648 TliA\SACTIOi\S OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



was usually attended with tiie best results. The root of the clover 

 does as much good as the stalk, and the older the plant the longer 

 the root. Let him get all he can out of the clover, a o-ood bite of 

 pasturage, a crop of hay, and a crop of seed. 



Bone Dust. 



Mr. N. Jewett of East Haddam, Conn., patronized one of theni 

 last spring, making a purchase of three tons of what was represented 

 as pure bone. lie used it on various crops in a way to test its value, 

 but grieves to state that it proved perfectly worthless. The loss to 

 farmers in buying a poor article as fertilizer is not only in the amount 

 paid for it, but in the partial loss of the crop — the latter generally 

 the greatest. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller, — Our afflicted correspondent probably purchased 

 vegetable ivory, of which there is always an abundance on sale in 

 the New York market. 



Mr. J. W. Gregory. — There are several islands on the southern 

 coast abounding in shells. I am told that ship loads are brought 

 thither "converted," and palmed oif by the maiiufacturers upon 

 unoftending farmers as bone dust. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller. — I think we could afford to advertise an estab- 

 lishment where really unadulterable bone dust could be procured, 

 provided we could find such an establishment anywhere, which I very 

 much doubt. 



Mr. J. B. Lyman. — Our friend, Mr. Thompson of Staten Island, 

 has a test which will enable farmers to decide readily and positively 

 about the relative purity of bone dust, and he will come here soon 

 and explain it. He is a maker of sulphuric acid, and will demonstrate 

 that with a small quantity of that sti'ong solvent the farmer can find 

 out for sure whether he is buying bone or ground oyster shells and 

 plaster. As Chairman of the Committee on Markets, I will say 

 that we have had this matter of fertilizers under advisement, and 

 will make some suggestions in our forthcoming report of abuses and 

 frauds on the farmer. 



To Pkeskrve Meat. 



Mr. M. S. Benjamin, of Clyde, X. Y., having imbibed the Jewish 

 detestation of pork, has decided to rely on beef hereafter, and asked 

 the Club how to keep it. 



Mr. John Crane. — In the first place, the blood must be soaked out; 



