AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 241 



It can ascend any acclivity of one in three, which is nearly 

 walking up stairs, our stairs being one in two. It can advance, 

 back, or stop instantaneously, the pinion being shifted from the 

 cogs of the driving wheel, and the power thus suddenly released 

 is carried off by a separate fly wheel, which may be used for 

 driving threshing machines, mill-stones, or other purposes. In 

 fact, instead of a farmer sending for and sending back a six horse 

 power engine and threshing machine, requiring in each trip four 

 horses, this machine will move itself any where, draw the corn to 

 market, bring home manure, and do the cultivation and work of 

 the farm. 



Mr. Boydell has expended nearly fifty thousand dollars in 

 accomplishing this object. 



P. S. — On the return of the machine from a trial at Acton, it 

 was met by a w^agon loaded with grain, drawn by six horses. 

 The horses swerved at sight of the machine, and drew the wheels 

 into a soft place, from which seven horses could not extricate it. 

 The engine hooked on to the wagon and drew it out with ease." 



RAIN. 



The quantity increases from above and is greatest at the sur- 

 face of the earth. Observations made on high places show a very 

 marked increase near the earth. This is a matter of course on 

 account ot the greater quantity of air in a given space at the 

 surface. I presume that the barometric pressure in degrees would 

 show this. 



Chairman — The suliject for the day is now in order, viz : " The 

 bread and the butter for this city.'' And on this interesting 

 matter Dr. Waterbury said that important information can be 

 obtained for the next meeting of this Club by our Secretary's 

 addressing certain farmers, whose names I will give him. I wish 

 there^re that the subject be postponed to the next regular meet- 

 ing, the first Tuesday of August. 



A member asked the chairman what knowledge he had of the 

 present condition of our important crops? 



Chairman — They are good. There is not as yet any sign of the 

 potato disease. That the growth of the potatoes is good, that 

 his young potatoes dug up here and there over the field, where 

 they have got ahead of the rest, would average 100 bushels per 

 acre, although not near of full size. 



Dr. Waterbury desired Mr. Solon Robinson, Avhose knowledge 

 of our markets is hardly equalled and not excelled by any one, 

 to speak of the way articles are put up for our markets, and how 

 it may be greatly improved, for profit to both seller and buyer. 



