444 Transactions of the American Institute. 



hand-glass for reotecting plants. 

 Mr. St. John, of Stfimford, Conn., showed an improved folding 

 hand-ghiss for protecting plants from spring frosts. It consists of 

 a light frame of japanned tin with grooves, into which a pane of 

 glass is slipped. The frame, without the glass, is for sale at most 

 of the seed and implement stores, at thirty cents. When folded, 

 it occupies no more room than a slate. There are various sizes, to 

 suit plants in different stages of advancement. When open, it 

 looks like a tent, and the ends are of common domestic. 



PULVERIZER. 



Mr. John Custer, of Corsica, Ohio, showed the model of a new 

 pulverizer to cut and crush turf and clods of earth. 



TENNESSEE. 



Rev. H. Bokum, Commissioner of Emigration, from Tennessee, 

 was introduced, and gave the Club a brief account of the charming 

 climate, good soil and cheap lands of that State. He is the com- 

 missioner for immigration for that State, and represents it as more 

 attractive than any other State in the South. He has prepared a 

 handbook of information on the subject in English, and also in 

 German. Those who wish information on this subject, should 

 apply to John Eaton, Jr., Nashville. 



HEN ^LVNURE. 



Mr. J. C. Thompson, Tompkinsville, Staten Island. — The better 

 way to prepare hen manure for use is, to spread dry earth in the 

 hennery, which will absorb the ammonia of the droppings. Dry 

 earth should be spread every day under the roosts of the fowls. 

 In the spring remove the accumulations from the hennery, and put 

 them in a heap where they can be shoveled over and over a few 

 times, and reduced to a fine powder by running the mass through 

 a coarse sieve. The powder is then applied to corn or potatoes, 

 at the rate of about one quart per hill. 



Another member spoke of running the compost through a thresh- 

 ing- machine, for the purpose of reducing the flakes and lumps to 

 fine powder. Some spoke of casting wood ashes and coal ashes 

 into the hennery; l)ut the practice was denounced as destructive to 

 o-ood manure, because the alkali, they said, would liberate the 

 ammonia, instead of retaining it. Mr. Thompson afliirmcd that 

 wood ashes will most assuredly give fowls sore eyes, if they be 

 spread in the hennery. 



