424 [Assembly 



members to-day, of the immense importance of this subject to the 

 human race. 



Mr. Blakeslee. — Land is always better oft' after a x^roper rota- 

 tion of crops. Now we get more grain after flax than we do after 

 oats. "When we air flax in water-rotting, we hasten the rotting 

 considerably — lifting the flax and letting the air in for a while, 

 and then putting under water again, and so repeating the opera- 

 tion a few times ; this may be done by draining off the water and 

 then letting it on again, where situations will allow it. 



President Tallmadge. — In this discussion we should aim to 

 arrive at practical results. We must instantly dismiss all manner 

 of theory which fails us in that. This is a great question, the 

 first division of which belongs to the growing the staple — and 

 here analysis has recently taught us the very ingredients in soils 

 required for various plants, one of which demands more or less 

 than other of those indispensable elements. One result of this 

 knowledge is the confirmation of great facts, partially heretofore 

 known, in relation to the importance — the necessity of rotation of 

 ^.j-ops — more rapid in horticulture than in agriculture, being re- 

 quired in three to five years ia the former. And in the forest 

 how striking are the evidences of a grand rotation, where tlie pine 

 trees of ages being removed, other trees of different kinds take 

 their places for a long period. And we cannot fail, in following 

 out the principle, to remark that Divine Providence has ordained 

 immense rotations in all things. Cast your eye upon our world, 

 ilee the growth of masses of men, and their cities, in their orders 

 of rotation — growing, ripening and decaying. See Babylon, Baal- 

 bec Persepolis, Carthage. In some cases even the ruins of their 

 ma«-nificence can hardly be found. So that in the rotation of 

 plants in our garden we behold the type of the great rotations of 

 man. And so of all vegetable and animal life. While these 

 forms rise, glitter, and pass away, the great elements of air and 

 earth are constantly restored from exhaustion to health and fer- 

 tility. 



Mr. Blakeslee. — Let us discuss the subject of stock at the first 

 meeting of the Club in May. Adopted. 



Flax is to be continued at the second meeting in March. 



The Club 'adjourned. H. MEIGS, 6'ec'y. 



