456 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Cane and Cokn in Florida. 

 Mr. J. D. IMitc'liell, near Smyrna, states that within fifty miles of 

 the-above place the soil along the lagoons is a rich, sandy loam, from 

 one to six feet deep, and rests upon a sub-stratum of coarse shells. 

 The cane, if allowed to grow for twelve or fourteen months, so that 

 it may have two growths to attain its size, will often reach two inches 

 in diameter. One farmer has taken the tenth crop from the same 

 roots," and that with no cultivation. This perfectly matiu'ed cane he 

 says will make the finest quality of sugar and syrup. The same 

 correspondent says that upon the soil where the shells come to the 

 surface, the corn sometimes grows fifteen feet high, although this is 

 not, properly speaking, a corn country. He promises to report at 

 some future time the results of one and a half acr'es planted to cane, 

 and of 2,500 orange buds set out. 



Chiccory. 



Mr. D. C. Dalsey, Chicago, 111., asks whether chiccory cannot be 

 grown to advantage in this country. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker.— The use of chiccory is simply to adulterate 

 coffee, sometimes by the consumer for the sake of economy, and 

 sometimes by the dealer for the sake of dishonest profit. It is used 

 in England and France much more extensively than in this country, 

 but it may be easily raised here by any one wtio considers it worth 

 while. The roots are cultivated very much in the same manner as 

 carrots, cut into pieces about half an inch square, and thoroughly 

 dried. After this they are roasted like coffee and ground up with a 

 portion of the pure article. We do not favor the use of chiccory in 

 coffee because it possesses no beneficial properties, but on the con- 

 trary is said to have a tendency to taint the blood with bad humors. 

 Certainly it impedes digestion. 



Adjourned. 



December 15, 1868. 



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

 Naming of Sweet Corn. 

 Mr. Joseph B. Olcott of Buckland, Connecticut, asks the privilege 

 of naming his corn the " Farmers' Club." The club by vote, deci- 

 ded that Mr. Olcott could not adopt a name more appropriate or 

 significant than that of the originator, and they advise him to call 

 his excellent variety " Olcott's sweet." 



