340 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



February 13, 1860. 



Mr. Lawton in the chair. Present 83 members. 



The Secretary read the following translations and extracts from the works 

 recently received by the Institute, from home and abroad, viz: 

 Bulletin Mensuel de la Societe Imperiale Zoologique de Acclimation. Paris, December, 1859. 



Mons. L, De Brauze writes to the President, Drouin de L'Huys, last 

 October, encouraging hopes of success in supplying Italy, France, &c., with 

 healthy silk worm from China, and Mons. Guerin Meneville has presented 

 to the society many specimens of silk, made in China, from the Alianthus, 

 or Varnish tree of Japan, which is now acclimated in France. Some of 

 these silks are especially remarkable for their brilliancy — nearly equal to 

 that from mulberry, and the purity of its tissue. 



SILKY WOOL. 



Mons. Grant, of Mauchamp, has created a herd of silky fleece sheep, of 

 very pure race, 600 in number. The wool is long, staple, smooth, silky, 

 brilliant as cashmere. Some of the three year old rams weigh about 200 

 pounds. It is believed this silky race will equal in size the Merino race. 

 ( Their flesh is deemed better eating : the fleece is not heavy, being about 

 an average of Jive pounds loashed on the bach. 



Mr. Grant has sold it this season for 16 francs a fleece ($3.20), which is 

 more than that of the Merinos. It is clear to us, that this silky fleece will 

 supplant the eashimere of Thibet, for us. It is as bright, and soft, and 

 cheaper, and requires less skill to spin it. 



Mr. Meigs referred to the proposition of the entomologist, Dr. Fitch, at 

 the learned meeting, lately, at Yale College, to import ichneumonidse to 

 destroy our wheat insects ; and the ichneumon family was a large one. 



THE POTATO BUG. 



There are four distinct flies of the cantharides family in this country that 

 feed upon the potato. 



PEACH-TREE DISEASES — A CURE FOR THE YELLOWS. 



A. L. Smith, of Lebanon, Ct., made a statement about curing the yellows 

 of peach trees, and introduced G. W. Andrus, of Newark, N. J., who has 

 made the discovery, and proved it eff"ectual. Mr. Andrus stated that his 

 own trees were entirely healthy, while all around him the trees are dying 

 with the yellows. He digs around the trees, and applies a cheap mineral 

 substance ; what it is he keeps as a secret, which has an immediate eifect. A 

 certificate from Mr. Hays states that he had Mr. Andrus apply his remedy 

 to many very unhealthy trees, and it restored them to full health. 



Wm. S. Carpenter objected to discussing a secret remedy to cure any 

 agricultural difficulty. 



Andrew S. Fuller moved that a committee be appointed to investigate 

 this subject. 



R. G. Pardee objected to committee, unless the discoverer will pledge 

 himself to disclose the secret of his remedy. 



