540 Transactions of the American Institute, 



counter scale, weighing from one ounce to twenty-five pounds. A 

 prominent featm*e is that it can be instantly adjusted for any size 

 scoop or pan, and will be useful in making cakes or preserves. The 

 weight is indicated on a dial plate, as the hours and minutes are on 

 a clock. The Club commend it Adjourned. 



April 21, 1868. 

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

 SETTING FENCE POSTS. 



Mr. T. D. Austin, Waveland, Ind. — Twelve years ago I set some 

 black walnut posts — a part top end up, and the rest top end down. 

 In six years those set with the butt end down rotted off, while 

 the others were sound. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble thought that water can only run one way 

 through timber. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith. — It is a well known fact that sap flows up 

 or down, as is the case with cuttings. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller differed with the writer, insisting that there is 

 no reason why it makes any difference. Let some man prove it by 

 trial and give us the result. That will benefit the farmers, but not 

 theories. 



HATCHING CHICKENS BY ARTIFICIAL HEAT. 



A correspondent asks if hatching chickens by artificial heat can 

 be recommended. 



The Chairman. — Why should we rob the hen of the pleasure of 

 hatching her 3'oung? The proceeding is against nature. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter spoke in favor of it; said it had been 

 tried and found practicable. There is no difficulty in hatching out 

 the chickens; the trouble arises in taking cajre of them without the 

 hen. 



Mr. Simeon Baldwin, New Haven, Conn. — He had a hen that 

 sickened and died while setting. He put the eggs in a woolen bag 

 and kept them near the fiire till the chicks appeared. They were 

 raised without difiSculty. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith said that in Egj^Dt the practice of hatching 

 chickens from eggs by artificial heat was very ancient. The 

 Mohammedan countries use a great many chickens, and the demand 

 is met in this way. 



