272 TuAjmACTiONS OF the American Institute. 



PLOWING IN BUCKWHEAT. 



Mr. J. F. Simmona, Iowa Falls, Iowa, stated that plowing in 

 buckwheat had been recommended by the Club, but in his expe- 

 rience it had proved an exhausting crop, and poisoned the soil. 



Mr. S. E. Todd said that this was his experience. 



Mr. Crane. — I have found it a great benefit to plow under buck- 

 wheat, for this is the question, not whether it is an exhausting crop 

 to raise for bread. Still, the best crop of corn I ever raised was 

 after buckwheat. I grant it wants cultivation, and perhaps for 

 want of this others are so unsuccessful. Mr. Simmons also inquired 

 whether it is safe to put out willow cuttings in the fall, to which 

 Mr. Crane answered that it is not safe. 



A NEW PITCHFORK. 



The Montgomery Fork Company of New York presented this 

 article, which is so constructed that if a tine breaks, another one 

 can be inserted; and it is strong, and seems to have advantages 

 over others. 



HOT-AIR STOVE-PIPE DRUM. 



Mr. E. P. Morse, Batavia, N. Y. — This has a central cylinder, a 

 cone-shaped end, and several air-tubes which retain the heated air, 

 whence it is radiated through an apartment. If it is what it is 

 claimed, it must be a great saving in fuel. 



LIGHTNING APPLE-PARER. 



Messrs. Sargent & Co., New York, exhibited one of GooO.ell's 

 lightning apple parers. This is a surprisingly new device. A 

 horizontal motion gives all the results attained hitherto by a cir- 

 cular one, and the fruit is pared with fewer movements than was 

 supposed possible. 



HOW TO START APPLE SEEDS. 



Mr. R. S. Hough, Spencer, Clay county, Iowa. — This is a braiv- 

 new country, homesteads plenty, land good, close by rivers, grasis 

 abundant, and can be cut from June to September; settlers ai-riv- 

 iug, and we want more. How shall we raise apple trees from tho 

 seed? 



Mr. N. C. Meeker. — Apple seeds need a rich, well-prepared 

 seed-bed. It is generally granted that they should be frozen. 

 They should be guarded from mice. It would be safe to sow them 

 in the fall, in a box with a wide surface, where it can be watched, 

 or in some sheltered, quiet place, surrounded by boards, might do, 



