516 TRANSACTIONS 0I<^ THE 



weight, of flax obtained from the first root, but think it was seven 

 ounces. I have shown this to Mr. B. P. Johnson, of the State 

 Agricultural Society, and Mr. Luther Tucker, of Tlie Cultivator, 

 who concur with me in thinking tliis plajit deserving the notice 

 of cultivators. The cotton is worthless for cloth, the fibre is so 

 short; but she experimented upon the flax with success. This 

 is the plant lately noticed as the " American Papyinis or Paper 

 Plant," in the papers, a name which was given through the advice of 

 some clergyman who probably would not know papyrus from broom 

 corn if he were shown both together. My reason for troubling 

 you with this communication is the desire to benefit Mrs. Eeau- 

 mont, and protect her in insuring the benefit of her discovery, 

 should it prove of value, to herself, by obtaining some information 

 with regard to the best means of bringing it into notice. She 

 sent specimens to Washington, and is almost daily receiving let- 

 ters from speculators, who wish to get the matter into their hands 

 by making liberal offers for her stock of seed. She is a simple- 

 minded, hard-working woman of the old school, and deserves 

 attention for her patient investigation and experimentation in 

 this and other economic matters. 



" Please give your opinion concerning this plant, and what 

 steps Mrs. Beaumont should take in introducing it, and in what 

 way she could realize profit for her chscovery." 



From the specimens of the flax inclosed it is evident that the 

 fibre is a valuable one; but whether the cultivation of the plant 

 can be made profitable is a question that the Club could not de- 

 cide, or what advartage this plant has over a hundred other 

 fibrous plants no one can tell without long- tried, careful experi- 

 ments. Our opinion is that if Mrs. B. can sell her seed at a sort 

 of Chinese yam price, she had better let the " speculators " take 

 it. 



POTATOES. 



After sundry miscellaneous remarks by those present, Mr. Judd 

 stated that it was desirable to gather as much practical instruction 

 as possible adapted to the season. He would ask those present 

 to state what they considered to be the best variety of potatoes for 

 eai'ly planting. 



Mr. Eobinson expressed his preference for the New-Jersey nut- 

 meg potato, remarking that he had never found any so good for 

 early culture, but they Avere of exceedingly small size. 



Mr. Olcott remarked that tlie mammoth nutmeg was his favorite 

 for the purpose from all his observations. 



