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lately from California, and who had resided there some time, all 

 engaged, more or less, in agriculture and horticulture. Thesegen- 

 tlemen brought on with them a variety of seeds of different plants, 

 natives of California— grasses, grain, fruits, vegetables, &c., and 

 presented them to the Club for distribution. Gen. Chandler, at 

 one of the last meetings of the Club, presented some limbs or 

 twigs of the osier willow. They came originally from Mr. Bennet, 

 at or near Albany ; and from their length, slenderness, and ap- 

 parent toughness and flexibility of their wood, it is thouglit they 

 are the real osier. Mr. Dickey has given us some important 

 information as to the cost of the osier here when prepared for use, 

 and the manner of preparing it, by stripping the bark from it when 

 green with something like a pair of iron pincers; after this it 

 should be kept in a dry place, where the sun has power, or put 

 under shelter, especially in wet weather, until it gets well dried. 



President Tallmadge. — One word more as to the osier, and 

 that is : it does not require replanting. The new growth becomes 

 more abundant after cuttings have been taken from the stump. 



Samuel Fleet. — We make baskets in abundance for almost all 

 purposes out of tough oak and hickory. They are made cheaply; 

 but as our trees are fast disappearing, the osier will well supply 

 U3 with baskets. 



Hon. Richard Bacon, of Simsbury, Connecticut, addresses a note 

 to the Secretary, stating, that, in compliance with the request to 

 send seeds of the sugar maple, and the elm, he has found some of 

 the former in good condition, but a large portion were blasted ; 

 that he had not looked for the elm seed in due season, and none 

 were to be had. The elm seed, he remarks, resembles tliat of the 

 parsnip. Tlie Club will please to order the sugar maple seed to 

 be sent to California and Oregon, together with seed of the locust, 

 with others. Ordered accordingly. 



Mr. Fleet observed that the inaccurate, defective accounts 

 which we get usually of the crops render it desirable and impor- 

 tant to procure proper statistics, and at quarterly meetings read 

 and digest them for publication. With a view to that end I will 

 prepare a plan, and submit it at a future meeting. 



