588 Tea xs ACTIONS of the American Institute. 



Dkaining Tile. 



Thomas Jackson, of Pliiladelpliia, has four stout boys, is hiudably 

 ambitious to get them into the country, and to go himself; knows 

 how to make tile for drainage, and came to the Club for information 

 as to a good location. 



Mr. John Crane. — I should think it might be worth while for him 

 to look about in the vicinity of TVoodbridge, New Jersey. The clay 

 there is, I believe, abundant and of the proper quality. 



Mr. J. B. Lyman. — The last point is an important one. There has 

 been much complaint that the tile sold by some companies crumbles 

 after being in the ground eight or nine years, and some becomes use- 

 less even sooner than the time mentioned. A person who engages in 

 the business had better do the fair thing, and to avoid mistakes he 

 must select clay that will make firm tile of bright red color, and 

 that rings when you knock against it. There are many places in the 

 middle belt of New Jersey where the best of clay can be found. 



Adjourned. 



December 16, 1869. 



Nathan C. Ely, Esq., iu the chair; Mr. Jonx W. Chambers, Secretary. 

 Dwarf and Standard Pears. 



Mr. J. A. Newton, Brownville, Ind., asked three questions : Can 

 dwarf pears be converted into standards by planting rather deep and 

 hilling earth around the stem ? How far should the trees be planted 

 apart ? Is it best to top low or encourage the growth of one long, 

 straight stem ? 



The Chairman. — When I was younger by eighteen or twenty years 

 I set some seventy-five dwarf pear trees, some of which were grafted 

 close to the ground, and hilled up in the fall on account of frost. This 

 brought new shoots, and most of them are now standards. 



The Secretary. — I have had similar experience. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble. — So have I, and so I suppose have many 

 others, but 1 am of the impression that only certain varieties are 

 thus affected. 



'Mr. A. S. Fuller. — The result will be the same with any and all vari- 

 eties, provided tlie junction of the pear stock upon the quince root be 

 made four inches or so 1k4ow the surfiice. I may remark here that 

 it is a good practice to remove the earth and cut several gashes at 



