186 [Assembly 



forming such enormous columns of vegetable matter as the great 

 Seynoia of California, 30 feet high and 90 round, carried up by 

 those forces of vegetation to that enormous height directly against 

 the power of gravitation, a weight of 500 or 600 tonsl Mr. M. 

 had noticed the condition of the sand under a privy, at least 100 

 years old, in Beekman street, last year. At his request the mas- 

 ter builder made a laborer talie, with a shovel, some of the sand 

 about six inches below the bottom of this ancient black deposit of 

 manure of the strongest kind, human ordure. The sand so taken 

 was as pure and as perfectly free from color and smell as any 

 pure sand whatever. And why so 1 What would become of us 

 if all our organic matter should leach down below the reach of 

 vegetation? Sir, Dr. Underbill told us, several years ago, that the 

 leaching was not down hut upwards. 



Mr. Robinson requested Dr. Leavitt, of Marcellus, in this State, 

 to explain, with the products before him on the table, the condi- 

 tion of the great process pursued by him of making out of flax 

 unrotted the strong and beautiful silk-like fibre, yet stronger than 

 the rotted flax of Holland here shown, the latter being, in our 

 market, worth about thirty cents per pound, while the Leavitt 

 flax is made at about 10 to 12 cents per pound. 



Subject for the next meeting adopted on motion of Professor 

 Mapes, " Summer treatment of grape vines and small fruits." 



Professor Mapes suggested — What can be done with millet 

 planted and grown as hay 1 



Dr. Leavitt — The question is asked, Why is flax cheaper than 

 hemp ? Answer— Because the flax seed pays for the crop. 



The Club adjourned till the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 

 16, at noon. PI. MEIGS, Secretary. 



May 16, 1854. 

 Present — Messrs. Prof. Mapes, Waring, Robinson, Edward 

 Smith, George Bacon, Cid. Travers, Mr. GibbSjMr. Bullock, Capt. 



