406 TKANSACTIONS OF THE 



have them pruned of all unnecessary roots and limbs, to save transporta- 

 tion. 



All of Mr. Fuller's observ^ations were illustrated with trees and vines, 

 which he trimmed as he would if he was going to plant for himself. 



He stated that an acquaintance of his imported a large quantity of pear 

 trees, with all the fibrous roots on, and planted them without cutting them 

 away, and lost almost the entire lot. The roots were dry, and, of course, 

 diseased, and had the same effect that a diseased limb has upon the human 

 frame — it carried disease to the body, and destroyed life. 



Mr, Carpenter advocated the general cultivation of dwarf pears upon 

 quince stock, and would not try to get roots from the pear stock. He re- 

 commended summer prunings, by pinching off heads, instead of spring 

 pruning with a knife. It has a better effect to pinch off, than to cut off 

 heads. 



A NEW WASHING MACHINE. 



A large attendance of the sex most interested in all plans for reducing 

 the labor of washing, were entertained by the exhibition of the " Cataract 

 Washing-Machine," which does the work, without rubbing the clothing, so 

 as not to injure the finest fabric. The principle is the reverse revolution 

 of two cylinders, one within the other, so as to keep up a constant agita- 

 tion of water, by which it is said the dirt is rinsed out of the clothing, 

 instead of rubbing it out. • 



FRUIT PRESERVED BY A NEW PROCESS 



Was exhibited by some Vermont Yankee, who claims that his process is 

 very inexpensive, and that it will entirely prevent fermentation of fruit 

 without injuring its flavor. Dr. Hays, of Boston, states that the process 

 adds nothing injurious as food, and that "he could not induce fermentation 

 in the samples tested. 



Adjourned to next Monday. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



April 9, 1860. 

 Present 40 members. Wm. Lawton, of New Rochellc, in the chair, 



ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF ANTIQUITY. 



By H. Meigs. — Mons. Drouyn De L'Huys, Vice-President of the society 

 of the Societe Imperiale Zoologiqne D'Acclimatation, delivered the follow- 

 ing address on the zoological garden establishments of antiquity and the 

 middle ages : 



Gentlemen: Thanks to the high protection of the Emperor and to august 

 patrons, we are raising in the Bois de Boulogne, upon new foundations, a 

 monument to zoology and botany, and it will not be useless to look into the 

 past for the vestiges of similar undertakings at various periods heretofore. 

 From the highest antiquity, Asia has been celebrated for the magnificence 

 of her gardens. Diodorus has left us those established by Semiramis at the 



