324 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



for the New-York market. I judge others raise some. It is 

 known in the South as "gumbo" and is used for soup. 



Prof. Mapes — It contains a large quantity of gelatinous matter, 

 and is justly prized for soups. 



HORSE-SHOEING WITHOUT NAILS. 



Judge Meigs read a letter stating the description given in The 

 Tribune of Mr. Short's horse-shoe with cap instead of nails, the 

 writer should judge it was like that used by the Roman soldiers. 

 He suggested the use of India rubber lining to secure a perfect fit. 



Mr. Sewall Short exhibited his horse-shoe improved so as to do 

 without the long screw at the heel, by connecting the lower with 

 the upper portion by means of two small set-screws, rendering the 

 shoe perfect. The suggestion of India rubber lining had been an- 

 ticipated. The shoe has been tried almost ever since the previ- 

 ous meeting of the Club — a fortnight since — and has been found 

 to answer well. The horse that is wearing the shoes is at the 

 livery-stable in Duane street, just below the recent improvements 

 in that street, where it can be seen at any time. 



Dr. Waterbury — As far as the principles inculcated in this 

 letter apply to the extent of surface over which we annually 

 spread our manure, they may pass unquestioned. It is very 

 probable that we should obtain a greater quantity of produce 

 from manured lands, not only of corn, which is generally the 

 first crop, but also of the succeeding crops, by cultivating less 

 ground more highly. Yet it does not follow that we ought to de- 

 prive ourselves of that larger portion of crops annually raised on 

 land that has never been manured. Indeed we are absolutely de- 

 pendent on this larger portion, as those crops which we do raise, 

 or could raise, are quite too small for our exclusive support. 



Besides, the recuperative processes of nature are continually 

 restoring the soil, so that farms large enough may be so managed 

 by long rotations, and if necessary, intervening seasons of fallow, 

 as to actually improve in quality, although subject to waste, and 

 receiving no foreign fertilizer. 



It is well known that lands devoted exclusively to dairying and 

 stock growing do thus improve, while, on the other hand, lands 

 devoted exclusively to grain raising deteriorates. The conditions 

 of no variation are to be found then somewhere between these 

 two extremes. 



But after all, land, like manure, has a cash value, and while 

 that value remains low in this country, we shall find our true 



