504 TRANSACTIONS OT THB 



healthy growth and perfection of celery as to asparagus, and is the 

 bane of the whole insect and reptile tribe. Strew it upon the 

 manure in the trenches, and spade it in the week before you set 

 your plants; use it with liberal hand in your after culture, strewed 

 upon the earth upon either side of the plants; stir the soil often, 

 for rapid growth, and consequent crispness and tenderness and 

 absence of woody fibre, is the secret of choice celery. After set- 

 ting your plants, lay a few pieces of lath across your trenches, and 

 place boards upon them to afford shade during the heat of the 

 day, removing them at night. I know of no more valuable ma- 

 nure in a garden, in general application, than salt. Strew it upon 

 your garden in early Spring, until it covers the ground like a fall 

 of snow, and you will destroy myriads of worms, curculios, &c., 

 and much enrich the soil. Neither asparagus or celery, of a 

 healthy growth or correct flavor, can be grown without salt. 



Dr. Deck presented a description of a new steam plow, by J. G. 

 Trotter, with drawings, showing the tilling, sowing seeds, liquid 

 manure tank, roller, rake or harrow, feed water to boiler, cutters 

 of soil preceding the diggers, steering apparatus, &c. 



Dr. Wellington exhibited Chinese Yams, (Dioscorea Eatatas,) 

 twenty-five inches in length, and gave the following account of 

 the culture and quality. 



It is important to us to inquire whether the Dioscorea Batatas, 

 cannot be in some measure substituted for the common potato, 

 since that is no longer a healthy or economical food. I think 

 this new root one of the best esculents grown, and that every far- 

 mer should introduce its cultivation at once, not only on account 

 of its value for food but because it will be profitable to raise seed 

 for some years, to all who may engage in its culture. The Dios- 

 corea grows in all soils, when not too wet, and yields large roots 

 if planted very early in the Spring, and the manure used, if any, 

 be thoroughly rotted. Of course, where the season is long the 

 roots will have longer to grow, and be larger as they grow the 

 whole season, and until actually frozen into the soil ; and when 

 left out over the Winter, start to grow as soon as the frost will 

 permit. Where the season is no longer than at Boston, I find 

 that Mr. J. F. C. Hyde of Newton Centre, Mass., reports that his 



