232 Domestic Notices. 



son in accordance with the plan drawn up by the Chemist of the Associa- 

 tion, and appended. They also impose the following conditions : The 

 competitors to be or to become members of the Association ; the papers and 

 specimens to be forwarded free of expense to the Executive Committee 

 through their Secretary, Dr. Gardner, 412 Fourth street New York, on or 

 before the 1st of November ; communications, whether successful or other- 

 wise, to become the property of the Association ; all persons in the United 

 States may become competitors. The premium will be declared at the 

 General Meeting in January next. The papers sent to bear a motto with- 

 out the name or address of the author, these particulars being contained in a 

 sealed letter superscribed with the same motto. Investigations terminating 

 without the appearance of disease in the Potato, but pursued in accordance 

 with the ensuing conditions, will be received in competition. 



The following conditions to be observed by competitors for the premium 

 of the Association are respectfully submitted by order of the Executive 

 Committee. 



May 8lh, 1845. 



1st. The papers to be entirely original, and in no part transcripts from 

 other works, to contain a record of the observations made during the growth 

 of the plants, and conducted on at least 150 specimens. 



2d. The variety and character of the seed potatoes, the mode and time of 

 planting, the nature of the soil, its condition of drainage, the manures used 

 and previous tillage, to be fully detailed. 



3d. A daily register to be kept from the time of sowing to securing the 

 crop, containing the temperature in the sun and shade and the dew point in 

 the shade at 12 o'clock, with the state of the sky, the occurrence of rains, 

 dews or other meteorological conditions. The manner of taking the dew 

 point to be stated.* 



4th. Five entire plants to be taken up during each week after the third 

 week from planting, and a record made of the condition of the leaves, stems, 

 roots and tubers, the last being cut open and carefully inspected with a 

 simple microscope and all unnatural appearances written down with the day 

 of the observation. Diseased portions to be preserved by drying, and 

 forwarded to the Association. 



5th. All insects discovered on the green portions, roots, &c., to be ex- 

 amined, and at least 12 specimens of each species in the perfect (imago) 

 state to be preserved and forwarded to the Association. When practicable, 

 the caterpillar to be described or figured, and the habits of the insect record- 



* If the observer be not provided with an instrument for ascertaining the dew point, 

 the following simple method may be adopted: Let a little fresh spring water be placed 

 in a dry wine glass and introduce a thermometer, stir it freely in the fluid and ascertain 

 the temperature at the moment the dew on the exterior of the glass is disappearing ; if 

 spring water be not cool enough to create a deposit of dew, add a few drops of iced 

 water until dew is seen. The dew point is the temperature at the moment dew first ap- 

 pears or vanishes ; but the latter is the best time for examination. D. P. G. 



