AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



433 



Mr. Lawton presented an ear of Zea maize, (Indian corn,) from 

 fhe Rocky mountains. The grain is yellow, not as large as our 

 common corn grains^ each grain closely wrapped in a husk and 

 strongly fixed' on the cob. The ear is seven inches round at the 

 butt, and eight inches long, while the cob is only two inches and 

 a half round and extremely hard. 



A combined, reversible, corn plow, and harrow and seed plow, 

 patented by Henry Schreiner,jr., of Berry sburg, Dauphin county, 

 Pennsylvania, was exhibited by him, and its qualities explained 

 to the Club. 



Paper pulp from white pine wood, was exhibited by Charles 

 MarzonL, from Intra, on the Lago Maggiore of Italy — patented 

 there. 



SALT UPON OLD PASTURES. 



Solon Robinson — Here is another seeker after knowledge. He 

 wants to know if " sowing salt upon old pasture lands increases 

 the growth of grass, and whether salt sown upon any dry lands 

 increases the crops 1 Also, how much weight of guano, from 

 actual trial, is necessary to sow per acre on fair lands, to insure 

 a good crop of corn, and whether it should be plowed under or 

 sowed on plowed land and harrowed in ?" 



In regard to the guano, my opinion is that it is always most 

 profitably used upon land sown with small grain, thoroughly 

 mixing from 200 to 300 pounds per acre with the surface soil, by 

 the plow or harrow, and always sowing grass or clover seed with 

 the grain. Turn this crop of clover or grass under to manure 

 the crop of corn. If guano is to be applied to a corn crop direct, 

 I would plow it in. As I am not an old salt, I will leave that 

 question for somebody else to answer, for the benefit of " A 

 Young Connecticut Farmer." 



Prof. Mapes — An excess of salt upon land will kill all vege- 

 tation for the first year, except asparagus, but the land will after- 

 ward be found very productive. In England salt is recognized 

 by Government as a manure of such value that it passes turn- 

 pikes toll free, and it is used, by farmers at high prices. Here it 

 is used to be thrown away by the pork packers, and I have 

 bought it at four cents a bushel. Salt upon old pastures will 

 [Am. Ikst.] 28 



