AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 307 



only made as a curiosity for its wonderful results. No one • sup- 

 poses that whale fishing will be abandoned as long as whales can 

 be found in the remotest portions of the great deep to reward the 

 courage and enterprise of our hardy whalers. But we look to 

 the Breckinridge oil company as a valuable auxiliary to supply 

 the vacuum caused by the annually decreasing number of whales 

 killed, and to keep down the prices of illuminating and lubri- 

 cating oils within the means of the laboring and mechanical classes. 

 And in this light we take a warm interest in its success, and 

 desire to aid it by all the means in our power. 



Dr. Alexander H. Stevens, lately president of the State Medical 

 Society, has set out on his place at Lloyd's Neck, L. I., two thou- 

 sand five hundred of the most choice pear trees, dwarfs and 

 standards. 



John M. Bixby did not admire the immense use of pork here or 

 any where. It caused scrofulous disease extensively. Pork was 

 justly condemned by the laws of the Jews. 



As to the grapes of Vevay — I attest the excellence of those of 

 the original Vevay of Switzerland, where I have enjoyed them. 

 They there grow on sunny side hills, which perfects their juices; 

 they resemble the Black Hamburgh. 



Mr. Vail — Has raised sugar sorghum on the farm of Olcott & 

 Vail, at Mount Vernon farm, in Westchester, 17 miles from the 

 city, near the New Haven railroad. It grew thirteen feet high — 

 hogs and horses love it — best boiled a litte — contains much syrup. 

 Others have raised considerable crops of it this summer. 



Solon Robinson remarked on the fattening property of sugar for 

 horses, cattle, &c., that lately while sugar was so cheap, it was 

 profitable to add it to feed for them. 



P. Blot — A letter from him from Yorkville, 80th street and 3d 

 avenue, relative to growing mushrooms — a la mode de Paris — for 

 New- York market. He wants capital, which would be profitably 

 employed in that fine edible. 



William R. Prince of Flushing, sent a Chinese yam, the Dioscorea 

 batata, growth of 1856, on his farm at Flushing. This one is 22 

 inches in length, and about six in circumference at the largest 



