320 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



theory, which is "that what yovu- correspondents aver to be 

 worms iu the windpipe, causing gapes, is nothing more nor less 

 than coagulated blood, extravasated into the windpipe, and 

 caused by the too early and great exposure of the chicken to 

 damp, cold weather ; or, in other words, the chicken has taken 

 cold, and has a kind of croup, the extravasation filling up the 

 windpipe, making it sick and preventing its eating. All besides 

 this is nonsense and unphilosophical." 



MARKET GARDENING. 



Portions of an article were read, prepared by Col. Devoe, 

 of Jefferson Market, which give a condensed history of the first 

 establishment of markets in New-York. 



The policy of the city in 1656, when the first market-place 

 was established by law in this city, seems to have been to give all 

 who produced food an opportunity to sell it direct to those who 

 buy for consumption. Things have sadly changed since then. 

 Under date of 1656 we find the following proclamation: 



" The Director-General and the councilors of New-Netherlands, 

 to all persons who sliould see these presents, or hear tliem read- 

 greeting : Whereas, now and then the people from without are 

 in the habit of bringing into the city different commodities, such 

 as veal, pork, butter, cheese, turnips, roots, straw, and other 

 products of the land, for the purpose of selling them, and it 

 frequently happens, particularly here at the Strand, (I now 

 locate between Whitehall and Eroad streets, and near the 

 corner of Moore and Pearl streets,) that they are o'oliged to tarry 

 long, and to lodge to their great damage, for the reason, because 

 the community or at least the greater part, especially of those 

 who live away from the Strand, are not awai-e that such commodi- 

 ties have been brought for sale, not alone to the discommoding 

 of the Burghers, but also to the notorious injury of the enter- 

 prising man from without who frequently has to lose more in 

 his time than the profit on liis commodities will warrant, there- 

 fore for the purpose of making provision in the premises, tlie 

 Director-General and the councilors aforesaid, by these presents 

 do ordain that from this time forth in tliis city, Saturday shall 

 be the market-day, and market shall be held at the ' Strand,' at 

 or around the house of Mr. Hans Kierstede, wliere, after him, 

 every one shall be permitted to enter that has anything to buy or 

 sell. This done in the session of their High Mightinesses the 

 Director-General and the councilors, held in the Fort Amster- 



