PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 247 



very rough piece of carpenter work and thus make a beautiful 

 picture frame. When arranged in a portfolio, they also afford 

 pleasant amusement and instruction to children and often to adults. 



Mr. Solon Robinson said that he had lately seen it stated that 

 leaves could be prepared by some cheap process which would make 

 them almost as tough as leather, and asked George Bartlett, who 

 is a practical chemist, if this process was practicable. 



Mr. George Bartlett said that parchment paper, which strongly 

 resembles that made of skins, is made by soaking writing paper in 

 diluted sulphuric acid. He thought the same process would pro- 

 bably toughen the leaves. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker thought the plan would restore one of the 

 lost arts, as he had read of garments made of fig leaves at a very 

 early period of the world's history. 



A lady member suggested that the sulphuric acid would impair 

 the brilliant colors of the leaves. 



Mr. Solon Robinson replied that even though this did occur, if 

 they could be made tough by the cheap process of steeping them 

 in dilute sulphuric acid, the process would make them useful for 

 many purposes ; for instance, take some of the large sized leaves, 

 like those of sycamore, balm of Gilead, grape, or even burdock, 

 and they could be used in place of cotton to make cheap, warm 

 comforters for the beds of the poor. Adjourned. 



October 30, 180(). 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair; John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



Seeds from Beazil. 

 Dr. Joseph Cooper, Reinhardt, Campinas, Brazil, sends a variety 

 of seeds grown in that country, which may prove useful, particu- 

 larly that of the "fat grass." He says "if that will not stand 

 the frost of the North, I hope it will flourish in some part of the 

 Southern States, and be useful to those of our beligerent brethren 

 who are turning their swords into plowshares. The botanical 

 name is Tristegos Glutinous^ two varieties, red and white. Another 

 of the kinds of seed sent is DoUchus Tuberosus, which is exten- 

 sively cultivated in some parts of Brazil for the tuberous roots, 

 sometimes obtaining the weight of fifty pounds and more. These, 

 eaten raw, are considered wholesome and cooling. They are also 

 grated and used instead of the cocoa nut for a kind of sweetmeat. 



