300 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



In examining all that has been written on the malady of the 

 potato, grape, and many other plants, we mark the same curious 

 varieties of action as in men. One said, your potato rotted 

 because it was planted in a valley, on a hill, in clay, sand, loam, 

 too much, too little manure; too early, too late; on the south side, 

 while the north is all good; on the north side rotten, sound on the 

 south, a common rail fence divided the rotten from the sound. 

 In the same field, alternate irregular numbers rotten and the others 

 sound; too much wet, too dry, too hot, too cool, &:c., &,c., to the 

 end of all the thousand and one chapters on this vegetable plague, 

 leaving us on the under side of the wheel of knowledge, which 

 we have climbed with the assiduity of a wilderness of squirrels, 

 and finding ourselves, like them, where Hudibras put his philoso- 

 pher, two hundred years ago — 



" At the place where at his setting out he was." 



Most enquirers have, however, reached one conclusion, viz, that 

 the disease, and not the potato, will one day run out. 



Mr. Lawton presented to the Club baskets of his magnificent 

 blackberries, measuring (the largest) nearly five inches by four 

 and a half in circumference. 



Mr. Hite, of Morrisania, presented some of the same stock, 

 about the same size. 



Mr. Brett presented, from his farm at Patchogue, Long Island, 

 oats, of great weight, and of seventy bushels per acre. 



Solon Robinson wonders how such stories of that down-trodden 

 (by itself) soil can be believed. But he says, there are plenty 

 more like it, that are true; let who will testify against that noble 

 island. 



Subjects for next meeting : " The small fruits," and " Irrigation." 



The Club then adjourned. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



September 1, 1857. 

 Present — Messrs. Lawton, Davis, Robinson, Dr. Smith, Field, 

 Adrian Bergen, three ladies, S. D. Bloodgood, Doughty, of Jersey, 

 Prof Mapes, Dr. Waterbury, Gail Borden, Jr., of Texas, Mr. Stew- 

 art, Mr. Stacy and others — between forty and fifty. 



