546 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



flail that is not sufficiently thought of — that is^ the muscular 

 improvement of laborers engaged in that kind of emplojment 

 during winter. A man thus employed would be much more 

 valuable in summer than one employed in any sedentary AYork, 

 or one who spent his winter in idleness. 



Prof. Mapes, T. W. Field, and Mr. Smith, of Ct., advocated 

 employing men in draining and other form improvements during 

 winter, instead of threshing. Mr. Smith advocated the prepara- 

 tion of swamp lands for growing cranberries, and spoke of great 

 success, in Connecticut, in growing cranberries both upon wet 

 and dry land. 



Prof. Nash — In a southern region it is not difficult to keep 

 hands employed in winter, but it is here. 



Wm. Silliman — On my farm of 170 acres, in Westchester 

 county, I find no difficulty in employing men in winter, but I do 

 find difficulty in getting as much w^ork done in winter as I wish 

 to do. 



Dr. Underbill — Digging muck for manure is an employment 

 that should keep thousands of men busy in winter. I have used 

 over 30,000 loads, and I can find no substitute equal to swamp 

 muck. 



Prof. Nash — The thinking farmer, it is true, can find work for 

 himself and others in winter, but the much larger class, the 

 unthinking farmers, cannot, and it is this want of employment 

 that is the greatest detriment to farm improvement in this country. 



Invitation to meet the Geographical Society. — John Jay invited 

 the members to attend the next meeting of the Geographical 

 Society, at the University, on Thursday evening, when agricultu- 

 ral statistics will be under discussion. 



Mr. Smith gave some interesting information upon the subject 

 of cranberry cultui-e. A plat of cranberries are now growing 

 in Connecticut, from seed which he sowed some years ago, and he 

 spoke of a man who planted sixteen tons of vines obtained from 

 Cape Cod, and he is so well satisfied that he will plant ten more 

 acres. The plant that proves most successful is to strip off the 

 whole turf from marsh land and set the vines, and, if the land 

 is not sandy, add sand as the only manure. The muck can be 



