PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 113 



FRUITS AND PO'JrATOES. 



Mr. Carpenter exhibited Austin strawberries, sent by J. 0. 

 Thompson, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, and also from Water- 

 vliet. The former were in bunches, many of which were green 

 and small, showing that they were not yet exhausted. Also, 

 specimens of Johnson's seedling gooseberries, of which fifty- 

 three weigh a pound, and worth over four dollars per bushel, 

 sent by Mr. Thompson. Also, specimens of the Downing 

 seedling gooseberry, which he did not consider an improve- 

 ment. Also, a choice seedling gooseberry, of excellent fla- 

 vor. Also, the Prince Albert currant, of good flavor and very 

 late. Also, the Brinkle's Orange and Belle de Fontenay rasp- 

 berries, the former especially adapted to family use, both for 

 quality and productiveness. Also, a raspberry sent by Mr. F. A. 

 Henry, from Western Pennsylvania, represented by Mr. Henry as 

 being a superior berry, but which he suspected had been over- 

 rated. 



The Chairman. — Nearl}^ all these fruits degenerate when you 

 undertake to transfer them from the mountains to lower levels. 



Mr. Carpenter also exhibited varieties of potatoes. The Early 

 Algiers, supposed to be a choice seedling, he regarded as an im- 

 provement in early potatoes. It cooks as dry and mealy as pota- 

 toes in September. Pell's seedling gave a successful result, being 

 taken from the ground in YO days, although then not fully grown. 

 The Dykeman potato, now generally planted in this vicinity, is 

 not equal to the Early Algiers in quality, and will not produce 

 within one-third as much to the acre. 



Mr. Gale exhibited cherry currants raised by Mr. Hite, some 

 of which measured more than one inch in circumference. They 

 are cultivated upon a horizontal trellis, the upright shoots being 

 cut down to within half an inch of the branch. The grape he 

 cultivates in the same way. A pear tree pruned upon the same 

 general system has upon it a pear growing out of the body of the 

 tree within twelve inches from the ground. The peach tree he 

 has commenced to treat upon the same system. The gooseberry 

 also he prunes upon the same system, and has no mildew. 



Mr. Pardee. — He is only following the instructions of the 

 books. 



[Am. Inst.] H 



