No 144.1 ' 531 



It certainly was brilliant for tlie number and beauty of the ob- 

 jects in it. We counted no less than 222 horses, 46 bulls, 263 

 cows, 119 sheep, 47 hogs, 18 goats, 81 rabbits, 211 cocks and hens, 

 5 turkies, 6 geese, 24 ducks, and more than 200 agricultural im- 

 plements and machines. The vegetable 'products were not admitted 

 in the exhihitionl 



This society was founded in December, 1853, and now counts 

 2000 members. After the fair was closed, 300 of the members 

 enjoyed a splendid banquet. 



We visited the gardens of Messrs. Van Houtte and Van Claert, 

 at Ghent. It is impossible to see anywhere, anything comparable 

 to the very beautiful growing orchidiae of M. Van Houtte. We 

 particularly admhed the rich collection of begonias and a lapageria 

 rosea in full bloom, covering the whole vault of the conservatory. 

 The aquarium (pond) is very beautiful. The regina victoria was 

 in flower. Splendid ! surrounded by nympheacse. We remarked 

 especially the nymphcea-orlgiesiana^ the lata^ the cdcrata, the 

 scutifolia, the icrminalis^ the culvea, and lastly, the euryale ferox^ 

 which is very curious on account of its leaves being furnished 

 with sharp points. 



The Chairman called up the first question before the Club — 

 •'=' Drainage." 



The Chairman called Judge Livingston to take the Chair, and 

 he took the floor, and remarked that 



At the last meeting of our Club, I confined my remarks to farm 

 drainage, and will now say a few words respecting the drainage of 

 land forming the sites of towns. 



Town drainage may be considered as two-fold : simple water 

 drainage, and foul water drainage. The first is the removal from 

 the suburbs and sites of towns all superfluous water, which natu- 

 turally causes dampness. The second is the removal from dwell- 

 ings, or their vicinity, all solid matters that can be carried ofl* by 

 water. 



Simple water drainage is generally neglected, as may be ob- 

 served by examining the foundations of houses, which are often 



