No. 199.] 525 



veniently till it, and that tills one foot is the laboratory in which all 

 vegetable and animal life are wrought out. 



Grafts, Cuttings and seeds were distributed. 



Dr. Underbill, proposed as subjects for next meeting grafts, cut- 

 tings, seeds and planting. 



The Club adjourned. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



AprU 23d, 1850. 



Hon. Robert Swift Livingston in the Chair. Henry Meigs, 

 Secretary. 



Mr. Meigs. — Early 'planting of Potatoes. — The experience of seve- 

 ral past.years, has proved that the early planting of this most valuable 

 vegetable, is most free from the evils which have of late beset it. 



And besides that ; the mode of planting has become of great ira 

 portance. Mr. Williams of the State of Maine, has demonstrated by 

 results of unquestionable truth, that when the hut ends and seed ends 

 of the potatoes are cut off and planted, the produce is as 40 for the 

 hut ends, as 60 for the seed ends ; and from the middle, cut in two 

 parts, as 160 ; thus showing the superiority of the centre to be 60 per- 

 cent in quantity. 



We have often adverted, (in this club) to the great utility of birds 

 as destroyers of insects, injurious to vegetation. Any observer of the 

 habits of many birds, will testifiy to the great destruction of the insect 

 enemies of our gardens and fields by birds. We therefore hail with 

 great pleasure the recent passage of a law, by our good neighbour the 

 State of New-Jersey, imposing a fine of five dollars on any person who 

 sh&W M[\, [off his oum place ;) the night or musquito hawk, chimney 

 swallow, martin or swift, woodpecker, whippoorwill, cuckoo, king 



