AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 329 



Bimply placed around fruit trees. He detailed several experiments, not 

 only in producing fruit, but improred Tegetablcs, &c. He thought all the 

 dust and sweeping of foundries could be saved and applied to all kinds of 

 stone fruits to great advantage. 



Mr. Carpenter said that he had ^Yitne3sed some very remarkable results 

 from the use of iron dust upon fruit trees. 



Dr. Humphrey said that he had found an application of iron to grape 

 vines highly beneficial, and he thought that the value of iron in agriculture 

 was very little understood. It is a great abuse of iron not to apply all 

 that can be conveniently obtained from smiths' dhops, or other iron works, 

 to our fruit trees. 



Ehlert Miller thought that the results witnessed from the use of iron did 

 not arise from the plants taking up the iron, but from the ammonia which 

 the plants obtain in consequence of the application of iron. 



Dr. Wellington urged that experimenters should mix with the iron some 

 finely pulverized zinc, so as to produce a magnetic action. 



The Secretary said that iron enters into the composition of all things, 

 animal and vegetable, grown upon the farm, and it is of the highest impor- 

 tance to know how to use it as a fertilizer. 



The next meeting will be held at noon on Monday, Jan. 30, when th« 

 subjects of " Hot Beds " and " Spring Cultivation " will be in order ; also, 

 the subject of "Iron in Agriculture," and "Fruit and Forest Trees." 



The Club then adjourned. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



January 80, 1860. 



Mr. Doughty, of New Jersey, in the chair. Present 100 members. 

 The first hour being devoted to miscellaneous business, several subjects 

 were introduced and discussed. 



GENERAL INFLUENCES OP FARMING. 

 Wm. Lawton addressed the Club upon the general influences of agricul- 

 ture upon the character of the people, and upon the econemy of its pursuits. 



THE BALDWIN APPLE. 

 Mr. Dan. Weed, of Northampton, Mass., introduced a specimen of this 

 apple, and made some remarks upon its value. 



Wm. S. Carpenter thought it likely to take the place of the Newton 

 Pippin. It is a favorite in all parts of the country where known. It is 

 an apple of excellent flavor, and its value ought to be universally known. 



BONES — HOW TO PREPARE THEM. 



Solon Robinson read a letter from S. Jaqua, of Paterson, asking how to 

 prepare bones on the farm for use, which elicited a long discussion. 



Wm. Lawton prefers to use the bones ^vhole, for grape vines, and let 

 them decay gradually. 



