384 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



now supplant it and by overshadowing destroy it. At what pe- 

 riod these ancient conifera were planted we have no means of 

 accurately determining. What types were supplanted by them 

 we may yet know, though I am not aware of a single instance in 

 which their domain is extending by natural causes. The micros- 

 cope shows their internal structure to be similar to that of prime- 

 val firs of geology, whose remains form the coal fields. Like the 

 red Indian, they belong to an age gone by, and like him are giv- 

 ing way to the law of 'progression hy change of race — a law which 

 lies at the foundation oFall general agricultural practices, whether 

 of nature or of man, from the supplanting of one species of forest 

 by another on continents to the plowing in of buckwheat or clo- 

 ver to improve land. 



President Pell — llie subject of restoring an almost lost vitality 

 to seeds is interesting. I have succeeded in some by immersion 

 in dilute oxalic acid — one ounce in one gallon of water. Mum- 

 my wheat has so revived. 



Mr. Jay, from the committee on farm buildings, was requested 

 to report, and his report was read. 



He deprecated the great want of good form buildings in this 

 country. There are a few model barns, but generally good farm 

 buildings are only to be found upon the lands of a class called 

 "gentlemen farmers." One great difficulty is, that farmers have 

 no ready means of procuring suitable plans for barns and other 

 farm buildings, and therefore the committee recommend a liberal 

 premium for new plans — say $1,000 in three prizes. The scope 

 of the plans should be calculated for all pai ts of the country, and 

 no doubt immense good practical benefits will result from the offer 

 of such prizes. Specifications are also recommended for various 

 building materials, and perhaps for some but little known in this 

 region. The plans should embrace all the wants and improve- 

 ments of an injproved state of husbandry. Eail-cars are recom- 

 mended in all large farm buildings. 



This report was recommitted to the same committee, with di- 

 rections to prepare specifications for the offer of these prizes for 

 the best plans of farm buildings, from which it is hoped some 

 valuable results may be obtained. 



The same subject continued to next meeting, viz: " The best 

 mode of raising forest trees from the seeds or nuts, such as 

 hickory, chestnut, sugar maple, oak and while pine," and "fence 

 posts." 



The Secretary, Mr. Meigs, called the a-ttention of the members 

 to the extraordinary condition of China at this time, and its 



