164 [Assembly 



season, whereas common salt dissolves rapidly. A piece of this 

 salt I picked up in the street of Salina, while riding through it in 

 company with Mr. Geer, the State Superintendent of the public 

 salines. I brought it with me to New-York, and sent it to a labora- 

 tory where sal soda and soda ash is made from common salt, and it 

 proved to contain 98 per cent, of pure salt. This salt thus thrown 

 away is therefore superior in quality to any salt made at the salines. 

 It is vitrified salt, the impurities are driven off by excessive heat. 



I am free to say that there are few places in the world where there 

 is a greater opportunity of improvement in the process of manufac- 

 turing than the public salines of Onondaga. 



I had intended to have made you a very lengthy communication in 

 rela' on to these salines, but the opportunity of leisure does not afford 

 the time, arid I have thrown together this hasty communication, hop- 

 ng and trusting that it may be found to contain some things, the 

 kinowledge of which may benefit somebody. 



Yours very respectfully, 



EBEN MERIAM. 

 Brooklyn Heights, March lO^A, 1849. 



THE FARM OF THE BLOOMINGDALE ASYLUM. 



J^ew-York, February 10, 1849. 

 To the American Institute : 



Gentlemen: — The increasing population of the city of New- York 

 greatly augments the demand for fruits and vegetables, and is bring- 

 ing into requisition the soil fitted for production and convenient for 

 transportation by railroads and steamboats. This already extends to a 

 circuit of over ten to one hundred miles distant from the city, which 

 is thus made tributary, and furnishes for our market its abundant sup- 

 plies. 



Through the kind assistance of a friend, I have been enabled to 

 obtain a statement from the garden of the Bloomingdale Asylum, 

 which I herewith communicate, and which I deem of great valeu. 

 This statement will be particularly useful to new beginners, who will 



