Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 291 



done through hot water, and all the various processes correspond 

 to the manufacture of cotton, but the machinery must be more 

 expensive, because flax is not elastic. Their supply of flax almost 

 wholly comes from Orange, Eensselaer and Washington counties, 

 New York. Large quantities have been raised in Illinois, this 

 year, and the quality is represented superior to Eastern flax. None 

 has yet appeared in this market, and it may prove not to have been 

 properly handled, but this is a matter easy to remedy next year. 

 With these facts before us, it does seem as though Western fai'm- 

 ers, and all others, have a new prospect opened for raising a most 

 profitable crop. Li respect to the patriotism of the effort, there 

 can be no question. The Messrs. Whitesides are entitled to the 

 thanks of the country for the efforts they are making. At the 

 great fair of the American Institute one will see specimens of all 

 their goods, and their fine machinery in constant operation. 



HAND GLASS FOR MELONS AND CUCUMBERS. 



Mr. G. J. St. John, Stamford, Conn., exhibited several hand 

 glasses. They are composed of two large lights of glass, in the 

 form of the roof of a house, with cloth for the gables. The mem- 

 bers thought favorable of the invention. 



STREET-CAR HEATER- 



Mr. John Gibson, Albany, N. Y., exhibited an apparatus for 

 heating street cars. This contains a furnace with a cover, with 

 regulators and dampers, and all this and the pipe pass under the 

 seat, up through the roof in the forward end. This is not exactly 

 new, for it has been in use in several cities where the public insist 

 on being comfortable, and there can be no doubt of its utility. In 

 this city, many walk in cold weather, because the cars have no fire. 



WHIP HOLDER. 



Mr. J. Gibson, Albany, N. Y., exhibited an improved whip 

 holder. The whip is to be made hollow in the handle; the holder 

 is a tapering stem of malleable iron, having a base to be attached 

 to a carriage or sleigh. The ornamental part of the whip, conse- 

 quently, is placed so that every body can see it. 



MEASURING FAUCET. 



Messrs. Peck & Seymour, 299 Pearl street, New York, exhibited 

 a measuring faucet for drawing molasses and heavy oils. The con- 

 struction is such that, by turning a crank, the fluid is forced out by 

 a certain number of revolutions of the crank, and meanwhile said 



