AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 341; 



and for 1^ cents to hold a pint, and full strong enough to bear transporta- 

 tion, with any kind of market berries. They will be a good substitute for 

 baskets, and for more expensive boxes. 



Mr. Maxwell asked if there was a remedy for the yellows in peach leaves. 



Prof. Mapes. — The best method is to restore the health of the tree by 

 using inorganic ftrtilizers only, for the common barn yard manures are 

 unsuited to the peach. By this and good treatment the constitution of the 

 tree is regained, and a vigorous growth throwing off the yellows. While 

 I am up, I wi.-h to state my experience in the origin of the tree. I take 

 the peach pit and set it sharp point doiv7i, for the same reason that I set 

 the eye side of a Lima bean down ; because then the plant come? straight 

 up out of the ground ; whereas, if they happen to be wrong end up, the 

 plants suffer in rising by trying to turn over ; the peach tree then gets an 

 unhappy tu-isf, which it never recovers from. 



The Professor illustrated his mode of trimming peach trees, in relation 

 to the fruit and to the wood buds, on the blackboard. He related the 

 thriving condition of a peach tree, standing near enough to a stable win- 

 dow for a horse to bite off about the proper amount of its branches, doing 

 it with a skill and taste utterly unknown to his master. A peach limb 

 should not, with its fruit, bend down below level, for then it is very apt to 

 perish. Never apply any nitrogenous manure to peach trees. 



Mr. Maxwell. — Does that rule also govern as to the apricot tree ? 



Prof. Mapes. — Yes, sir, and to nectarine. I find budding very easy, as 

 follows : Select a limb to bud another of like size. With a perfectly sharp 

 knife scoop out a slice from the tree, and another from the graft — exactly 

 alike. Fit in on and bind up quick. 



Mr. Doughty exhibited dioscorea batata — the Chinese yam, from his 

 farm — about two feet in length. 



QUESTIONS FOR NEXT MEETING, 



Solon Robinson. — " Lawns and how to revive old orchards." 

 Prof. Mapes. — " Spring and summer treatment of strawberries." 

 Mr. Pardee. — "Spring flowers, seeds, plants, trees." 

 Thomas Godwin. — " Proper soil and its dep^^h for shade trees in the Cen- 

 tral Park and in our avenues." 



The Club then adjourned. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



April Aih, 1859. 

 Present. — Messrs. Robert L. Pell, Hon. Judge Livingston, Lawton, 

 Chilson, Pardee, Prof. .J. J. Mapes, Olcott, Davoll, Roberts, Heermance, 

 Hon. John G. Bergen, Fuller, Witt, Bruce, Wm. B. Leonard, John W. 

 Chambers, Isidore Bernhard, J. A. Bunting, J. V. Brower, Thos. God- 

 win, Veeder, Stuart, James Renwick, President of the Institute, McCready, 

 Vice President, Aycrigg, Vice-President Gen. Hall, Dr. Moffat, Rev. Mr. 

 Gardiner, Charles Turell, Doughty, Pierce, Wright, Jr., Daniel C Robin- 

 son, Solon Robinson, R. Van Houten, of Paterson, Jersey, Van Brunt, of 

 Jersey, Dr. Crowell, Ezekiel Harris — 100 members in all. 



