46S [AssEftiBLy , 



] 



One pound to a gallon of water is found to be af proper- 

 strength, and when the orninary sal soda is used, it should be 

 previously heated to redness before throwing it into the water. 

 It may be applied with a mop or brush. 



I am sorry to see that the Massachusetts State Society have re- 

 ported against the use of alkaline washes to trees, simply because 

 some experimenter failed in benefiting his trees by applying a 

 saturated solution of potash, which, in the present state of the 

 art, could readily be conceived to have been inappropriate, and 

 capable of injuring the bark. 



When soda is used no such ill effect will ensue. The rains and i 

 dews will remove any excess after it has had its first effect on the 

 parasites occupying the surface of the tree, audi when this excess 

 reaches the soil it proves a valuable fertilizer for the after use of 

 the tree, j 



The Secretary reminded the members of the especial pleasure 

 of planting grapes on account of their great longevity. Some '^ 

 having lived and borne grapes for four hundred years, and many 

 for the lifetime of a man. 



Professor Mapes — That is true with regard to the Secretary. 

 He is an exception, and outlives all grape vines. He observed 

 that a grape vine in Jersey, which still yields its fruit, was so old , 

 that a lady of 80 years of age, whea the Professor asked her how i 

 old it was, said that when she was a little girl her grandmother I 

 said she used to eat the grapes from it when she was a little girl, 1 

 That vine is now about fourteen inches in diameter at about teQ 

 feet above the ground. I 



The Professor remarked upon the high price of roots. j 



Mr. Bowman attributed it in a measure to the large consump- I 

 tion of them by our numerous immigrants, who used them largely 

 for lack of cheap grain and flour. i 



Professor Mapes doubted the influence of the experiments on | 

 application of galvanic batteries, or other moie ot electricity tC' ; 

 plants. He thought these no evidence of its reality. 



