568 Teaxsactioxs of the American Institute. 



the conclusion that for my soil and climate, twenty-live miles north 

 of this city, in Westcliester county, the Yellow Siberian is the best. 

 I would say to our friend in Haverhill, by all means plant a dozen or 

 moi-e of the trees. They grow on poor soils ; they do not draw 

 upon the more valuable constituents of a soil, and they make a 

 delicate and wholesome preserve. 



Mr. William Lawton. — I have often been surprised that farmers 

 care so little for this fruit. It costs but a trifle ; it is hardy, and a 

 large bearer. The crab apple yields fine cider, and, as Mr. Cai-penter 

 remarks, the preserves and jelly made from it are not easily surpassed. 

 Fruits of this character are just as important in a full and various 

 diet as potatoes or beans. The stomach requires a tart, and it is no 

 answer to say that crab apples and cranberries contain no elements 

 of direct nutrition. 



Seed Cokn. 



Mr. S. B. Fanning, of Jamesport, Long Island, sent a box of his 

 improved Sanford seed corn for distribution, and this note to the 

 club : 



" Gentlemen : As a number of the members at the last meeting 

 expressed a desire to receive some of the corn which I presented at 

 that time, I take the libert}^ to forward a box for general distribution, 

 trusting that it may be fairly tested the coming season. 



" As things were somewhat complicated at your last meeting, 

 owing, I presume, to the great amount of matter brought up for 

 discussion, I do not consider the corn was fully appreciated. Pardon 

 me, tlierefore, for further introducing it to your notice. I claim that 

 it is a greatly improved variety, first obtained from Ehode Island and 

 crossed with Long Island corn. By a very careful selection of seed 

 each year for ten years past, selecting the earliest ripening from 

 stalks growing two or more perfect ears, I claim to have succeeded 

 in obtaining a rai'ely superior variety of field corn. The demand for 

 it*and the high estimation in which it is held in this county induced 

 me to send it out last spring into every State for trial. The 

 very favorable reports received encouraged me to send it to the 

 Farmers' Club, 



" Experiments have demonstrated and analogy has shown that the 

 finest and best samples of seed, continued for years, will improve the 

 quality and quantity of the product. Better wheat is thus raised, 

 and even a variety may be established. On this principle (in farm 



