420 Transactions of the American Institute. 



N. Y., showed a small model of a device for holding the cutter bar 

 in the best desired position for grinding the basil of the sections at 

 a uniform angle. 



Mr. Wm. H. Field, Portchester, Westchester county, N. Y., 

 brought in a full-sized machine, with grindstone, cutter bar and 

 all, and showed its operation, which was received with eminent 

 satisfaction, as a boy or unskilled laborer can grind the knives with 

 such a device quite as well as a skillful mechanic. The grinding 

 is done on the side of the grindstone, instead of on the periphery. 

 The cutter bar is. held in a frame, and one side of each knife is 

 ground at once. 



hexamer's prong hoe. 



Dr. F. M. Hexamer, Newcastle, N. Y., exhibited one of his prong 

 hoes. It differs from all other forks in the manner in which the 

 tines are inserted. There is a socket through which the double 

 tines are slipped and held in place by an iron key. In very hard 

 earth, or for handling heavy manures, two prongs are enough. For 

 digging potatoes and many other purposes, four prongs are best. 

 For workino: li^ht soils, two more can be added. If one limb or 

 shaft of a double tine breaks, it can be taken out and mended more 

 perfectly than when the ordinary fastening is used. 



Mr. Wm. S. Cai-penter said he had used one for some time, and 

 found his hands can go over the ground twice as fast as with the 

 common hoe, and stir the ground much deeper. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller spoke to the same effect, praising the prong 

 hoe. He thought it was superior to every other instrument for 

 clearing the earth of small roots. Adjourned. 



February 4, 1868. 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair; Mr. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



IRON AS AN ANTIDOTE FOR THE POTATO ROT. 



Mr. James Warren, of Monroe, Jasper county, Iowa, who in 

 June last sent a communication to the Club on " Potato Culture," 

 now submits his views on the use of iron as a preventive of the 

 rot. Protoxide of iron plays an important part in vegetation when 

 present in minute quantities, but not in the way the writer sup- 

 poses, by exciting electricity. Still, his paper contains some 



