PRO'CEEDIKGS OF THE FaF.MEBS' ClUB. 569 



Btoek) we have the short lioriis, blooded hort*es, &c. Most ftirniers 

 plant and sow ' as it comes.' If an experience of twenty years as a 

 l^ractical farmer has taught me anything, it is that to sow and plant 

 the best seed will pay the best, believing that ' like produces like.' " 

 Mr. Wm, S. Cai-penter likes the corn so well that he had ordered 

 his spring suppl}' and should plant it for his main crop. The opinion 

 of members was decidedly in its favor. 



PKEPAKmcr Sumach. 



Mr. Wilson Barrett, of Keysville, Ya., incpiired what sort of 

 sumach is valuable, and how to prepare it. 



Mr. J. A, Whitney. — The leaves and small twigs of this s^me 

 3'ear's growth are cut in July or early August, dried on the ground, 

 and gathered and ground for use. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith. — In Sicily the leaves are discarded but the 

 twigs are used, and the bark also, both being ground, like medicine, 

 in the apothecary shops of this city. 



Mr. J. L. Aldrich, of Greenville, R. I., gave the folloNnng direc- 

 tions how to i^reserve and prepare sumach : 



" Perhaps the Xew England method of preparing sumach for 

 market may be of value to inquirers. The growth of staUc, which 

 has formed since spring, is cut before the leaves have turned, and 

 dried, with its adhering leaves, in the sun, care being taken to pro- 

 tect it from dews and rains, as getting wet turns it black and injures 

 its value. When perfectly dry, it is cut into short pieces by a hay 

 cutter, and is then ready for market. It is used in dyeing as well as 

 tanning, and varies much in price, sometimes being as low as twenty 

 dollars per ton, at others as high as fortj' or fifty." 



Apple Cions. 



Mr. J. C. Howe, of Lowville, Lewis c5unty, K, Y., sent some 

 cions of choice apple trees : 



'•' Agreeable to my verbal promise to the club, made January 21, 

 I have this day sent you a packet of cions for distribution, trial, and 

 report to your club. 



" You will please say to the members that the two varieties of 

 apples of which I send cions, are both known to have originated 

 with an amateur fruit culturist, who, many years ago, resided here, 

 Dr. David Perry, and the cions herewith sent I have obtained direct 

 from the trees in the doctor's old orchard. 



