AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 399 



Preserved in this manner, I have on opening the pit in the 

 middle of April, found its contents as fresh in every respect as 

 the day they were dug. The small potatoes were gathered at the 

 same time, and put in some convenient place for the use of the 

 stock during winter. 



Apples, if covered in a similar manner, keep very well, though 

 with them a pit is not necessary. They should be well covered 

 with straw, top and bottom, as the earth, when in contact imparts 

 to them a bitter taste. 



I have preserved cabbage, &:c., very well through winter, in 

 pulling them up with the root and placing them in a prepared 

 trench sufficiently deep to admit root and stalk until the first 

 leaf touched the surface of the ground, they should be placed 

 upright in single rows, and quite close together, the trench should 

 then be filled up and firmly tread, and finally a light covering of 

 loose straw or hay thrown over the heads, nothing more is neces- 

 sary. It may be proper to add that these operations were con- 

 ducted within a few miles of New-York city. 



A conversation ensued in which the chairman said that apples 

 should not be wiped. 



Mr. Waring said that apples give out their flavor to the earth 

 in which they are buried, not receive taste from the earth. 



Mr. Field approved the method of leaving potatoes buried, for 

 he had found that such potatoes yielded the following season 

 greater crops than those which have been dug up as usual. 



Mr. Waring — That is Roberts' plan you know to avoid the 

 potato disease. 



Mr. Robinson said, my theory is that every ray of light which 

 strikes a potato injures it, long exposure to the light spoils it. 



Chairman — Calls for a subject for next meeting of the club. 



Mr. Field wished " Muck" to be continued. 



Chairman — Winter feeding of stock. 



Mr. Field — Salt meadows for asparagus. 



Mr. Waring — Windmills for farm use. 



These were adopted. Adjourned. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



mmra 



January 2, 1856. 



Present — Twenty members. Hon. Robert Swift Livingston in 

 the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



The Secretary, according to the rule as to miscellaneous mat- 

 ters, read the following translations, papers and extracts pre- 

 pared by him. viz : 



