366 . [Assembly 



vatc — manare is all fresh and coarse, we put our seed potatoes in 

 it, by its too rapid growth under the heat and fermentation of the 

 coarse manures, and we have found them fair outside but with a 

 dark colored hollow in the centre — often as large as a walnut. 

 If we should use rich and matured soil, where the manure has 

 been a year or two on hand, it is probable that the potatoes would 

 be f*:und sound. The rot was followed by the hollow — there is 

 probably some connnection between the two. I think it is the da- 

 ty of this Club to press on our farmers the propriety of putting 

 well decayed and ripe manure only, on their lands. 



A. P. Cummings of Williamsburgh, observed that the potato 

 crop of this year is remarkably fine, we have had a dry season, 

 the great disease has not appeared. The case reported by Mr. 

 Bowling therefore is not conclusive— for crops of potatoes, how- 

 ever cultivated, are generally good this year. There is no doubt 

 that the tan bark so applied, operates as a'iiind of mulch — so 

 would dry leaves have done. 



The Secretary said that the French Savans, at Paris, have spok- 

 en well of the transactions of the Massachusetts Agricultural As- 

 sociation, relative to the potato malady in this valuable particu- 

 lar — giving faithful results of so many experiments made in vain, 

 therefore, rendering a repetition of them unnecessary, thus sav- 

 ing to farmers, &c., much trouble, cost and time. 



A. P. Cummings said that there was another nursery of the 

 true basket willow, at Newburgh, established by Mr. J. Beveridge 

 and his san-in-lavr. Dr. Grant, and the plantation is extensive. 



President Tallmadge : Our farmers ought to see that the cul- 

 ture of this osier is an important item. Our German new settlers 

 have a knowledge of the true kind and its management. We 

 pay, it seems, seven or eight cents a pound for that imported 

 from Europe which our farmers ought to put in their own pock- 

 ets. It is a bulky article and the cost of transportation consti- 

 tutes the great'part of the price. England, with her moist cli- 

 mate, grows her osiers with great facility — we may not soon ex- 

 port ours to them, but if we could export a few of our sun shine 

 days to England, it would astonish them. We have unprodue- 



