146 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



than one-sixteenth of an inch, at the surface of the charcoal, and 

 can be readily removed. 



Mr. Pardee mentioned the success of Mr. Miller, at Seneca 

 Falls, in raising native grapes of at least twenty varieties. So 

 at Utica, fine native grapes are grown. 



Mr. Fuller. — I went over to Southern Illinois, expecting to find 

 it a good place for grapes ; but I found the same trouble they 

 find in Philadelphia. It was neither north nor south. One year 

 it would be a southern climate, and the next year a northern 

 climate. Every year or two the Avarm April days would start 

 the vines, and the frosts of May would kill the shoots. Plants 

 are sometimes killed at Philadelphia, or in Georgia even, that 

 will stand the New York climate. 



Mr. Robinson mentioned that he had known the oak tree to be 

 killed in Georgia by frosts in April. 



Mr. Steele. — I noticed in Richmond, two years ago, that their 

 best grapes were brought from Cincinnati. 



The Cliairman. — It depends more upon the altitude than any- 

 thing else. In the warmer climates, go upon the hills and these 

 difficulties will all be avoided. In Northern Tennesee, upon hills 

 2,000 feet above the level of the ocean, tliey sometimes have not 

 a particle of frost, while the corn is killed to the ground in the 

 valleys, 1,500 feet below them. 



Subject for discussiofi. — The subject of " The fruits of the sea- 

 son," was selected for discussion at the next meeting. 



Adjourned. 



September 9, 1862. 



Prof. Cyrus Mason in t]\e chair. 



The Chairman stated that he had just completed revising the 

 yearly volume of the Transactions of the American Institute, 

 and had found that their contribution to the public enlightenment 

 consisted primarily in the Proceedings of the Farmers' Club, and 

 secondarily in the Proceedings of the Polytechnic Association. 

 In the progress of the age, the newspaper has cofeie nearly to 

 supercede all other modes of diffusing intelligence among man- 

 kind. While in former years the annual exhibitions of the Ame- 

 rican Institute have presented hundreds of novelties to public 

 notice, the newspaper is now anticipating them through the weekly 



