J^o.144.] 153 



that if extensively cultivated, when the grain crop failed the peo- 

 ple need not starve. By and by it was thought to be good food 

 for "])oor people." It kept on growing in favor, until it has be- 

 come a staple article of food in all Europe and America, and is 

 making its way into Asia. 



The diseases which have recently beset the potato, and which 

 have baffled the efforts of the most learned to cure, to our mind 

 indicate most clearly its death as an article of commerce and ge- 

 neral consumption. 



Mr. Coleman exhibited his rails placed in various forms, as fod- 

 der racks, fence, &:c., showing the ease and simplicity of those 

 various forms, the rails being so exactly bored by machinery, and 

 pickets turned in a lathe to exact fitness for the holes. 



The Chairman called up the subject for the day, " Weeding, 

 spring and summer planting, and the best tools to do them with." 



Colonel Travers remarked that he had always used the hand 

 and the hoe for weeding, and had come here, hoping to learn bet- 

 ter methods if there are any. The cultivator of the Professor 

 works well I believe. 



Professor Mapes — It is not of my invention, sir, but it is a very 

 useful one. 



Mr. Meigs said, that he had tried a new mode of weeding thirty 

 years ago, among certain drill crops, onions more especially. I 

 found that by the old practice that of pulling up the weeds and 

 surplus onions in ihe drill, I too often disturbed the roots of the 

 onions which I wanted to leave; and it occurred to me that 

 pushing down the weeds and surplus onions was an easier and 

 better plan. I then, first, with a proper steel hoe as sharp as a 

 knife, cut the weeds within about an inch of the young onions 

 through all the drills. I then pushed down with my fore finger, 

 as deep as the hand, all the weeds and surplus onions in the drills, 

 hauling the earth into the holes on top of the weeds and onions. 

 By that method I obtained a crop twice as good as in the old way. 

 My <^xi)erifnce teaches that plants are violent enemies of others 

 and of their own kin.* They cannot bear to be overtopped or 



