422 ( Assembly 



Parsnips increase the butter bat not the milk, while turnips 

 increase the milk and not the butter — which shows the fattening 

 quality of the parsnip. Parsnips are brewed instead of malt, with 

 hops. — Extracts made Dec. 15, 1851, by II. Meigs. 



The Chairman presented Catawba grapes from his Hudson 

 River farm, which, after being picked from the vines three 

 weeks, were packed in saw dust in kegs. They were very slightly 

 wilted now, and the members of the club on tasting pronounced 

 them excellent. 



Mr. Meigs spoke of the future vast production of American 

 grapes, now rapidly coming on, thanks to such distinguished 

 citizens as Underhill, Longworth, and many others. He hoped 

 that we should find cheap and perfect methods to keep this deli- 

 cious fruit on every man's table from one vintage to another ; and 

 this, too, with strong reference to the highly salutary character of 

 the grape to the constitution of man ! He therefore moved that 

 the preservation of grapes in fresh state be the subject for next 

 meeting. 



Mr. Pell moved to amend by adding vegetables. Adopted. 



The Club then adjourned. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



American Institute, ^ 

 Farmers^ Club, January 6, 1852. ^ 



Alexander H. Stevens, M. D., in the chair; Henry Mkigs, 

 Secretary. 



Mr. Meigs stated the question which had been proposed by him : 

 "The best methods of preserving our grapes fresh; also, vege- 

 table*." 



Chairman. — As rot is due to the presence of the oxygen of the 

 air, it will be necessary to exclude it as perfectly as possible. 

 We know that animals keep longer in their skins or feathers than 

 when they are stripped. How would carbonic acid gas do ? 



