PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 125 



the entire surface for four or five feet on each side of the body of 

 the trees was not plowed more than one or tM^o inches deep. The 

 earth was kept mellow and free from weeds l)y the use of hand 

 hoes, and none of the secondary roots were mutilated if it could 

 be prevented. The result was trees of every kind grew much 

 more rapidly than they otherwise would have done had all the 

 secondary roots been cut off with the plow. 



Gas-House Lime. 



Gen, Butterfield, New York, Avrites : "What is the value of gas- 

 lime for agricultural purposes ? The question appears to be a 

 mooted one." 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — Gas-house lime, when first thrown out, is 

 worse than useless for a farmer — it destroys, rather than fertilizes 

 the plants. The only way to make it available is to expose it for 

 a long time to the atmosphere — at least four or six months. 

 Spread out a few inches thick, and turn over and over several 

 times, that it may be thoroughly aired and washed by the rains. 

 Then take it in time of a drouth, when in a condition of dry 

 powder, and apply it to the land, or store it in a very dry place 

 for future use, in the same way, and for the same purpojcs you 

 would gypsum. It will not pay to haul it far and put it through 

 these manipulations, where plaster and pure lime are as cheap as 

 in most parts of this countr}-. 



Protecting Young Grape Vines. 

 Mr. Wm. Smith, Newfield, Ind.: "Last fall I piled up the soil 

 among my young grape vines, a foot high, to protect them through 

 the winter, having lost several the year before. They were found, 

 when uncovered this spring, in a very healthy condition." 



Sheet Iron Chair Bottoms. 

 A newly patented chair bottom was then exhibited to the club. 

 It is constructed of sheet iron, varnished yellow, and not easily 

 distinguished by appearance from the cane bottom. They may 

 be fitted to seats of any shape or size, and furnished at half the 

 expense of ordinary cane seats. They are made by the Tice Manu- 

 facturing Company, 110 East Twenty-ninth street. New York. 



Thompson's Portable Fence. 



A model of a patent portable fence was then exhibited by the 

 inventor. 



