Proceedings of the Farmers' Club, 777 



matter was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs, J. B. 

 Lyman, J, F. Whitney and Mr. Reade. 



Chalk as Manuek. 



Mr. T. Thorn, Jacksonville, Florida, sent an envelope filled with 

 ft white powder found on his farm, and asked if it has any agricul- 

 tnral value. 



Prof. J. A. "Whitney. — It is evidently a chalky formation, a car- 

 bonate of lime ; in fact, similar to several other samples that have 

 been sent to the Club from various parts of the South. It can be 

 used as a substitute for shell marl, or in the place of lime, but its 

 action will be nlilder than either of these. In many cases this 

 material is capable of being nsed to very great advantage. Chalking 

 land has prevailed from the remotest times in eome parts of England, 

 and some districts formerly noted for their desolate barrenness have 

 been made rich and fertile in part by this agency. The practice in 

 these instances upon a light, sandy soil, not rich enough to grow tur- 

 nips, was chalking, toning and manuring. From 100 to 150 loads, 

 from eighty to 100 cubic yards of chalk, were applied per acre ; the 

 land then seeded to grass with barley, the barley being nourished 

 with bone-top dressing, the grass grazed for two years by sheep, fed 

 also with oil cake, and being consequently enriched with manure, 

 was found after this, capable of producing a good crop of oats. 

 This method, it will be seen, led to the gradual renovation of the 

 land. It would, doubtless, have to be modified to suit the soil of the 

 South, and too much should not be expected from the first experi- 

 ments. The experience of practice will be needed, in addition to 

 the teachings of theory to secure the best results. 



Pkoteoting Orchards. 

 Mr. S. E. Todd read a paper on the advantage of protecting fruit 

 trees by belts or ranges of forest trees to keep off the wind, and there- 

 by avoid the abstraction of moisture from the surface of the trunks 

 and branches at the season when the ground is frozen, and the roots 

 consequently unable to supply the vegetable structure with fluids. 

 The trees being thus protected, the normal condition of the sap ves- 

 sels and their contents is maintained ; as a consequence, leaf, bud, 

 flower, and fruit receive due nourishment at each stage of their 

 growth, and the general thrift of the orchard is kept up in a high 

 decree. 



