No. 144.) 551 



Prof. Mapes was asked to explain some cultivators ; Knox and 

 others, he illustrated on the black board ; and also his new fork- 

 ing machine, (Mapes and Gibbs,) now ready for actual trial at his 

 farm at Newark, New-Jersey. He made drawings on the black- 

 board which fully demonstrated the true character of it. The 

 Professor's late invention, the sole plough — which is a small one 

 drawn deep through the soil, lifting the ground as it goes only 

 about an inch or two, which leaves the ground on the surface so 

 as to enable the revolving forks to penetrate to the depth of fif- 

 teen inches and pulverise the earth perfectly to the breadth of 

 four feet. The whole machine being drawn along about as fast as 

 oxen usually draw the plow. 



Mr. Meigs believed that no nation has ever yet possessed an 

 implement of one-tenth the value of this forker, if it performs the 

 work now attributed to it ; not more on account of its rapid til- 

 lage than the peculiar action of it in pulverizing and mixing the 

 constituents of the soil, and moreover in leaving its work behind 

 it untrodden, for all other plowing compels men and cattle to 

 tread on their work to great damage for plants. 



Mr. Chambers introduced on the table a splendid Yam, admi- 

 rably cooked. The members tasted it with butter and salt, and a 

 very general expression of approval of its quality was given. In 

 taste it resembled the boiled chestnut, and in appearance new 

 cheese. No fibre whatever was in it. The whole root weighed 

 thirty-five pounds. The thanks of the club were voted to Signor 

 Jose M. Moralez, of Havana, who presented it through the mer- 

 cantile house of Mr. Henry A. Coit, of this city. 



This root is very wholesome. 



Dr. Wellington: Some one said half boil and then fry it; but 

 that process renders it indigestible. 



Mr. Clapp explained the form and action of the lime-spreader 

 spoken of. It was a cylinder on wheels, with horizontal slats so 

 near together as to permit at every revolution so much lime to 

 escape between the slats as the farmer chooses. It is very easily 



