C76 Transactions of the American Institute. 



General Iinboden. — I pledge you my lioiior, or, if need be, my life, 

 tliat any iiortlicrn man in any county in any part of Virginia will 

 feel as safe as he does liere, and tliat lie will be exempt not only from 

 violence, but from anything that will wound his feelings. The 

 motion was then put and carried unanimously. 



Red Spider (Acakius Telarius). 



Miss E. A. Drake, Hamilton Corners, Medina county, Ohio, sends 

 the following recipe for removing these pests from, and not injuring, 

 plants : " After ten years' experience, we find our simple method a 

 very good one. We take lukewarm water and make a light suds with 

 Castile soap, and with a syringe give them a very thorough washing, 

 being particular to wash the under side of the leaf (as that is the hid- 

 ing place of the spider), and then vvith clean water rinse the most 

 tender plants, but the more hardy will seem to thrive well after a 

 thorough sudsing, without rinsing; but do not expose them to the 

 hot sun in less than twelve hours. Three or four washings Avill keep 

 the plants free of all insects for the year. If any one has a better way 

 of keeping plants, we should be glad to hear from them. Resetting 

 of plants should be done in April or early in May, as the plants are 

 just waking from their winter's nap, and when they begin to stretch 

 themselves and laugh, they should not be disturbed, as it will stunt 

 them for the rest of the season." 



A Report against Butter Powder, 



A committee, consisting of Messrs. Joseph B. Lyman, James A. 

 Whitney, and A. S. Fuller, having been appointed to consider the 

 matter of a certain butter powder presented to the club at their last 

 meeting, presented the following report : 



The undersigned, of a committee appointed at a previous meeting 

 to investigate the so-called butter powders sold by parties in Vescy 

 street, in this city, would report as follows : 



The boxes of the powder are labeled " Star Butter Powder, direc- 

 tions : To one quart of milk about twelve hours old; add one pound 

 butter, warm by setting the churn in blood-warm water, add one tea- 

 spoonful powder, churn as usual, and you will have two and one-half 

 230unds delicious fresh buttei-, cool with ice or water, and work only 

 enough to salt to taste ; keep in cool place," 



The undersigned went to the place above indicated, and witnessed 

 the method of using the powder, A quantity, perhaps a pound, of 



