PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 261 



designs, initials, names, &c. The impression of these things is 

 eflfected in a very simple manner. A fine fruit is selected at the 

 moment it is beginning to ripen; that is, to take a red color, and 

 paper in which the designs are neatly cut out is afiixed. After 

 awhile the envelope is removed, and the part of the fruit which 

 has been covered is brilliantl}Mvhite, By this invention the pro- 

 ducers of fruit may realize quite large sums." 



Mr. Hite. — I have seen this practiced, and it is capable of pro- 

 ducing very pretty results. 



The Chairman. — The same thing may be done by scratching 

 the surface. I have often marked melons. 



Mr, Cavenach. — There is danger of injuring melons or fruit by 

 scratching. I would not recommend it. 



APPLES. 



The Chairman exhibited the "Well apple," grown by Morris 

 Baisely, of Westchester, a medium sized 3^ellow apple, which will 

 keep a year, and several other apples, among which was the 

 Northern Spy, which he considered a valuable apple, having 

 changed his opinion since last year. 



JS'^ew subjects. — The subjects of •' Sorghum " and " Sweet Pota- 

 toes " were selected for consideration at the next meetino-. 



Adjourned. 



February 24, 1862, 

 Prof. J. A. Nash, of Brooklyn, L. I., in the chair. 



CULTIVATION OF FLAX. 



Mr. Carpenter exhibited specimens of flax and of hemp, pre- 

 pared by Mr. Sanford's machine, heretofore described, and read 

 extracts from the directions for the proper management of the 

 flax crop, compiled by the committee of the Society for the pro- 

 motion and improvement of the growth of flax in Ireland. 



Pieparation of the Soil. 

 One of the points of the greatest importance in the culture of 

 flax, is by thorough draining, and by careful and repeated cleans- 

 ing of the land from weeds, to place it in the finest, deepest and 

 cleanest state. This will make room for the roots to penetrate, 

 which they will often do to a depth equal to one-half the length 

 of the stem above ground. 



