AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 481 



and most advisable preparation of soil for spring work in farms 

 and gardens. 



Professor Youmans remarked that he admired the method of 

 treating important questions by first giving a history of what has 

 been done in relation to it, and then adding what is new. 



Seeds from the Hon Charles Mason, U. S. Commissioner of 

 Patents, are expected soon for distribution. Mr. Mason is supply- 

 ing those parts of the United States first whose climates are earlier 

 than ours. 



The Club adjourned to April 1st, at noon. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



April 1, 1856. 



Present — Messrs. President R. L. Pell, Thomas B. Stillman, 

 Dr. Peck, of Brooklyn 5 Judge Scoville, Palmer and Skilton of 

 Troy; Dr. Smith, Dr. Waterbury, Mr. Bouton, Mr. Thomasson, 

 Solon Robinson, F. W. Geissenhainer, jr.. Secretary Leonard, the 

 venerable optician, Benj. Pike, Judge Livingston, John W. Cham- 

 bers, Mr. Brower, Mr. Olcott, Dr. Reese, V. Wyck, Judd, Joseph 

 Blunt, Mr. Stacy, Mr. Vail, Geo. E. Waring, jr., Mr. Sanford 

 and others — seven ty-tlu-ee members. 



President Pell in the chair, Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



The Secretary read the following selections and transactions 

 made by him from papers, by the last steamer from Europe (viz) : 

 A GOOD PLAN. 



I saw in the New York Evening Post, last week, the following 

 very good recommendation as to growing melons. Put soil into 

 a wicker basket, or any open wicker work. Plant the seeds in 

 it, in any warm sunny place, hotbed, &c., early in the spring. 

 When the weather suits, set these in proper places in the garden. 

 The roots have no trouble in passing through the wicker, and of 

 course we have the benefit of the longest summer and the best 

 part of it. Extract from the Evening Post, by 



H. MEIGS. 

 THE CHINESE YAM—{Dioscorea Batatas). 



The Imperial and Central Society of Horticulture, Paris, Janu- 

 ai'y, 1856. 



Napoleon 3d Protector, has decreed the gold medal to Mr. Mon- 

 tigny, for the introduction of this new plant and others. 



Mr. Remont, of Versailles, presented an essay on the plant and 

 bread made of it. 



[Am, Inst.] 81 



