PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 139 



between the rows with a fork loosening the earth so that the 

 water shall at once sink beneath the surface ; and after the rain 

 he loosens the surface with the rake. He recommends in plant- 

 ing potatoes, &c., upon hill-sides to riiake the rows as nearly level 

 as practicable, so that the water may sink into the earth instead 

 of being conducted down the hill. 



Mr. Fuller remarked that an occasional drought is necessary, 

 and he believed the drought of this summer had been of great 

 benefit to the country in destroying the different varieties of fun- 

 gus. All 'the cryptogamous plants seem to have been destroyed 

 this year. There is no mildew upon the grape vines or in the 

 ground. An immense amount of seeds of such plants must have 

 been destroyed this year. 



Dr. Trimble said that the same remark would apply to the 

 larvse of insects. By experiment he had ascertained that the 

 larv£e of the curculio would not be perfected in the absence of 

 moisture. 



UNRIPE SEEDS. 



Mr. Burgess also exhibited young tomato plants, produced, as 

 he supposed from the seed of tomatoes pickled green and remain- 

 ing in the brine all winter. They came up thickly wherever the 

 brine was put, while in the rest of his garden there were only a 

 few in a place, in scattered patches. 



Mr. Carpenter said that he presumed some of the tomatoes 

 must have matured their seed before being put in the pickle. 



Mr. Burgess maintained that wheat cut Avhen the milk can be 

 pressed out from it will make the strongest stalk. 



Mr. Carpenter. — There is vitality enough in the stalk to mature 

 the grain. 



Mr. Robinson suggested that in this case the seed were not 

 separated from the tomato, and might be ripened in the same 

 way. 



Mr. Burgess had planted the seed from a green cucumber, and 

 obtained a premium for the cucumbers produced. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Mr. Burgess exhibited a sweet scented verbena, and a petunia 

 with a green-edged corolla. 



Mr. Fuller, in answer to an inquiry, stated that seeds and 

 plants to be sent to South America must be put up dry. There 

 will be moisture enough in hot latitudes condensing upon them, 

 however tightly they may be packed. 



