AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 247 



field road, the Trifoliura was a capital crop; but in carefully 

 plowed and pulverised soil, the crop was worthless. Tlie same 

 remark was made in almost all parts of England. It seemed to 

 be almost impossible to succeed; yet it has succeeded in good 

 hands. Prof. Anderson has analyzed it, and says that in nutri- 

 tive qualities it excels red clover, cow-grass, yellow clover. 



In 1852, the Trifolium was grown in Ayrshire, by Mr. Fulton; 

 and in three months after sowing, it was found to weigh 21 i tons 

 per imperial acre. It had attained three feet in height. 



The late Junius Smith brought from London a quantity of its 

 seed for the American Institute, some years ago. I planted some 

 of it. It is still thriving from the roots which have survived the 

 very severe frosts of the last four years. 



Alfred G. Benson, President of the American Guano Club, was 

 introduced by Martin E. Thompson, and being requested to speak 

 of the newly discovered guano islands, proceeded to state their 

 extraordinary mass of guano, and their being uninhabited, un- 

 known and unclaimed by any nation or people; and requesting 

 this club to call on all American agricultural societies, to unite 

 in asking the U. S. Government to take immediate possession for 

 the good of the whole people of these United States. It will cost 

 but twenty-five dollars a ton to bring it here ! 



Mr. Eobinson remarked that he was informed of the discovery 

 of some other rich guano islands recently. 



The club unanimously approved of an application to the U. S. 

 Government, without delay to protect the American Guano; and 

 the Secretary will transmit these proceedings to the Secretary of 

 the U. S. Navy, forthwith. 



Mr. Cowley exhibited his wire fence and mode of fixing it; and. 

 the opinion of Messrs. Wilder and others, favorable to it. 



Prof. Mapes — I do not see in this plan, any allowance made for 

 the contracting and expansion of the metal from cold and heat. 

 He had contrived to provide for this, by screws, which were 

 turned to give room for expansion in winter, and then screwed 

 up for summer. 



Iron will not rust as long as any motion is given to it. You 

 see that a carpenter's tools which are used daily will not rust. 



A meml^er from New Jersey Avas sorry to say that all his wire 

 fence trials have failed. 



Solon Robinson — they are nuisances, unless properly fixed. 

 Col. Capron has after much trial managed to keep his wires in 

 tune for 3,000 feet, after several years' experience. 



