- PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 181 



the large potatoes are the earliest, but the reason. They mature 

 the quickest. As to large or small potatoes for seed, there is not 

 an iota of difference, provided the small potato is as ripe as the 

 large one. The small potatoes are generally immature, and that 

 is the reason why they do not so soon send out shoots, or so well 

 support them as the large potatoes. 



Mr. Carpenter. — Where the majority of the potatoes of a crop 

 are large, would you plant the small ones ? 



Mr. Robinson. — No ; but there are cases where the farmer 

 knows that the small potatoes are ripe, and just as perfect as the 

 large potatoes, if not more so. Then why not plant them ? Why 

 will they not produce just as good a crop as large potatoes ? 



Mr. E. Henry. — This year peach blows planted by the side of 

 Mercers, stood the drought much better. 



Mr. John E. Bergen. — I do not think it is always so ; but the 

 peach blow being longer lived may have out-lived the drought. 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



Rev. Mr. Weaver exhibited a large bouquet of Chrysanthemums, 

 grown by Mr. Richardson, of Fordham. They had been subject- 

 ed to several severe frosts, but had not suffered from them. 



Mr. Fuller. — There is no trouble about keeping them all winter 

 in dry ground without covering, although it is better to throw 

 enough litter over them to shade them, and prevent the ground 

 from freezing and thawing. Frost does not seem to trouble 

 them. Chrysanthemums are apt to run back to single flowers if 

 not kept under high cultivation. The best way to guard against 

 that is to grow them from cuttings every year. The cuttings 

 strike easily, and this Avill keep the flowers in perfection. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I have no trouble about keeping the Chrysan- 

 themum through the winter. If it is allowed to grow at random 

 it becomes a straggling bush. I find it well to nip it several 

 times to thause it to grow out laterals. 



Mr. Fuller. — The pinching can be continued until August. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Mr. John G. Bergen read a paper in reply to the circular of the 

 New York State Committee of the American Pomological Society, 

 in regard to fruit culture in Brooklyn and vicinity. 



Mr. Robinson exhibited Bunker Hill apples, sent from Water- 

 ville. New York. It was generally pronounced a second rate 

 apple, being inferior to the Fearmain, which it resembles. 



