466 Transactions of the American Institute. 



by not observing this that so much difference of opinion exists in 

 regard to their vahie. 



Fruit Drying. 



Mr. W . S. Philips introduced to the chib a new and clieap way of 

 drying fruit. Mr. B. R. Ilawley, of Normal, 111., has erected a dry- 

 house on this principle, that can be used by any farmer. It exactly 

 inverts the common methods of introducing the warm air at the 

 bottom and taking it out at the top ; he takes in warm, dry air at top, 

 exhausting tlie damp, heavy air from the bottom. Thus using the 

 law of gravity, the cold, damp air always at the bottom of the room 

 is continually drawn off; and as warm, dry air is introduced, it spreads 

 evenly over the whole apartment, and th-e room can be filled and 

 emptied in from three to ten minutes at any temperature desired. 

 By using the air in this manner, no steam is generated to discolor the 

 article being dried. The house or room may be kept closed ; no dust 

 or fly-specks on fruit. Articles can be dried in very much less time. 

 Hops were dried in two hours, without discoloring. It works on the 

 same principle that the sun and a good wind combined does on a 

 ummer day, only it will dry much faster. All danger of burning 

 up either the building or the material dried is rexwoxp^. 



Adjourned. 



December 22, 1868. 



3Ir. Nathan C. Ely in the chair; Mr. John W. Chambers, Secretary, 



Reclaiiming Swamps — Draining Land. 



Mr. C. J. Hillerand, Canton, Pa., writes : " Can you give me infor- 

 mation as to draining mud-bottom lakes surrounded by marshes ? 

 "Will it pay in those cases where it can be done without a heavy 

 expense? If so, what time is best to drain off the water? What is 

 the best method of cleaning the marshes of moss and teabush, or 

 weed, as it is commonly called ? "What is the proper or best mode of 

 cultivating land where the muck varies from three to ten feet in 

 depth, and how long after it has been properly drained before it will 

 be suitable for farming or gardening purposes ?" 



Mr. "VVm. S. Carpenter. — The great difhculty in reclaiming a swampy 

 piece of ground of any kind is getting a satisfactory outlet for the 

 water. Judging of the locality from the description in Mr, Hillerand's 



