No. 151.] 623 



M. M. Noah. — The following suggestions published by him Wer<f 

 read to the club. 



" We would suggest to the Farmers' Club at their next meeting, 

 that they give information what ornamental and forest trees can be 

 planted in cities that worms will not attack. There are such trees^ 

 and no others ought to be planted in cities and large towns. Some 

 of the most beautiful trees in the Park and Battery are entirely 

 stripped of their leaves by worms, and it is during certain periods of 

 the summei, a complete nuisance to pass under them. Will Judge 

 Meigs, Colonel Clark, Doctor Gardener, Professor Mapes, and other 

 members, give the desired information? " 



Mr. J. Cozzens.— The following communication from him, was 

 read: 



SUPPOSED CAUSE OF THE FREQUENT BURNING OF 

 BARNS BY LIGHTNING. 



Jfew-Yorkj August 1st, 1846. 



Dear Sir:- — Having noticed that more barns were struck by 

 lightning at this season of the year than at any other time; that is, 

 after they are filled with new hay, I would wish to call the attention 

 of those who are the most interested, to make inquiries as to the 

 particular cause, and also, to report to the club, if convenient. I 

 have thrown together my ideas on this subject, in this paper, which 

 1 wish you (if you think it worth while,) to re; d before the club. 

 It is well known that by these accidents, caused by lightning, the 

 farmer often loses his whole crop of hay, and other crops, which 

 may be stored contiguous to it; his barns, and sometimes his most 

 Valuable animals; for I believe it to be a fact, that more barns are 

 burned by lightning just after they are filled with new hay, than after 

 the hay has become seasoned, or when it has become purely dry, or 

 when the barns are empty. 



At this season of the year, and about the time the hay is housed, 

 there are more thunder storms than at any other season, (if we ex- 

 cept this year, 1846, so far as the first day of August.) Hay, when 

 first stored, has always more or less moisture in it; it has also an 

 essential oil; it is also always more or less hot from the field, and 

 when put in the barn in large quantities, its juices and moisture are 

 undergoing decomposition; and the compound is giving out gases 

 which are forming new compounds; these ascend from the barn, and 

 like all other exhalations, reach some height in the air, so that when 



