PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 159 



ten years, and were it not tliat the dead markets were from time to time 

 heavily supfilicd with meat I'rom Scotland, Yorkshire, &c., prices would 

 have been unusually high, since it is evident that the quantities of stock 

 exhibited in the cattle market are wholly inadequate to meet consumption. 

 Again, we may remark that at various periods of the year, large numbers 

 of prime beasts and sheep are purchased in London for transmission to the 

 various outports and watering-places. It would be diflicult to ascertain 

 the quantity of meat annually consumed in the metropolis, but we may 

 consider it about as follows: 250,000 beasts, 1,500.000 sheep and lambs, 

 20,000 calves, and 400,000 pigs. The enormous supplies required year by 

 year prove that great efforts will be necessary on the part of our graziers 

 to meet the still increasing volume of trade." 



The same state of things exists in this country, and if it were not for 

 the bountiful supply of meat given us by the Great West, New York city 

 would be as much under the necessity of importing meat from foreign 

 countries as London. Of the future of England, the writer says: "At 

 present, the prospect is, even with an increased importation of stock from 

 abroad, that all kinds of meat will be very high in price for a long period. 

 We must bear in mind that France, like ourselves, is suffering from a 

 scarcity of stock, compared with the consuming powers of the country. 

 Last year the imports in France, chiefly from Holland, Germany, Belgium 

 and Spain, amounted to n(!arly 600,000 head; and yet prices ruled high. 

 From that country, therefore, we can expect no aid, because she is now 

 competing with us for a supply of food." Does this not look fair for Ameri- 

 can farmers, that the demand for salt beef and pork will continue to be so 

 good that we can aftlird to send this food to England without cutting short 

 our own supplies. 



Adjourned. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



November 15, 1864. 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair. 



Wheat turning to Chess. 



Mr. L. H. Patchen, Depewville, Jefferson county, N. Y. — I observe that 

 Mr. Egbert Cowles, of Conn., relates his experience upon the chess ques- 

 tion; there seemed to be a doubt in the mind of the Club with regard to 

 wheat turning to chess. I would state what I have observed on the sub- 

 ject: I have seen wheat and chess grown in the same head together; it 

 was not thought an incredible thing by farmers that wheat would turn into 

 chess; when we were clearing n[) our lands in the northern part of Jefferson 

 county, or at least by many some forty or forty-five years ago. I have 

 noticed, as Mr. Cowles says, that in the low places where the water stands, 

 and dries awaj' in the spring, it will produce chess. I have examin(!d the 

 roots that produce chess, aiid, as near as my judgment would allow me 

 to decide, the main stalk of the wheat was killed and the sprouts from the 

 roots produce chess, I should like to know the views of the Club upon 

 this peculiar head. 



Mr, Wm. K. Prince. — I consider it a waste of time to discuss this ques- 



