338 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



]\Ir. N. C. jMeeker. — The true remedy for farmers is to have 

 mills and grind their own grain. A family of seven persons will 

 conisumc ten barrels of flour in a 3'ear. The cost of going to mill 

 and the toll, at present prices, is fully one-half, or $75 a year; 

 hence, a mill Avill more than half pay for itself the lirst year. But 

 shoidd it do no more than a quarter, it will be a good investment. 

 There is not the least doubt but the quality of flour will be supe- 

 rior to that generally in use. 



Eaely Potatoes. 

 Mr. C. Taber, Brooklyn, L. I. : To get new potatoes a fortnight 

 in advance of those planted in the open ground, however early, 

 take shallow boxes of any convenient size — starch or soap boxes 

 may be sawed so as to make two, four to six inches deep. Spread an 

 inch of fine manure on the bottom, then an inch of dirt, on which 

 the single e3'es or small pieces of potatoes are laid, ej^es upward, 

 about two inches apart over the surface, and cover with two inches 

 of soil. Prepare these boxes from the iirst to the middle of 

 March, keep them in a moderately cool place for a week, then 

 place in a warm room, watering as needful, and giving as much 

 sunshine and air as possible, avoiding frosts. They may be set 

 out of doors every pleasant day, and l)y the time the weather is 

 suitable for planting they will have strong stalks several inches 

 high. To transplant, remove the bottom, raise the sides, and cut 

 through the mass, taking out two inch squares with the potato 

 and principal roots, and when set out there is scarcely a check to 

 their growth. 



To Fix Pencil Writing. 



Mr. C. Taber : " For this discovery I am indebted to the Rev. 

 L. L. Langstroth of bee notoriety. His ."well-fllled memorandum 

 book containing peucilings of years, attested its durability. It is 

 simply to breathe upon or otherwise moisten the page as soon as 

 •written, and when dry the lines can scarcely be erased. Let any 

 one write l)oth ways on the same paper and note the difference. 

 Passing the moistened tongue over the writing more eflectually 

 fixes it, making it nearly as durable as ink." 



The regular suliject "Farm Work in Spring," -was then taken 

 up. 



Mr. W. S. Carpenter read the following interesting article touch- 

 ing the subject of the commencement of farming operations in the 

 spring of the year: 



