374 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Pear Trees on Mountain Ash Eoots. 



Mr. John St. John, Elkhoin, Wis. — A letter was read from this 

 gentleman descrihiiig a pear orchard growing on this stock and 

 doing remarbably well. Quince stocks are not hardy in that 

 otats. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — This method has been tried here and 

 failed. The root of no tree is so much subject to attacks by the 

 borer as the mountain ash. The white thorn would be a better 

 stock, l)ut it is not worth much. The quince certainly does well 

 in Illinois. 



Poultry. 



Mrs. Sarah Brown, N. Y., stated that she had a farm, and wished 

 to know how many fowls can l)e profitably kept on a place, what 

 are the best methods in caring for them, and what kinds should 

 one select. 



Dr. Peck. — Much will de^jend on circumstances. The business 

 is uncertain. Some few have succeeded, while the majority have 

 failed. A colored man, near Newburgh, used to make $1,000 a 

 year from his poultry, but how he did it I do not know. 



Mr. R. J. Pardee. — I used to get eggs at a cost of four cents a 

 dozen. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith. — A gentleman, near Boston, put 1,000 hens 

 on an island, fed them well and took the utmost care of them, but 

 he never got an egg; all but five or six died, and he was nearly 

 ruined by persisting in his experiment. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — I keep about seventy, and am very 

 successful. Thev have laid all winter. I jjrant that much care 

 and knowledge are required. I provide boxes of dry ashes for 

 them to roll in ; this kills lice. I have known hens to die with 

 lice when they had all the corn they wanted. I give vegetables, 

 fresh meat, &c. 



Mr. E. Baldwin said he had been equally successful ; his hens 

 had laid all winter. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker. — While there is such a difference iu results, 

 it would seem necessary to have an institution where the science 

 of making hens do well could be taught. My experience is that 

 ten hens are more profitable than any larger number. Perhaps 

 we might know more if we had a hen collejre. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn moved that the subject be laid over for discus- 

 sion next Tuesday. 



