PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 243 



Mr. Gale. — Some of us are judges of tea, but there are tens of 

 thousands in this city who are not, and wlio are obliged to take 

 what they can get. I think the subject is worthy the attention 

 of the Legislature. The masses of the people ought to be pro- 

 tected. 



Mr. Cavanach suggested that the adulteration of seed, by which 

 so many are deceived every year, should be considered in the 

 same connection. 



Mr. Fuller. — There are plenty of laws if they can only be 

 enforced. 



Mr. Cavanach. — A law of Congress, imposing a duty upon 

 imported seeds, would save us from much of this evil. 



PREMIUMS. 



Mr. Halsted exhibited a seed drill, which can be adapted to 

 sowing garden seeds, corn, and probably grain, together with a 

 cultivator to be attached to it, and so constructed as not to dis- 

 place the earth in the rows. This is offered in competition for a 

 premium. 



Mr. Fuller. — That would be a capital thing to run between 

 strawberries. The knives are upon the right principle. One of 

 them might be turned so as to cut off the runners at the same 

 time. 



Mr. Halsted stated that, in consequence of the shape of the 

 knives, making a continual glancing cut, he had cut off half inch 

 locust roots with it while pushing it by hand. 



Referred to the committee heretofore appointed upon agricul- 

 tural machinery, viz : Messrs. Robinson, Bergen and Gale. 



Mr. Hitchings exhibited a model for heating conservatories. 



Mr. Cavanach. — The great difficulty with steam is that it takes 

 so long to get the heat up. With hot air we can get up the requi- 

 site heat in twenty minutes without difficulty. With steam it 

 will take an hour or one hour and a half. 



Mr. Hitchings, — As a usual thing, the wafer will remain warm, 

 so that the heat can be got up in twenty or thirty minutes. 



The subject of heating conservatories was referred to a com- 

 mittee, consisting of Messrs. Buchanan, Fuller and Grant. 



ESSAYS ON THE APPLE AND THE PEACH. 



Mr. Roberts read an essay upon the culture of the apple. 

 Referred to a committee, consisting of Peter B. Mead, John G. 

 Bergen and Gabriel Marc. 



