354 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Mr. Wm. Lawton. — Our tea from China is a valuable beverage; 

 nothing is more invigorating to a weary person than a cup of good 

 tea, and I commend its use. Two thirds of the people are sick 

 with some ailment and need something of the kind. 



Lieut. Lloyd, Monrovia, Africa. — We have a common tea grow- 

 ing wild in our country; it is found in the fields, streets and woods, 

 and is in common use among us. On several occasions, when 

 strangers were at our table, we have had both the native and China 

 tea, but they were unable to tell the difference. 



PROPAGATION OF BLACKBERRIES BY CUTTINGS. 



Mr. I. W. England, Ridgewood, Bergen county, N. J. — Black- 

 berries and raspberries may be propagated without the aid of a hot 

 bed. Millions of plants are so grown every year. Cut the roots 

 up in the fall into two or three inch lengths, place them in a box 

 with sand or earth enough to prevent their mildewing or heating 

 by contact, bury the box in the open ground, a foot deep, till 

 spring, then take the cuttings and sow in drills like peas, in rich 

 soil, leaving space enough between the rows for the cultivation, 

 and if they are kept clean, and have healthy, stout plants, nearly 

 all the cuttings thus treated grow. The burying in the fall insures 

 their thorough callusing, and they come out in the spring full of 

 white buds ready to start into growth as soon as planted. 



TROUT. 



Mr. James M. Sigafus, Bear Creek, Cal. — Is there any practical 

 way to propagate trout ? I have tried it for two years without 

 success. 



Mr. Simeon Baldwin. — Seth Green, of Mumford, Monroe county, 

 N. Y., is well informed on this subject — he is regularly in the busi- 

 ness and can be written to. 



EXCESSIVE USE OF PLASTER. 



Mr. H. T. Baily, West Newberry, Mass., stated that about twenty- 

 five years ago two-thirds of a ton of plaster was applied to the acre 

 on a steep hill-side, which had never been plowed, and which pro- 

 duced little feed. The consequence was a heav}" growth of white 

 clover. 



Prof. Nash said that it would require the rains of several years 

 to make the plaster available. 



