AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 287 



The second year being the first fruiting year, the crops should 

 be light — a healthy \»ine not giving more than five or six clusters, 

 and proportionably less with those that have made less growth. 



Mr. Galbraith h/is promised me a continuation of these instruc- 

 tions for the second, third, and after years. 

 The Chairman proposed as a subject-Summer pruning of fruit trees. 



Prof. Mapes — I follow the plan of Mr. Birkman, of Jersey, one 

 of the greatest of cultivators of pears, applying all the knowledge 

 extant, and his large pecuniary means. To balance a pear tree I 

 break such limbs as are out of figure instead of cutting them. 

 Some take out an upper portion of the main shaft of the tree to 

 form a better head. The pear may be shortened in at this time 

 of year. 



Chairman — The pyramidal figure is preferred in a pear tree. 

 The Louise hon de Jersey is naturally of that form; so is the 

 Flemish Beauty. 



Judge Van Wyck — The original figure of one of the best pears, 

 the Duchesse d'Angouleme was a beautiful pyramid. It was found 

 growing wild in a forest in France. 



Prof. Mapes — Sj)oke of the blight on -the pear, and thought 

 that experience had shown that a slight mulch for a time, j^re- 

 vented it. And then the mulch should be removed. He spoke 

 of the frozen sap blight. 



Chairman — I found mulching a trouble — that bugs and slugs, 

 and moles were apt to get under it and hurt trees. I have 

 mulched potatoes. 



Mr. Gore — A parcel of quince trees on my plan had long 

 remained thriftless. I mixed caustic lime and saltpetre, obtained 

 the compound dust of the mixture, applied some of it to the 

 quince tiowers, and have had in consequence some of the finest 

 quinces I ever saw. 



The members of the club were highly pleased with the inspec- 

 tion of the splendid work, Naturselbtdrucke, from the imperial 

 press of Vienna. Imprints from natural objects by a new process 

 claimed by Austria. The prints are greatly admired. This work 

 is given to the American Institute, by Mr. Charles F. Loosey, 

 Consul General of Austria, to Avhom we are indebted for many 

 valuable works. 



Subjects for next meeting, " Market gardening — The market 

 ordinances as relates to the gardeners — Milk, butter and cheese — 

 Summer pruning of fruit trees " 



The club adjourned. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



