AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 413 



A gentleman called attention to the fine nursery near the 

 Hackensack river, and how the trees grow in that drained soil. 



Mr. Olcott spoke of the value of a compost heap, used as an 

 absorbent of all the liquid manures about the farm, and other 

 things that are apt to be wasted. Poor farming that will not pay 

 on 50 acres will not pay on 500. Mr. Olcott stated that H. C. 

 Vail and himself wish to establish a farm-school near the city, 

 where some valuable experiments may be made, one of which will 

 be the value of compost-heaps, as soon as they can obtain a suita- 

 ble location. 



Dr. Waterbury said that he had some experience in the use of 

 fresh- water muck. It may be used in its fresh state to kill out 

 part of the grass, and still increase the crop. Peat for bedding 

 is very valuable, because it not only absorbs ammonia in the sta- 

 bles, but it adds to the comfort and health of the animal. He 

 used 100 cart-loads a year to six head of stock, and always kept 

 the stables and pig-pen sweet. 



Dr. Dummer, of Jersey City, spoke of the great value of these 

 researches into the invaluable placers of manurial wealth. 



Mr. Pardee called on the President, Mr. Pell, for his views on 

 this subject. 



The President replied, that he thought it best for the speaker 

 in the chair not to speak. 



Mr. Field adverted to the Austrian mode of having the power 

 of oxen exerted from the head and horns instead of our yoke, and 

 that the ox was thought to do better with the former. 



Mr. Robinson — That Austrian method exists in our own coun- 

 try. Many still use it near our St. Louis, but it is quite inferior 

 to our Yankee yoke. 



Judge Livingston gave to the Club some of the pears from his 

 Livingston seedling, in sound condition, excepting in some of 

 them shrinking. Their flavor was admired, as before, when the 

 Club named it the Livingston pear. It is a very valuable addi- 

 tion to our stock of good pears. 



Mr. Wagener explained by drawings, and by a model, his new 

 patent machine for gathering clover seed. 



The Club adopted for next meeting the subjects proposed. 



By Dr. Waterbury — Winter Feeding of Stock. 



Geo. E. Wai'ing — Windmills for Farm Use. 



The Club then adjourned to the first Tuesday of February 

 next, at noon. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



