AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 359 



of sulpliate of lime. If spread over the surface of a garden they will com- 

 pletely prevent the depredations of mice, as they cannot burrow through 

 them, and cause nearly all vegetables to come to maturity three or four 

 days earlier than they would without them. This may, to a certain extent, 

 be attributed to the manurial substances they contain, and their power of 

 absorbing heat. Peat ashes, in composition, nearly resembles coal ashes, 

 and owe their fertilizing qualities to the presence of sulphate of lime, which 

 compose fully one-third of their bulk ; the balance is made up of silicious, 

 calcareous and aluminous earth's, with sulphate of potash and common 

 salt. After burning peat, if you would discover whether the ashes contain 

 gypsum, or not, add strong vinegar to them ; and if sulphuretted hydro- 

 gen — which smells precisely like rotten eggs — is emitted, you may be sure 

 they do. 



One hundred parts is composed of sulphate of lime 13 



Silicious earth 30 



Carbonate of lime 42 



Sulphate and muriate of soda 8 



Oxide of iron 4 



Loss 3 



100 



Gas lime is sometimes made use of near cities, as a manure, but I do 

 not consider it of any value, except as a source through the medium of which 

 gypsum may be added to the soil ; those who use it say that it contains a 

 large percentage of ammonia ; this is not so, because quick-lime prevails in 

 it, which expels ammonia immediately. 



Mr. Smith, of Connecticut, stated that, upon one of his farms, plaster is 

 very beneficial upon all crops, while upon another farm plaster is of no ad- 

 vantage. In that State, generally, it is advantageous to the potato crop. 



GRAPE CULTURE. 



Andrew S. Fuller spoke upon this subject, in answer to Dr. Underhiirs 

 remarks at the last meeting. The great perfection to which the Messrs. 

 IJTidcrhill liave Ibrought the Isabella grape is, probably, the very highest 

 point to which it can be brought by cultivation. Still, it fails to give satis- 

 faction, to those who know that there is a better sort of grapes in the world. 

 The Isabella is an improved Fox grape, but it does not, in the very best 

 seasons and favorable climate, ripen so as to make it entirely satisfactory. 

 It was hoped that the Catawba would supply the deficiency felt by all 

 the seekers after a better grape — in fact, a perfect one. But in this the 

 public have been disappointed. But the interest taken in the cultivation 

 of the Isabella and Catawba grapes has awakened an interest for something 

 better. It was this interest that has produced the Diana, the Anna, the He- 

 becca, the Delaware, and several other sorts, which are certainly far supe- 

 rior to the Isabella or Catawba. One of the most important facts to be 

 borne in mind in favor of the Delaware grape, is, that it ripens two weeks 



