PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 107 



John G. Bergen. — Keep them in a cool, dark cellar. If sufficiently 

 cool, it matters not about its being damp. If stored in bulk, handle often, 

 to check tendency to sprout. If in barrels, empty from one to another oc- 

 casionally, and that will break off many sprouts. 



Wm. S. Carpenter. — If taken from the cellar to a dry room, and allowed 

 to wilt a little, it checks the sprouts, and the potatoes may be then re- 

 turned to the cellar. Some persons sun their potatoes now and tlien in 

 summer; some sprinkle them with powdered lime, which absorbs the 

 moisture. 



Prof Nash. — If potatoes were stored in a room just above the freezing 

 point, they would keep an indefinite length of time. Potatoes are always 

 soundest and best that remain in the ground over winter, and in store they 

 keep best in a condition that approximates nearest to the natural one. 



If a pit was dug on some northern slope and tlie potatoes placed therein, 

 cover lightly with litter, in the winter pack ice over, and towards the spring 

 cover with straw, I think potatoes could be kept over one year. 



The Flax Crop. 



Richard Gaines writes from Fairfield, requesting "attention of the 

 Farmers' Club to the fact of a large amount of flax fiber in this county, 

 the last year's crop' being yet on hand, add to which this year's also, which 

 will make a large amount. I had 30 acres last year, and this year have 

 C5 acres. I think there could be 300 tons of flax straw obtained in this 

 county alone, if some man would come out here and bring a machine for 

 breaking the fiber, and go round through the country the same as a 

 thrashing machine. He could get employment for a long time. Why 

 could not the Fibrilia Company send out men and machinery to this State 

 and put our fiber to a good use ?" 



Coal Tar for Apple-Tree Borers. 



M. J. Pond writes from Concord, Morgan county, Illinois, an account of 

 his success in keeping away apple-tree borers by the use of gas tar. He 

 first cut out all the worms that he could find, and then about the middle of 

 June applied the tar with a brush, just above the ground, which was 

 packed hard, and also covered with tar in a little strip around the tree. 

 He says : 



"It is well to apply the brush to the forks of the tree, as the borer 

 sometimes does great damage in those parts of trees. I would not be un- 

 derstood that coal tar will destroy the borer when once deposited in a tree, 

 but if once entirely eradicated, I will insure that it will not make its ap- 

 pearance again in the region of the tar, if applied yearly at the proper 

 time. I have applied the coal tar to ray orchard for five years in succession, 

 and have never had a tree injured by it, but, on the contrary, I would 

 never wish trees to grow thriftier and bear fairer fruit. My trees are 

 from five to fifteen years old. The use of coal tar on my apple trees is no 

 longer an experiment, and I have also tried it on peach and pear trees 

 with the same good results." 



Adjourned. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



