716 [Assembly 



der, and that the raw stone reduced to powder ought to claim the 

 preference, as affording at once a large proportion of carbon. 



It may be objected that the raw stone would undergo a slower 

 disintegration, and decomposition, and not act so immediately as a 

 manure: but if long duration and even permanency in the improve- 

 ment of the soil, are the objects in view, a slow disintegration 

 should not be an objection. There would always be a sufficient pro- 

 portion of the crushed stone in minute particles, for immediate action* 



But, sir, I do not wish to trouble you any longer with a discussion 

 which can be carried on, and perhaps has already been so, by much 

 more able men. My principal object in addressing you, is to draw 

 attention, and make it known in proper quarters, that, in case the 

 farmers and land owners of Long Island, should wish to give a fair 

 and extensive trial to the raw pulverized limestone, I think it could 

 be furnished to almost any quantity, and of various qualities, (some 

 of it is almost pure carbonate of lime,) from this place and vicinity, 

 and at prices which could not be objectionable, considering the ob- 

 ject to be obtained. 



I am very respectfully, sir, your obd't servant, 



C. S. GUILLIARD. 



Mr. Kentish spoke of the tried good effect of the prepared guano 

 of S. F. Halsey, of Vesey street, on vegetation. Circulars to that 

 purpose were distributed. It is asserted that this prepared guano 

 contains chemical absorbents of ammonia, which part with it slowly 

 as vegetables require it, thus rendering guano a far more lasting fer- 

 tilizer of the soil. 



Mr. Chambers presented potatoes from Mr. Kent, of Prospect Hill, 

 Brooklyn, raised from small ones given by Mr. J. D. Williamson, 

 last spring. These potatoes together were deemed to weigh about 

 ten pounds, and are the product of one stem growing from one eye 

 of a potato not more than an inch in diameter, which were brought 

 from Columbia by Mr. Williamson last spring. Some of these po- 

 tatoes of Mr. Kent were nearly ten inches in circumference: they 

 are not yet ripe, and the Club will at its next meeting have some of 

 the same crop cooked, that they may test the quality. 



Ambrose Stevens spoke of the utter ignorance under which men 

 stiffer of the cause of the potato malady. In his examination of the 

 numerous reports on thi» subject, he had met with nothing but the 



