AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 601 



Jlpril 26, 1858. 



Present — Wm. Lawton, Dr. Peck, John G. Bergen, Prof. Nash, 

 Solon Robinson, R.G. Pardee, Prof. Mapes,Dr. Ward, A. Nash — 

 65 in all. 



Wm. Lawton in the chair. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. 



The Chairman invited the members present to call up any sub- 

 ject for discussion, or information, they thought proper, during 

 the first hour of the meeting, before calling up the subjects of the 

 day, "Strawberry culture and small fruits," and "The most econo- 

 mical method of renovating worn out land." 



Solon Robinson read a letter from M. L. Holbrook in relation 

 to the laws which govern the sex of animals, in which he states 

 that a German philosopher has discovered how he can control the 

 production of the young of all domestic animals, so as to produce 

 males or females at pleasure. 



Mr. Robinson also read a letter from a farmer in Cayuga county 

 in relation to the planting of seed potatoes : 



For twelve years past we have been in the habit of selecting, 

 for seed, potatoes as near the size of a black walnut (none smaller) 

 as may be, putting one in each hill, and during this time have 

 not had as many as one in fifty affected with disease j except one 

 season, when on digging in wet weather, we tried the experiment of 

 washing them before they were carried into the cellar, when they 

 rotted more at the bottom of the heap. We have usually plant- 

 ed the kind called dooryard or wigdons, and on the same ground, 

 year after year, manuring once in three years. Other varieties 

 have also done well for us with the same treatment. The rot has been 

 so prevalent in the neighborhood that the best potatoes are now 

 worth seventy-five cents per bushel. 



Mr. Robinson — I am of opinion however, that the large tubers 

 are best. 



The Chairman — Dr. Waterbury I hope, will give us his theory 

 on the subject. 



Dr. Waterbury — The tuber of a potatoe is but the continuance 

 of the stalk, or enlargement, and the circumstances of different 

 experiments are so various that it is unsafe to form theories. 



