bb TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



May 31sf, 1858. 



Present — Messrs. Solon Robinson, Adrian Bergen, of Gowanus ; Hon. 

 John G. Bergen, Wm. Silliman, of Westchester ; Hon. Hugh Maxwell, 

 Prof. Nash, Mr. Hite, of Morrisania ; R. G. Pardee, T. W. Field, of 

 Brooklyn ; Fuller, of Williamsburgh ; Treadwell, Stacey, Rev. Mr. 

 White, of Sta.ten Island ; Wm, Lawton, of New Rochelle ; I>r. Turnip- 

 seed, Charles Truell, J. W. Chambers, Mr. Disturnell, Judge Scoville,. 

 Mr. Brace, Prof. Mapes, and others — 63 members in all. 



■ , in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



The secretary read the following translations, &c., made by him frora 

 the works last received by the Institute, viz : 



Revue Horticole. Paris, April, 1858. 



THE TREP:S of PARIS. 



All innovation finds opponents, no matter what improvement may be 

 offered, men differ so much in taste and mode of examination. If fifty 

 persons are consulted, fifty different opinions will be obtained. But, 

 however, there is a general judgment in a people which overrules those of 

 individuals. We have no sort of difficulty in selecting a case. We refer 

 to the decortication (barking) of trees of our public squares and prome- 

 nades. Is it useful ? Does it remedy any evil 1 After serious reflection, 

 and in spite of the opinions of very distinguished men, we have no hesita- 

 tion in pronouncing for the negative. If decortication is done at all, it 

 must be very skillfully — to do good by it is an exception. It seldom helps 

 a sickly tree, but on the contrary hastens its death. An examination of 

 the two kingdoms, vegetable and animal, will explain this result. Vitality 

 in animals is at the centre. In vegetables that centre rots and the outside 

 lives. Willows show this fact in a remarkable manner All rotten 

 within, all alive without. The seat of life therefore in the latter is the 

 periphery, in animals, central. 



Many wonder why elms do not flourish in Paris. The reason is that 

 the city air is constantly vicious, producing effects in a way unknown to 

 us. They suffer a sort of double aphyxia, one by the air, the other at the 

 roots, from infiltrated street gas, &c., &c. 



RIJBUS NUTOMS. 



This very pretty raspberry grows on the Himalaya Mountains, near 

 Sikkins, at the heigh th of about 1,300 feet above the level of the sea. 



[Journal De La Societe Imperiale Zoologique D'Acdimatation, and La Societe Protectrice 



des Animanx, 1857. 



These societies take charge of the safety of birds, &;c., favorable to our 

 crops. 



We translate from a memoir on tliis subject, just received by the Insti- 

 tute from Paris. The Institute some years ago addressed a memorial to 

 the Legislature of New Jersey, recommending protection to certain birds. 

 New Jersey passed a law to that effect. 



