320 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



growers is to put their seed in tlie ground too early. If the weather is 

 chilly, the plants get a blight from which they never recover. This is 

 obviated by the hot-bed culture, and the turnips add very much to the con- 

 venience and safety of transplanting. I have been able to construct a cold 

 grapery much cheaper than such buildings are ordinarily built. It is of 

 wood, with lath and plaster, and tan-bark filling. 



Mr. Quinn stated that he had been very successful in growing Lima beans, 

 planted in sods in hot beds, and other plants; also in small pots, remov- 

 ing the ball of earth with the plant when set in the garden. In transplant- 

 ing cabbages, tomatoes, and other plants, I trim the roots and leaves. All 

 tap-rooted plants should have the tap roots cut off at transplanting. Our 

 plan of transplanting in the beds has this advantage — it hardens the plants, 

 which are apt to grow spindling, and gets them into better condition for 

 setting out in the garden or field. 



PEESERVING DRIED FRUIT. 



Solon Robinson — A. Michigan housekeeper says that the best way to pre- 

 serve dried fruit from getting wormy is to pack it in bags or barrels, and 

 in May, or early in June, before the insects are astir to lay their eggs, 

 to store it in a dark dry cellar, where it will keep for years perfectly sweet. 



J. W. Briggs, of Maudon, N. Y., sends us a specimen of "Nectar," made 

 from the "Honolulu Nectarine Squash," simply stewed and dried upon earth- 

 en plates, and it appears as though it would keep as well as any dried fruit, 

 and will make good " pumpkin pies," without eggs or milk, as it presents 

 a rich, pleasant taste, quite as saccharine as sweet potatoes. This specimen 

 was tasted and much admired. We hope Mr. Briggs will send us a few 

 seeds. 



The nest meeting will be on Monday next, at noon, when the subject of 

 hot-beds and cultivation of early Spring plants will be further discussed, 

 and it is expected that a paper will be read by Mr. Robinson, upon the 

 uses and abuses of iron in agriculture. 



The Club adjourned. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



January 23, 1860. 

 Present, 71 members. R. L. Pell in the chair. 



The Secretary read the following translations : 



[Revue Horticole. Paris, December, 1859.] 

 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE SUBJECT OF SPECIES. 



Mons. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire characterizes species as an assemblage 

 (ensemble) of traits distinctive, common to a greater or less number of 

 individuals, regularly and indefinitely transmissible by natural generation. 



Mons. Chevruil says: Species is an organized, being, comprehending an 

 indefinite number of individuals, having more relation among themselves 

 than with all other analagous beings. 



