AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 533 



Mr. Pease presented a quantity of wax beans, groT\Ti here by 

 his brother, from seed from Germany. They are shining black 

 and reputed a very good variety. 



Mr. Fuller presented a parcel of the Bulbilles of Dioscorea 

 Batatas, of which he has raised a large crop. These little balls 

 grow at the feet of the leaf stalks. 



Subjects for next meeting. Those of last meeting, and " The 

 best forms, &c. of public markets," by Dr. Holton ; " Vineyards" 

 and " To what extent and by what means can agriculture be 

 taught in any schools with advantage ? and what are some of the 

 best results to be sought ?" 



The Club adjourned. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



March 23, 1858. 



Present — Messrs. President Pell, Hon. R. S. Livingston, Mr. 

 Livingston, Leonard Wray, of England, Asher L. Smith, of Leba- 

 non, Conn., Solon Robinson, Dr. Holton, the venerable Benjamin 

 Pike, of Jersey, Fuller, of Williamsburg, Paine, T. W. Field and 

 Dr. Peck, of Brooklyn, Dr. Uuderhill, of Croton Point, Wagener, 

 Adrian Bergen, of Gowanus, Prof. J. J. Mapes, Prof. Nash, Mr. 

 Bruce and two daughters. Dr. Smith, W. Silliman, Mr. Troye, of 

 Alabama, Mr. Vail, Mr. Pardee, Mr. Geissenhainer, and others — 

 about 80 members. 



President Pell in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



The Secretary read the following translation made by him : 



[Bulletin Mensuel de la Socicte Imporiale Zoologique d'Acclimatation, January, 1858.] 



We translate from this numl)er, an article on the domestication 

 of the ostrich. If successful, and the noble bird becomes plenti- 

 ful, what a dish will be served up, of a pair of them on the table 

 at a great civic festival 1 



Mons. Chagot offers to the society, a prize of two thousand 

 francs for their domestication. Six ostriches of the third genera 

 tion domesticated, shall have it, whether raised in France, Sene^ 

 gal, or Algeria. 



We have for the first time since the flood, tried camels in 

 America successfully. Let some enterprising American give us 

 flocks of ostriches. Their feathers will well pay for their keep- 

 ing. 



