AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 321 



We tliink that California will become one of the best silk 

 growing countries in the world. 



Excellent olive oil from Los Angelos. 



Solon Robinson moved to continue to next meeting the subject 

 of "Orchards." 



Prof. Mapes moved that " isomeric compounds for agriculture 

 be also a subject." Carried. 



The Club then adjourned to the next regular day, Tuesday, 

 Dec. 16th, at noon. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



December 16, 1856. 



Present — Messrs. Wagener, T. W. Field, Vail, Waring, Stacey, 

 Solon Robinson, Dr. Smith, Professor James J. Mapes, Dr. Water- 

 bury, Mr. Leonard, President Pell, fc. Brower, Mr. Chambers, 

 Mr. Blot, Mr. Pardee, -Mr. Morrell, Mr. Judd of the Agriculturist, 

 Mr. Wheeler and others — 41 members in all. 



Dr. Waterbury in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



The Secretary read the following translations and extracts made 

 by him from the works recently received by the American Institute. 

 THE POULTRY. 



The every day quality of the Dorkings has kept them in steady 

 popularity, and their progress has been uninterrupted. Beauty 

 of feather and large size. They have often been sold for from 

 five to seven guineas a piece. A cock was recently sold for fifteen 

 guineas — $75 . 



Aylesbury ducks have come up to 7| lbs. a piece in weight. 



Geese to 24 lbs. 



SELECTION OF SEEDS. 



The general opinion hitherto has been in favor of selecting the 

 apparently best seeds of grain from the largest plants of the field 

 with best developed ears and roundest best colored grains. And 

 yet, in entire opposition to all this theory, it has sometimes been 

 found that seed grain of inferior quality, even damaged by frost 

 or badly secured in a wet harvest, produces grain of an excellent 

 quality, while first rate seed has produced grain of moderate weight 

 and bad color. These contradictory facts may be attributed to 

 difierences of seasons. But it appears after viewing the whole 

 matter that the very fine quality of seed produces necessarily su- 

 perior grain ! It rather appears to be true that highly cultivated, 



