No. 124.] 101 



fruit, plants, &c., and oflFering their services in forwarding the objects 

 of the New York Farmer's Club. 



It was unanimously resolved that the aforesaid proposals be ac- 

 cepted, and that the Secretary of this Club be requested to communi- 

 cate the same to " the Curacoa Club," commending their generous, 

 benevolent and patriotic designs, which cannot fail to be eminently 

 useful in their results. 



The communication also states that the Club have divided the 

 Island into districts, and appointed a committee for the collection of 

 seeds, fruits and plants, to be forwarded as soon as collected 

 free of expense, with specimens of their sheep, together with a histo- 

 ry of the Island, the course of agriculture, with specimens of their 

 plough and other agricultural implements in present use, to be pre- 

 sented by Capt. Williamson of the U. S. Navy, to the New York 

 Farmer's Club, in the name and with the respects of " the Curacoa 

 Agricultural Club." 



Henry Meigs, Esq., presented on behalf of Lieut. Richard W. 

 Meade, of the U. S. Navy, some flower bulbs, especially Passion 

 flowers, some Tea Kettle Squash seeds, and Cheremoya seeds, brought 

 across the Isthmus of Darien from Panama. 



Mr. Wakeman moved that the thanks of the Club be voted to 

 Lieut. Meade, and that the Secretary be requested to communicate 

 them to him. To show the operation of this Club, situated in our 

 city, as a means of communication, almost immediately most of the 

 seeds, &c., were distributed to go into the different States, and some 

 are now on their way to the Oregon Territory, with the promise that 

 a portion of the products of each shall be returned to the American 

 Institute. 



Mr. Carter presented a long report on potatoes, their culture and 

 the best mode of preserving them, directions for transporting them 

 to market so as to prevent bruises and injury, with a drawing of a 

 potatoe planter. He says they should be planted on a level surface, 

 near the top of the ground. If planted on a stone or board, and 

 good soil put over them, they will produce good potatoes ; or on 

 new land among stumps, where they get no root downward, if cov- 

 ered with earth they produce well. Plough shallow for planting, 

 and harrow well so as to make it level. Then plant in rows nine 

 inches apart each way, 18 inches distant another set of rows in the 

 same way. He gives the plan of an instrument which passes a fur- 

 row one foot wide exactly between the sets of rows, viz : three feet 

 apart, turning up the mould each side, deep enough to afford two 

 inches covering, which is to be drawn over the potatoes by a hoe, 

 making of the whole ridge a flat surface, leaving a margin on each 

 side of the potatoes, about three inches in width. The instrument 

 to be passed between the ridges three times during the season, a lit- 

 tle deeper each time, so as to afford each time a covering of mould of 

 about two inches, to be drawn over and made level as above. Di- 

 rections are also given for manuring, &c. Mr. C calculates by the 

 means proposed, to gain an increased crop of two hundred bushels 

 over the produce of ordinary cultivation, and a better article. The 



