310 Traxsactioxs of the American Institute, 



Mr. A. S. Fuller. — I know botany is a dry study, but we should 

 teacli by object lessons. When the Latin words are analyzed they 

 show wonderful application. The great fault lies in the teaching. I 

 have known young ladies vv'ho had been studying botany two years 

 come on my grounds, and they knew so little of the science they 

 could scarcely tell a dandelion. But I have taken them in hand and 

 given them illustrations in analyzing the words so that they would 

 remember every lesson, and if the subject were followed up they 

 would make astonishing progress. The advantage of the Linnoean 

 system is that it enables foreigners to understand each other. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith. — They have a beautiful system in Switzerland. 

 Tlie boys start out with hammer and basket and tlieir teachers, and 

 they examine every object, flower, rock, and tree, and come to a 

 practical knowledge, such as should be given in this country, and 

 it is a disgrace that it is not given. 



Mr. J. A. Whitney. — We are not willing to keep our children at 

 school long enough, and we do not pay salary enough to teachers. 



Ox Yokes. 



Mr. W. C. McKinbie, Crawfordsville, Ind., sent a small model 

 intended to work easily, and which was offered to compete for the 

 $100 prize. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — Some years ago I had occasion to use many 

 pairs of oxen, and being convinced that the yoke hurt them, harness 

 was substituted, and they were able to draw one-third more. 



Mr. Hyde. — While in the west we use to work eight pair of cattle, 

 and we found that nothing was better than bows of hard, smooth 

 hickory and yokes -of maple, for the neck of the ox has a cushion 

 making a well constructed yoke fit easy. 



Owing to tlie extreme hot weather the club adjourned for four 

 weeks, and the next meeting will be held Tuesday, August 11. 



August 11th, 1868. 



Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair ; Mr. John W. Chambeks, Secretary. 



After a recess of four M'eeks, a period of uncommonly warm 

 weather, the club assembled in the old cpiarters in the building of 

 the Cooper Union at the junction of Third and Fourth avenues. 



