478 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



sugar, 220 lbs. of gluten, 170 lbs. of fat, and 27 lbs. of saline 

 matter. 



Peas growing 25 busbels to an acre, and weighing 66 lbs. to the 

 bushel, would yield 1,650 lbs. of grain, 132 lbs. of woody fibre, 

 802 lbs. of starch and sugar, 382 lbs of gluten, 46 lbs. of fat, and 

 46 lbs. of saline matter. 



The quantities of the above grains are materially charjged by 

 the mode of culture, soil and manures. The dung of sheep or 

 horses imparts a better flavor to the pea, and renders the husk 

 thinner than when that of hogs and oxen have been used. 



The effect of gypsum and other sulphates upon leguminous 

 plants is very striking. A soil which will not bring a bean to 

 perfection, although richly manured, if once limed will produce 

 abundant crops for years. The grasses we feed our stock are 

 distinguished from all other animal food by the large quan- 

 tity of woody fibre and of earthy matter which they contain. 

 Red clover contains 28 per cent of fibre, and rye grass 35 per 

 cent; this, although insoluble in water, is mostly digested by ani- 

 mals, it not being entirely destitute of starch, gum and sugar. 

 The rii3er our grass is when it is cut, the less soluble matter it 

 contains, the value depending on the mode in which it is har- 

 vested. In order to retain all these valuable properties, it has 

 been my custom for the last twelve years to take into barn or 

 stack in the evening all the grass cut in the morning, and pre- 

 serve it b}' means of salt. I thus secure not only the green 

 coloring matter but the starch, gum, gluten, and about five per 

 cent of fat. You may draw your own conclusion as to the value 

 of grass so cured for feeding stock. 



Before closing my remarks to-day, I wish to acknowledge my 

 indebtedness to Liebeg and Johnson for many valuable hints and 

 experiments made by them. 



ROBERT L. PELL. 



The secretary lays before the club an interesting pamphlet just 

 presented to the Institute, being the proceedings of the Fruit 

 Growers' Society of western New- York. Rochester, 1856. 139 

 pages 8vo. 



This acceptable book contains the labors of a large body of 

 intelligent citizens who earnestly take care of fruit and seek the 

 best. Their Fruit Convention, on the 27th of February, 1855, 

 at Rochester, organized a Pomological society for the west. In- 

 cluding all the counties west of, and including that of Onondaga. 

 So that the nineteen counties, Chautauque, Erie, Niagara, Catta- 



