AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 103 



CTop tlian in a naked follow, if that crop is supplied witli the proper pabu- 

 lum of the crop. The very things added to the soil to benefit one crop, 

 cause that to add to the fertility of the soil for another. Whatever is true 

 in England of under-draining and sub-soiled land, is true here, and I 

 state it as a fact, that one-half the usual quantity of manure upon 

 drained land will be of more benefit than the whole quantity upon land in 

 its natural, wet condition. No under-drained or subsoiled field ever 

 sufi'ers with drouth, or runs out of grass. The air as it passes through the 

 drains and soil is divested of all its ammoniacal gasses, and thus adds fer- 

 tility to the soil. All mineral substances, whether carbonate of lime, 

 phosphate of lime, sulphate of lime, potash, soda, salt, or other constitu- 

 ents of plants, are valuable in proportion to the source from whence they 

 are derived. The higher the organization of animal or plant, the more 

 valuable the mineral obtained. The mineral phosphatic rock, which gives 

 by analysis the same results as calcined bones, is worthless for manure, 

 and a quantity of carbonate of lime from the pure limestone given to a 

 field equal to two per cent of the soil, would render it barren, while forty 

 per cent of the same mineral exactly, according to analysis, is extremely 

 fertile. The cause is, one has never undergone any change since its 

 deposit, and the other has passed through a long course of organized life. 



Mr. Bell, the patentee of a very ingenious mode of making tight, 

 strong, cheap boxes, by machinery, exhibited some which hold an even 

 quart. These just filled with small fruit, pack well, and save in space 

 about 20 to 30 per cent. They cost $5 per 100 boxes. 



Mr. Robinson observed that as we had now reached June, perhaps the 

 old meetings of once in a fortnight might be now resumed. 



The large majority of members objected. They wished the club to be 

 held every Monday. 



The subjects adopted for the next meeting, same, with another proposed 

 by Mr. Robinson, viz : " The best time to cut grass, and the best manner 

 of making hay." 



The club then adjourned to Monday, June 14th, at noon. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



June 14, 1858. 



Present — Messrs. Prof. Nash, Andrew S. Fuller, of Williamsburgh ; 

 T. W. Field, of Brooklyn ; Treadwell, of Brooklyn ; Lawton, of New Ro- 

 chelle; Stacy, Pardee, Dr. Poole, of New Jersey; Mr. Bruce, Mr. Davoll, 

 Mr. Silliman, Mr. Paine, Solon Robinson, Mr. Leonard, John W. Cham- 

 bers, and others — nearly sixty in all. 



Wm. Lawton, of New Rochelle, in the chair. H. Meigs, Secretary. 



The Secretary read the following extracts and translations made by him 

 from works received by the American Institute, from Europe and else- 

 where, since the last meeting, viz : 



