^08 transactions of the american institute. 



Isabella Grape's in March. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter presented a box of Isabella grapes from Wm. 

 Prentice, Pultney, Steuben Co., N. Y., which appear plump, sound, and 

 handsome as though just from the vines, where they were well ripened, 

 but they have very little of the good flavor that we admire in grapes. Yet 

 these find purchasers at 25 cents a pound. 



Pears Preserved in Hay Seed. 



The Chairman presented some pears which he put up in autumn in hay 

 seed, which were found mostly decayed when opened, and all might as well 

 have been, for those still sound ones are poor eating — not half as good as 

 some apples presented by Mr. Carpenter, local to Westchester county, and 

 described by Downing as the Golden Pippin. He says that he considers 

 them best for this time of the year, of any of his 300 sorts. The Geneva 

 Lady Apple, presented by Mr. Carpenter, was much admired; it is of large 

 size, smooth, and handsome hale red color, and excellent flesh. 



When to Sow Plaster. 



Mr. Andrew Tuck, Flackville, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., wants to 

 know '*At what time in the spring is it best to use plaster for fertilizing 

 meadows ? Two opinions prevail here — one that it should be sown before 

 the heavy rains if possible, and the other the opposite. 2d. What kind of 

 jspring wheat is least liable to be damaged by that insect of the beetle tribe 

 called weevil ?" 



Mr. John P. Veeder said that many farmers near Albany prefer to sow 

 plaster in the fall, but he prefers to sow it on the grass when wet with 

 dew or rain, in June, as it then combines with ammonia at once. Plaster 

 is inert until dissolved, and it requires a very large quantity of water. In 

 some places it appears to be of no value. 



As to the answer about spring wheat, no one here can give any answer 

 that will be of any value in St. Lawrence county, because what would suit 

 there would not here. 



Mr. Solon Robinson — Mr. Carpenter is of opinion that no spring wheat 

 will succeed in this vicinity well enough to make it worth cultivating. He 

 has tried several sorts, and found that each gave a poor yield, and made 

 poor flour. The best variety that he had tried, came from seed obtained 

 from the Shakers of Lebanon, New York. 



Beet Sugar. 



Mr. H. Wheeler, Columbus, Wis., wants to know how to make beet 

 Bugar. " Why is it that it is not made in this country, as it is in France 

 and Belgium ? Is our soil deficient, or climate unsuitable, or industry or 

 enterprise not equal to the undertaking, or do we lack the knowledge ? I 

 have made some small experiments without any satisfactory results. I 

 shall try again, and I wish for more knowledge. Where shall I get it?" 



Mr. Solon Robinson — In answer to this, the gentleman is informed that 

 there are no successful beet sugar works in operation in this country, 

 unless one for which machinery was imported last year to Illinois has 

 been started. About 100 acres of land was planted with beets last season, 

 for the purpose of manufacturing sugar, but we understood that the works 

 did not get ready in time. 



