AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 377 



Hon. John G. Eergen had raised great crops of cabbage, and 

 found that when grown one year on a field good, they would next 

 year have the club-foot. 



Mr. Pardee mentioned the successful plan of old Colonel Stod- 

 dard in growing cauliflowers. That is to have the plants ready 

 in the fall when cold weather is coming, to form of boards a pent 

 roof over the row, open at both ends to let air pass through — as 

 the cold gets down towards zero, he stops up the holds at both 

 ends and heaps earth over the roof and sides. When spring opens 

 he gradually opens his pent roof to admit air, and when frost is 

 gone takes away all cover, and his cauliflowers are fine by July. 

 (Transplanted of course.) 



Prof. Mapes observed that in Bergen, New Jersey, where the 

 soil contained much shell, club-footed cabbage is not known. 



Mr; Meigs had remarked fine cabbage from Communipaw, for 

 half a century past, and never knew of the club-foot there. Shell 

 must be in that soil in abundance. 



Mr. Eergen — Cucumbers have been grown by me for market 

 many years, on some of my fields twenty years consecutively and 

 well. I send them to market before their seeds are perfected ! 

 So I have raised early potatoes for ten years following with advan- 

 tage, for they never perfect their seed balls. 



Henry Stanton, the messenger of the Institute, from a basket of 

 seed packets, supplied each member with a portion of the seeds of 

 the Chinese sugar cane, (Sorghum sadcharatum. ) These seeds 

 were given to us by the Hon. John G. Eergen of Long Island. 



The Club adopted as subjects for next meeting — "Fence posts,'' 

 and on motion of Dr. Edgar F. Peck of Erooklyn — " 7 he best 

 mode of raising forest trees from the seed or nuts of the trees, 

 such as hickory, chestnut, sugar maple, yellow locust and white 

 pine.'' 



Mr. Pardee moved that the " Seeds" be first discussed — Car- 

 ried. 



A cow owned by Mr. Robert J. Swan, near Geneva, had a calf 

 about the 1st Feb'y, that weighed 120 lbs. the day it was born. 



On motion of Mr. Field, the Club adjourned. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary, 



March 10, 1857. 

 Present — Messrs. President Pell, Judge Livingston, Judge Sco- 

 ville, Dr. Edgar S. Peck of Brooklyn, D. Robinson, Dr. Water- 

 bury, Adrian Eergen of Long Island, Mr. Van Epps, Mr. Pardee, 



