proceedings of the farmers* club. 193 



Lime as a Manure. 



Mr. R. n. Williams. — I tliink a small quantity of lime will not hurt ma- 

 nure if spread upon the surface. I think the whole of the lime would be 

 taken up by the soil. It should not be used in such quantities as would 

 burn up the manure. 



Dr. Trimble contended against the practice, because lime is not a ma- 

 nure, and its action in the soil is that of a solvent of inert matters, and 

 manure does not need a solvent. He is sure that the best farmers do not 

 practice liming and manuring at the same time. 



Mr. J(jhn G. Bergen said that he did not know that it was the practice 

 with the best farmers, but he did know a good many successful ones who 

 did practice it. Some of the Long Island farmers who use manure the 

 most extensively, spread it broadcast, and also lime, sometimes at the rate 

 of fifty bushels per acre, and use manure in the hills or rows with the 

 seeds. Mr. Robinson's recommendation never to sow grain in a young 

 orchard is correct, 



Mr. R. H. "Williams. — Would any one present object to the use of ashes 

 with manure. I think not; we want an alkali added to the soil. 



Mr. John G. Bergen. — We cannot grow cabbage or cauliflower on the 

 same ground except we use lime, and I have never seen any injury from 

 its use. 



Adjourned. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



December 27, 1864. 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair. 



Pears. 



Mr. John G. Bergen exhibited someBeurre d'Anjou and Beurre Diel pears 

 to show their relative condition of ripeness. The Beurre d'Anjou was a 

 large, handsome pear, ripening from the outside toward the center, and 

 just now in good condition for eating. Mr. Bergen considers it a very 

 valuable variety. The Beurre Diel, on the contrary, has not yet clianged 

 its green color, but is withering and worthless. 



The Chairman remarked that it was the same with his Beurre Diels, that 

 he had not had one this winter fit for eating. 



Fruit-Growing in Iowa. 



Mr. C. R. Bent, West Union, Fayette county, Iowa, gives the following 

 very encouraging view of fruit-growing in that State. He says: " I have 

 an orchard of 500 apple-trees and a vineyard of 1,.500 grapes set last spring, 

 which appear to be doing well. I have set only Concord and Delaware 

 grapes. I would like the opinion of some person that has had experience 

 in cultivating the Siberian crab-apple for the purpose of making cider. Can 

 there be as much in quantity' grown from an acre as of apples ? What is the 

 value of the juice compared with apple juice? What varieties would you 

 [Am. Inst.] M 



