172 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



The consumption of fuel and water was very moderate. That the engine 

 is a complete success there can be no doubt, and all that is now wanting is 

 to demonstrate that, taking the whole expense into consideration, it is 

 cheaper than horse power. If this is answered in the affirmative, it will 

 produce the greatest revolution in agricultural progress that we have yet 

 seen ; it will take another wrinkle from the brow of labor, and give to the 

 toiling millions lighter tasks to perform." 



A NATIVE GRAPE FROM NEW JERSEY. 



Rev. AV. Schenck presented to the club a basket of grapes from a wild 

 vine, discovered by his father, in the woods, who transplanted it about 

 eighteen years ago. It is a round, thin skinned, sweet grape ; bunches of 

 moderate size ; berries close together. Those who tasted them considered 

 them the best native grape yet found. 



CRANBERRIES ON DRY SOIL. 



Mr. J. C. Young, of Lakeland, on Long Island, about fifty miles from 

 New Y^ork, presented a box of cranberry plants, with their berries on them, 

 abundant, grown by him there, last season. The plants were taken from 

 marshy land, northerly of the Lake Ronkonkoraa, in the summer of 1856, 

 and transplanted into his land, near the lake, the land being entirely destitute 

 of all moisture, except that from dews and rains. The plants, nevertheless, 

 thrived, and the only trouble he had with the crop, was to get out sorrel, 

 which grew too plentifully among the cranberries. He believes it is easily 

 made a profitable crop on such lands. 



Mr. Adrian Bergen presented ears of corn from his farm in Gowanus, 

 Long Island Large grain ; very heavy; a profitable corn. 



Mr. Disturnell wished to direct attention to the remarkable agricultural 

 capabilities of Minnesota, and introduced his friend, Mr. Chute, recently 

 from 'here. 



Mr Richard Chute, of St. Anthony, was requested to speak of the 

 agriculture of that mid-region of our continent. He said that he was 

 fearful of meeting unbelief if he should state the facts within his own 

 knowledge, of the remarkable capabilities of the soils of Minnesota. He 

 would say that in many vegetables it equalled those hitherto unparalleled 

 vegetables of California — but, on his return, he would send some specimens 

 to the club, which would testify more eff"ectually than man can. The pota- 

 toes are very fine, so that in the markets of the west, St. Louis, and others, 

 they have sold for two dollars a bushel, while those of that region sold for 

 fifty cents. Snow falls in all about one foot, occasionally a little more ; 

 it lies on the ground from 90 to 120 days ; travel is easy over it ; the air 

 very clear and healthy ; fever and ague, and bilious fever, not known there. 

 The Rocky Mountains take the heavy wet, and send the air pure and whole- 

 some to Minnesota. Our lands are about half prairie ; subsoil, clay, and 

 in some places, gravelly. Forests of white pines and Norways, northerly 

 — trees one to three feet diameter; oaks, southerly; sugar maples make, 



