PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 291 



at a former period in the liistory of our country. Fruit growing' olTers 

 ample remuneration t(j those who will engage in it. Money invested in the 

 business, cither by an individual, or in the form of associated capital will 

 yield larger dividends than any of the numerous visionary schemes now 

 presented to the public, under the oil and mining mania that has seized the 

 I)ublic mind. It can be easil}"^ demonstrated that not less than fifty per 

 cent, can be made clear of all expenses, with an additional value given to 

 the stock in consequence of the enhanced value of the land. The business 

 proposed is susceptible of easy demonstration, and what constitutes a 

 valuable feature is that all products of the soil are sold for cash. The 

 credit system is not known when farm, orchard or garden products are 

 offered for sale in this market. The country immediately contiguous to St. 

 Louis is one of the best fruit regions in the United States. The country 

 north of this offers an indefinite market for all small as well as large fruit, 

 especially those varieties which mature early. The home market is one of 

 the best and has never been fully supplied. 



Mr. \Vm. S. Carpenter. — I think it entirely useless to mulch strawbeny 

 vines for the purpose of keeping them from the frost. As to trenching, I 

 think two feet is enough. I have tried some buds three feet deep, but did 

 not see any advantage from it. I manure on the surface of the soil. 



Adjourned. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



April 11, 1865. 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair. 



Autumnal Leaves. 



The Chairman presented a large collection of leaves. Many of these were 

 arranged in frames, making really ornamental pictures, and in the center 

 of one of the pictures, was placed the photograph of the lady who made 

 the collection. This woi'k of gathering and arranging beautifully colored 

 autumn leaves was highly commended to all who have leisure as an inno- 

 cent, useful, pleasant amusement. 



Dry Pressed Brick. 



Mr. Ellis P. Horner, Denver, Colorado, wants to know how the brick 

 made at Vineland, N. Y., of lime, sand and gravel, are compounded ? Will 

 the manufacturer tell him ? 



Another wants to know more about the dry-pressed brick spoken of some 

 lime since in the Club, " which will not crack in burning, and what is the 

 reason they will not ?" 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — I will answer him. Here are specimens of these 

 bricks, sound and perfect, made of various kinds of clay, and various mix- 

 tures of clav, gravel, iron-clay, etc., and also fire-brick. There is no dilE- 

 culiy about cracking, no matter what the material is. Look at these and 

 you will see the reason. One side of every brick is filled with holes, four- 

 teen in number, nearly half inch diameter, and extending Jilmost through 

 to the otlier face. These are made in moulding the brick, which is done by 

 machinery very rapidly, with great pressure. These holes are thorough 



