PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 279 



tally from the bole will appear in time to be lower, because the growth is 

 most rapid from the lower side. For all practical purposes of growth, the 

 center of a tree or large limb is dead ; and, if bored away, would not affect 

 the exterior growth of the tree. 



Mr. Solon Robinson said this fact was exhibited most markedly in the 

 sycamore tree. He has often seen it growing apparently perfectly healthy, 

 though nothing but a shell of less than two inches thickness. 



Mr. R. H. Williams inquired whether a notch cut in the bole of a tree 

 will not in time be found higher from the ground than at first. 



Mr. A.' S. Fuller answered : Never. If there is any change, it will be 

 apparently downward, but this will be owing to the accumulation of earth, 

 as a tree never changes in length. 



The only evidence adduced to the contrary of these opinions was by Dr. 

 Trimble, who said that Rip Van Winkle, when he commenced his twenty 

 years' nap, hung his powder horn upon the limb of a tree, which he found, 

 on awakening, had been carried by the growth of the tree far beyond his 

 reach. 



Apples. 



Dr. Trimble presented some fine specimens of the Westfield Seek-no- 

 Further, and Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter some Swaar apples, which varieties 

 were tested and pronounced very superior apples. • 



Dr. Trimble asked if there were any better apple than the Westfield 

 Seek-no-Further. 



Dr. Grant and Mr. Carpenter said it is not to be compared with the North- 

 ern Spy. 



Mr. Fuller said : No, nor with the Swaar. It has been alleged that Mr. 

 Prince, sen., named this apple. Is it so ? 



Dr. Grant said : No, it dates back to a much older period. 



Grasses. 



Mr. A. W. Hillman, Sharptown, Salem county, N. J., inquires about the 

 three following grasses : The Iverson, the Randle, and the Ray. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — The Ray is the perennial Rye grass, Lolium perenne. 

 It is very generally cultivated in England, but has not found favor in this 

 country because other grasses are considered more nutritious. The other 

 two, we believe, have never been tried in this country. 



Mr. John G. Bergen. — What is the botanical name of our common 

 grasses ? 



Mr. Wm. R. Prince. — This question can only be answered by stating 

 that there are two very distinct species so termed. 



The commom Lawn Grass or Spear Grass, is the Poa annua of Torry and 

 Gray, a native of Europe and described in ancient English botany very 

 fully and also by Linneeus. It is an annual plant and seeds very freely, 

 this insures a continuation of young plants which cover the soil. 



The common grass of our fields and pastures is the Poa prat ensis, a per- 

 ennial species, a native of northern and middle Europe. Its usual name is 

 meadow grass and it is described by Tori-y and Gray and other botanists^ 



