382 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



space of six or ten inches, were saved by tliis method, and now 

 they rank with the best in the orchard. This wash should pre- 

 vent the mice gnawing trees. 

 Adjourned. 



March 12, 1867. 



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



The chairman read a letter from Mr. D. W. Whiting, Pacific, 

 Franklin county, Mo., twenty-five miles southwest of St. Louis. 

 The region is described as producing all kinds of grain and in 

 particular fruit. Mineral lands yielding iron and lead can be had 

 cheai). Still, farming is at a low ebb, as many farmers buy pota- 

 toes and other vegetables in St. Louis. Eastern men would do 

 well tliei'e to raise such things for market. A sample of tobacco 

 accompanied the letter, which was very fine. It took a premium 

 at the St. Louis Fair of a silver pitcher Avorth $300, and besides 

 sold for six dollars a pound. 



Mr. A. G. Bisbee, Chester Cross Roads, Ohio, sent grafts of 

 very choice apples, which were distributed among the members. 



Growing White Pine. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker read a letter from Mr. Eben Clark, Haver- 

 hill, Mass., inquiring where the seed of the white pine can be 

 bought, how it should be planted, and at what time. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — The seed is sold at all large seed stores, 

 but a majority die during the first year. It is a good way to sow 

 broadcast with oats or some other grain, that they may have shade. 



Hen Manure. 



A correspondent in Brooklyn inquired how best to use hen 

 manure. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — It should be mixed with some fertil- 

 izer to absorb the ammonia. Plaster is as good as auj'thing. 



Mr. J. C. Thompson, Staten Island. — Plaster costs money. 

 Ordinary dry soil, the dryer the better, will a))sorb tbe ammonia, 

 and it can be applied on the surface, to the hills, or broadcast. 

 It is as good as any guauo. 



Dr. Peck — I have experimented ten years in composting strong 



• ;i I first put in solution, and when I use night soil I add 



half of muck or common soil, and I make poudrette at a cost of 



fifty cents a barrel. Make a trench two feet deep near running 



