Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 529 



wood veneer, but manufactured in an entirely new manner, and 

 treated with glycerine, so as to render splitting or checking impos- 

 sible. It is cut so that any desired styles of grain may be had, such 

 as bird's-eye maple, black walnut, oak, chestnut, ash, mahogany, 

 and rose-wood; in fact, it can be made from any kind of wood. It 

 is claimed that the veneer is cheap and can be easily put on plaster, 

 and looks exactly like a wall of solid wood. When varnished, it is 

 said to look far better than the most beautiful graining, however 

 well it may be executed. Two hundred thicknesses to the inch 

 can be cut A committee was appointed to examine and report. 



faircheld's metallic bag holder. 



This invention is a metallic rim, which may be attached to its 

 stand or to the side of the barn; when on the stand it is portable 

 and can be set upon a scale if grain is to be weighed. The sack is 

 fastened by steel hooks to the sides of the rim or mouth. 



The Chair. — This is simple and will be a great saving for farmers. 



THE falling off Df WHEAT. 



Mr. John Disturnell read a short statistical paper on the impor- 

 tance of agricultural education as illustrated by the alarming 

 decline in the wheat crop: 



Agricultural education, in the New World, is of the most vital 

 importance to the whole human race, as our present vkgin soil, if 

 aided by scientific research, can be made to yield a surplus of food 

 so as to prevent famine in this as well as the Old World. Con- 

 trast the modes of field agriculture of the present day, as pursued 

 in most parts of Europe, with those of this favored country, and 

 you will fiud, with all our boasted improvements in agricultural 

 implements, the European agricultui'ist generally produces much 

 the largest yield of the cereals, such as wheat, rye, oats and barley. 

 This fact is accounted for by the English, French, and German 

 agriculturist bestowing more labor and fertilizers to their laud, 

 thereby keeping up its original productiveness; while here waste, 

 idleness, and a superficial culture is sure, sooner or later, to destroy 

 the best soil that nature in her bounty has 'produced. Such is the 

 virgin soils of our Western prairies. I will only refer you to the 

 startling facts which are published by the State Agricultural Society 

 of Ohio, during the past sixteen years, to establish the truth of 

 these assertions. 



[Inst.] 34 



