PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 257 



neck to tlie tail, which is called the chine; this is divided into four pieces 

 and found when well cured, particularly the neck part, some of the finest 

 joints of the pig*. For family purposes, chining- is undoubtedly the most 

 durable mode of cutting, as only a sufficiency of fresh meat will be left for 

 present use. The cheeks are also cut oif from the other part of the head, 

 and cured for drying, and are esteemed particularly rich, 



MODE OF CURING. 



Take of salt petre J oz. for every 20 pounds of weight of the hog, well 

 pulverized and dried, and apply it evenly on the flenh side, thoroughly 

 rubbing it in. In about one hour (to allow of the salt petre to be taken 

 up by the meat), apply by well rubbing in (for much depends on effectually 

 rubbing), a sufficiency of factory filled salt, so as to effectually cover all 

 parts of the meat, first the rind side, then the flesh, leaving thereon, after 

 rubbing about half inch of salt. Lay the flitches on an even surface upon 

 each other, and the hams, chines and chauls, &c., upon them, by which 

 means the brine descending passes through the whole. The salt must be 

 thoroughly dried either before the fire, or in an oven, and is more effective if 

 applied whilst warm. Kepeat the rubbing every three days (adding a little 

 fresh salt, the first time), particularly the hams; in three weeks hang up 

 the flitches, chines and chauls, in a moderately warm room to dry. The 

 hams require to remain one week longer under salt, when they also should 

 be hung up to dry. 



It is desirable that the curing should be effected as early as possible 

 after the commencement of the cold weather, to allow the meat to be- 

 come firm and dry before the warm weather in spring sets in. It is well 

 to enclose the hams in bags, the more effectually to protect them from the fly. 



Adjourned. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



January 19, 1864. 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair. 



Insects. 



The chairman stated that the Swiss government has, during the past 

 year, paid for ten millions of butterflies, and asked if Dr. Trimble had seen 

 the statement. 



Dr. Trimble. — I have not. It no doubt was observed by many members 

 of the Club, that during last fall an immense number of moths and butter- 

 flies hovered around the trees. 



In a trip among the peach orchards of New Jersey, I observed where pear 

 trees had been planted between peach trees, the trees, with very few 

 exceptions, were covered with the webs of the caterpillars, and that small 

 moths were observed as late as the month of November, and no doubt 

 millons of the chrysalis are ready to be hatched out in the spring. 



In Newark, we have an immense inimber of noble elms, rivaling those 

 of New Haven, during the month of September, these trees were covered 

 •with these small moths, early in the morning, these trees looked as if they 

 ■were covered with snow; a small bird preyed upon these insects. I think 

 it useless to spend money in killing these moths. Providence arranges that 



[Am. Inst.] R 



