444 Tbaxsacttoxs of the American Institute. 



quality is low. The onh* new potato of great merit is, in my opinion, 

 the Early Rose. It is unsurpassed, and, so far as my experience goes, 

 unequaled, 



Mr. "Wm. Lawton. — The table qualities of a potato are for me a 

 matter of the first importance. I })lanted this year three varieties, 

 the Early Goodrich, the Harrison, and the White Mercer. The Harrison 

 produces Unely, hut for the table I would rather have two bushels of 

 the White Mercer than four of the Harrison. For eating, I know of 

 110 potato equal to the White Mercer. 



Mr. O. C. Wait, West Georgia, Vt., exhibited some of the Early 

 Rose o-rowinsi; on the stems. 



Sowing Baelet. 



Mr. E, Truxton, of Lincoln county, Ohio, asks the club when he 

 should sow barley. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble. — There was an old rule in Pennsylvania 

 when I was a boy, to sow as early as possible, when first the frost is 

 out of the ground. 



Mr. W. S. Carpenter. — That depends on the variety. It is well, of 

 course, for spring barley to be sown early, but I prefer winter barley ; 

 it is surer and yields better. I sow my barley as near the 20th of 

 September as the weather will allow. 



Mr. J. B. Lyman. — When do you sow fall barley ? 

 ■ Mr. W. S. Carpenter.— On the 20th of September. 



Removal of Iron Stains from Granite. 



Mr. Thomas Young, Philadelphia, Pa., has a granite front that has 

 been deeply stained with iron rust ; he writes asking the chemical 

 men of the club what he shall do about it. He has used sundry acids 

 with but indifferent success. 



Mr. James A. Whitney. — The iron rust should be eaten out with 

 several washings of oxalic acid, and this removed Avitli water. Then 

 coat the surface with h3'drated silicate of potash, commonly called 

 liquid glass. This will effectually fill the pores and coat the face of 

 the stone. 



When Lime siiould be Applied. 



A gentleman from Essex county, Kew Jersey, writes : 

 " Will some of the gentlemen in attendance at the next meeting of 

 the Faruiers' Club be so good as to give their advice of the best time 

 and uK^de of applying lime to the soil ? Will it answer to spread it 



