N. Y., John Slade k Co, agents, 13 Broad street, for
the second best beaver cloth, silver medal. GienvilleCo,GrenvilIe,
Conn, S L Bush, & Co, agents, 32 Broad street, for the best felt
beaver cloth. gold medal. Trumbull, Bloodgood k Co, Essex, N
J, Hoyt, Tillinghast k Co, agents, 54 Broad street, for the second
best beaver cloth, silver medal. Auburn Woolen Co, Auburn,
N Y, Bowers & Bc-eckm^n, agents, 33 Broad street, for black
cloth, silver medal. G L Harding, Mass, Francis Skinner & Co,
39 Bread street, for doe skin cassimeres, gold medal. S Black-
ini;ton, North Adams, Mass, McCurdy, Aldrich k Spencer, agents,
30 Broad street, for union cassimeres, diploma. Haile k Todd

504 [Assembly

Hillsdale, N H, McGregor, Timpson & Co, agents, 47 Broad
street, for cashmerettes, silver medal. Black Woolen Co, Wa-
tertowu, N Y, Bovvers & Beeckman, agents, 33 Broad street, for
sheep's gray cassimeres, diploma. Mystic Co, Mystic, Conn, Wil
lard k Woods, agents, 40 Broad street, for colored merino cloth,
gold medal. Ballard Vale Co, Andover, Mass, John Slade k Co,
agents, 13 Broad street, for the best silk warp flannel, gold medal.
G H Gilbert, Ware, Mass, Dale & Wright, agents, 24 Broad street,
for the second best warp flannel, silver medal, C A Stevens,
Ware, Mass, Dale & Wright, agents, 24 Broad street, for the best
■white flannel, gold medal. G H Gilbert, Ware, Mass, Dale &
Wright, agents, 24 Broad street, for the 2d best white flannel,
silver medal. Rochdale Mills, Rochester, N H, Nesraith & Co,
agents, 52 Broad street, tor superior woolen blankets, gold me-
dal. Salisbury Manufacturing Co, Salisbury, Conn, John Slade
& Co, agents, 13 Broad street, for silk warp tweed, gold medal.
Dorastus Kellogg, Skaneateles, N Y, Bowers & Beeckman, agents,
33 Broad street, lor tweed, silver medal. 0 W Gardner, Boston,
Mass, for woolen yarn, silver medal. J J Hinchmann, & Co, 53
Cedar street, for the best woolen hosiery, silver medal.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Judges — Jas R Smith, Wm Hall, Wm Ebbitt, B Aycrigg, Jos.
Cowdin, Edwin Smith, J A Bunting.

Lois Lucet, 67 Canal street, for a specimen of bronzing, a silver
medal having been before awarded, diploma. Alex Young, 41st
street, between 2d and 3d avenues, for the best ornamental terra
cotta, a gold medal having been before awarded, diploma. Ed-
ward Roche, West 12th street, between 9th and 10th avenues, for
2d best ornamental terra cotta, silver medal. Ambrose Tellier,
cor 54th street and 3d avenue, for terra cotta statuary, diploma.
Wm Webb, 34 Allen street, for the best caudle moulds, silver
medal. Farr & Briggs, 30 Rector street, for the second best can-
dle moulds, diploma. Zelotis Dickenson, 94 Wall street, fur spe-
cimens of oil stone, silver medal. C H Platts, 20 Willow Place,
Brooklyn, L I, for patent blocks, silver medal. John Dick, 209
Crutre street, for an oak carved frame, diploma. R Seybold, 293
Rivingston street, for an alarm money drawer, diploma. G W
Gorum, 163 Water street, for the best enameled cloth, silver me-

No. 133.] 505

dal. R Wanmaker, Lodi, N J, for the second best enameled cloth,
diploma. R Montgomery, Hempstead, L I, for a coil of hide rope,
silver medal. H Goldsmith, 311 Broadway, for a portable water
closet, diploma. John E Purser, Biooklyn, L I, for a wreck life
preserver, diploma. Putnam Hose Co, New York, for a hose cart,
diploma. Engine Co. No. 32, for a fire engine, diploma. Lee &
Co, 309 Bleecker street, for superior gauze window shades, a sil-
ver medal having been before awarded, diploma. Black & Gramm,
corner Canal and Centre streets, for German silver gilt mould-
ings, silver medal. Abner Reed, New York, for a guide to pen-
manship, diploma. J B Hyde, Sfapleton, S I, G 0 Jones, agent,
162 Fulton street, for Person's pocket medal calendar, diploma.
L Brandeis & Co, 11 Cedar street, for bronze powder, diploma.
J Lane, 191 6th avenue, for a fireman's certificate frame, diploma.
C Cable & Sons, Poughkeepsie, N Y, for soda and mineral waters,
diploma. American Union Boot, Shoe and Leather Manufactur-
ing Co, for brogans, silver medal. Montgomery Queen, Brooklyn
for a large and well arranged omnibuSj diploma.

TOTAL PREMIUMS.

Gold medals, 90

Silver medals, 320

Silver cups, 121

Diplomas, 335

Books, 174

Cash premiums :

Van Schaick, $20, and 3 bronze medals.

Cattle, 48

Fireworks, 175

INDEX.

Page.

Addresses, 180,183

Anniversary, 183

Opening, 180

Agricultural Books in the Library of the Institute, 210

Agriculture of California, , 343

Alexandre's Sub-Marine Vessel, 86

American Labor, its necessities and prospects, 183

Turkey, 152,168

Anemone, 249

Apiacese Umbilifers, 325

ApocynacecB or dog banes, 337

Appleworts, 316

Asparagus, 243

Aster, 249

Beets, 225

Books on agriculture in the library of the Institute, 210

presented by M. Alexandre Vattemare, 1 50

Botanical learning as to beets, 222

carrots, parsnips, &c., 223

Calceolaria, 250

Celery, 243,325

Chicory or Succory, 358

Chrysanthemum, 247

Clover, 236,251 ,270

Coffee, its cultivation in the U. S., 266

Culture of the grape, 143

508 [Assembly

Page.

Dale's process of making cheese, 140

Disease of the potato, 257,320,328,363

Devoe's letter in relation to fat cattle, 142

Dixon's anniversary address at the 25th annual fair, 183

Eleventh annual report of the trustees, 8

Experiment with manures on wheat crops, 316

Fabacese, 336

Farms, reports on, 41

R. B. Coleman's, 45

E. H. Kimball's, 41

J. J. Mapes's 49

Lewis Morris's 54

Peter Pirnie's. . . , .- 70

Henry Robinson's 59

Jas. J. Scofield's 64

Thos. Shillingsford's 68

Financial condition of the Institate, 12

Fleischm^ann's work on foreign grapes, 143

Fossil trees of Australia, 243

Future wealth of America, 263

Genera and species of plants known as late as 1846, 340

Giraud's statement of crops, 135

Gold bearing quartz, 132

Goodrich's new potatoes, 402

Grass in England, 220

Hyacinth, 248

Indian corn, 135, 296

Indigo, 265

Insects injurious to crops, 315

vegetation, ; 423

International exchanges, 149

Jack fruit, 264

Japan or Japon, 385

No. 133.1 509

Pag«.

Japan pea, 389,404

Johnson, Gen Jeremiah, biography of, 81

Kent's statement, seed potatoes from Callao, 235

Lentil, 274

Logaiiiaca^ , 337

Machinery at the 25th annual fair, 91

Aiken's saw sets, 107

Bruen's wrought iron planing cylinder, 98

Brundred's patent throstle, 96

Cast steel geared rollers, 05

Cochran's quartz crushing machine, , 91

Davis' dovetailing macTiine, 98

Dick's anti-friction cheese press, 103

Gee's bottling machine, 101

G Wynne's centrifugal balance pump, 104

Hawes' counting house calendar clock, 104

Hubbard's carriage gearing, 108

Hydrostatic regulator, 109

Lathe for conical work, 110

Machine for paging account books, 94

Mowing and reaping machines, 93

Notarial and copying presses, 9Q

Perry's paper cutter, 99

Powell's macliine for cutting bolts and nuts, ... 109

Manufactures at the 25th annual fair, Ill

American statuary marble, 130

Blank book binding, 123

Boots and shoes, 117

Carpeting, Ill

Carriages, sleighs, and axles, 125

Cloaks and mantillas, 1 1(5

Cotton fabrics, 113

Edge tools, 122

Fireworks, 133

Globes, 124

Grain and grass scythes, 122

Grates and fenders, 121

Hats, caps, and furs, 118

510 [Assembly

Pag«.

Leather, 117

Linen and linen thread, 112

Marbled iron, 131

Ready made clothing and shirts, .* 115

Silk, 113

Silver gilt mouldings, 123

Straw hats and bonnets, 118

Telescopes, 119

Woolen fabrics, Ill

Zinc paint, 129

Meigs's address at tlie 25th annual fair, 180

Mushrooms, 244

New plants, 400

Officers and trustees of the Institute, 1852, '53, 3

Operations of fertilizers, . . « 433

Osier willow, 328, 362

Paulownia iraperialis, 384, 416

Pelargonium, 249

Pell on the forest trees of America, o 405

Physiology and fertilizers of plants, 437

Plants of antiquity compared with the modern, 392

Potato, 240, 402

bug, 302

disease, and the bean malady, 320

rot, 363

Premiums awarded at the cattle show, 1852, 451

in the agricultural and horticultural departments, 461

manufactures and mechanical department,. 473

on farms, market gardens, and field crops, 461

Preparation of seed for planting, 231

Preserved vegetables, 396

Prize for an artificial manure, 321

Proceedings of theFarmers' Club, 219, 449

Subjects American madder, 376

Carrots and Parsnips, 231

Clover, , ... 251

Culture and preparation of Sumach, 426

Disease of the potato, 297

No. 133.] 511

Page.

Forest trees, 391 ,405

Mules, 257 ,260

Native grasses, 2G9

New seeds and flowers, 345

Preserved fruits and vegetables, 305 ,371

Progress of the growth of plants, 433

Ray's premiums, 76

Report of the Committee on Agriculture, 41

Horticulture, 28

Ray's Premiums, 76

Managers 25th Annual Fair, 13

Trustees, 7

on oxen of G. F. Hastings, 79

Pirsson's double vacuum steam condenser, 74

the stone dressing and polishing machines, 73

Ribbon grass, 279

Seed potatoes from Callao, 235

Selecting soils for analysis, 148

Shade trees, 336

Size and age of trees, , 392

Smith's mode of preserving fruit, 371

Solidified milk, 387

Stereotype plates made of gutta percha, 124

Sub-soiling, 251

Taber's short-horn bull " Back-woodsman," 134

Tea, cultivation of in the U. S., 263

Tobacco in Oswego Co., N. Y., 147

Tomato figs, , 132

Transactions of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society,. . . 322

Translations by Henry Meigs,

Artichoke, 337

Carrots and parsnips, 229

Dahlia, 246

Dandelion, 231

Eflfects of oxygen in accelerating germination, 381

Expeditious growth of cucumbers, 401

Lettuce, 230

Longevity of seeds, 339

512 [Assembly

Mules, 255

New fruits and plants, 334 ,3G1 ,400

Physiology of the earth, 226

Potato from Mexico, 316

Wheat, 280

Trifolura, trefoil, the three leaved grass, : 238

Van Wyck, on the American wild and tame turkey, 1 53 , 168

Vitality of seeds, « , , . , 357

Water cress, 244

Wheat from a mummy, 394

Wild berries, 225

Wool from Virginia, 1 30

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of Gen. Jeremiah Johnson, « „ . Frontispiece.

Alexandre's sub-marine vessel, ; , 86

Cochran's quartz crushing machine, 91

Mc Adams's machine for paging books, (3 cuts,) . , 94

Brundred's patent throstle, 97

Davis's dovetailing machine, 98

Gee's bottling machine, 101

Dick's anti-friction cheese press, 103

Hawes's counting-house calendar clock, (2 cuts,) 104

Gwynne's centrifugal balance pump, (4 cuts,) 105

Hubbard's carriage gearing, 108

Jackson's grates and fenders, 121

Copley's globes, 125

Taber's short-horn bull " Back- woodsman," 134

Tui'kies, American Tame, 1 53

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