AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 259 



eral States, to the President of the United States and heads of 

 departments at Washington. 



The Hon. Hamilton Fish, of tlie United States Senate, pre- 

 sented to the Club a large and valuable assortment of seeds, 

 which were very acceptable to the members. 



AIR-TIGHT PRESERVE JARS. 



INVENTION OF JOHN D. MYERS, BROOKLYN, L. I. 



These jars are either made of glass, porcelain, stone, earthen 

 ware, or tin. The cover has a groove, wherein is inserted a ring 

 of gutta percha, India rubber, or any other elastic or adhesive 

 substance. The cover is confined by an iron clamp, tightened by 

 a screw in the centre, which presses on the rim of the jar, makes 

 it perfectly air tight. The clamp can be used without the screw, 

 it only being used for greater security. 



For family use it is the most complete article of the kind 

 as yet invented. 



The Club adopted as subjects — Root Crops; Grape-Houses and 

 Grape Culture. 



Adjourned to May 29th, at noon. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



May 29t/i, 1855. 



Present — The Rev. Samuel White, of Staten Island, Prof. 

 Mapes, Dr. Waterbury, Messrs. Lawton, of New Rochelle, Adrian 

 Bergen, of Long Island, Dr. Poole, of Jersey, Alderman Robert 

 Jones, Mr. Toucey, Mr. Pepper, Prof. Waring, Mr. Vail, Prof. 

 Youmans, Mr. Pardee, Solon Robinson, Orange Judd, Charles 

 Oakley, Geo. B. Rapelye, George Bacon. John W. Chambers, Dr. 

 Field, of Brooklyn, Messrs. Phoenix, William B. Leonard, Van 

 Boskerck, Chilson, Stacey and others — sixty-one members. 



Rev. Samuel White, of Staten Island, in the chair. 



Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



The Secretary read the following papers prepared by him : 



[London Farmer's Magazine for May, 1855.] 



ON FARMERS' CLUBS, &c. 



Joseph Plowman, secretary of the Oxford Fai-mers' Club, de- 

 livered a prize essay on Societies and Clubs for agricultural 

 benefit. 



