No. 133.] 447 



Even in the moderate period since I was a young man, we have 

 seen the world admiring the noble works, practical and scientific, 

 of Von Thaer, and but the other day, the chemical lectures of a 

 Leibig, and yet more recently the results of practice, guided by 

 all the resources of science from Mapes, of New- Jersey. These 

 teachers have made deep impressions on the public j udgment. And 

 yet our continent wants a thousand more such men. They ought to 

 have pay and honor without stint. 



Judge Van Wyck. — Mr. Tuttle of Morrittown, N. Jersey, a far- 

 mer, has proposed the question which the Club has adopted for 

 discussion to-day. He sent his communication on the subject 

 through Mr. S. Allen, long a respectable and highly useful mem- 

 ber of this Club, and who also now resides at Morristown. Mr. 

 Tuttle proposes, the germination and growth of plants, and their 

 fertilizers, the source of the latter and how they act upon and in- 

 fluence the former. He thinks they derive the greatest portion 

 of their nourishment from above, the atmosphere, heat, light, 

 moisture, &c., that these enter and [influence the upper parts of the 

 plant first, and descend to the roots, and through this channel the 

 greatest portion of food is received. He admits that plants may, 

 and perhaps do receive nourishment from the soil through the 

 roots, and receive benefit from it. He gives many plausible rea- 

 sons, and cites some strong facts for his theory, and very well ex- 

 pressed, and which knowledge he has no doubt acquired from 

 close observation and practice as a farmer — the best book perhaps 

 after all for one to spend much time in studying, to make the most 

 successful farmer. It is admitted by most scientific agriculturists, 

 that plants receive food through their foliage, and which 

 influence their growth much; but in what proportion has not per- 

 haps been fairly settled. Mr. Tuttle recommends keeping the 

 surface of the soil covered with a good coat of grass. This cer- 

 tainly cannot be objected to ; it protects it from the scorching sun 

 of summer, from the frosts of winter to a certain extent, and 

 drenching rains of all seasons, and furnishes food for animals. 

 Such men as J. Sinclair, H. Davy, and many others, all eminent 

 as scientific and practical farmers, say, the first step of every good 

 farmer should be to throw over his soil a rich, thick carpet of 



