AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 535 



Two magnificent roots of the Chinese Yam, Dioscorea Batatas, 

 the product of one root, weigliiiig five pounds, was presented by 

 M. Limet, the gardener of Mons. Le Compte Lanjuinais, of Grisy, 

 of the Seine and Marne. 



About the last of May, 1854, M. Liniet planted a small fragment 

 of a root in a hole, four or five feet square, which he had filled 

 with leaves well lieaped in, and on top of tliem good clean fresh 

 earth and pure vegt'tuble mould. He gave the vine sticks to run 

 on, lie watered the plant durin-; the summer, and during the 

 Avinter covei-ed the sp >t with leaves. These tubers were dug out 

 on the first day of Se})teniber, 1855. 



Some discussion took place with regard to tiie best mode of 

 culiivating it. It was assumed as a ftict that the Chinese never 

 use any sort of animal niimure in its culture, notwithstanding 

 their great fondness for it in cultivating almost every other 

 vegetable. 



M. Paillet did not think that large crops were to be expected 

 of tubers so large as these. 



A premium o^ the second class was then awarded to M. Limet. 



Two angora pears from trees sent from Turkey to M. Poiteau, 

 and cul ivated in his garden of the barriere duTrone, were tasted 

 and acknowledged to be very mediocre. 



THE TOMATO DISEASED. 



Mons. de Saint Projet read a note from Mons. Hubert Briere, 

 on tlie malady of the tomato, and on the success in curing it by 

 sulphate of ir.m. Three years ago, (1853) our tomatoes were 

 completely lost by disease. It was tl e first time it had raged in 

 our district. I planted early varieties of it, and also the large 

 red kind. The disease showed itself strongly. My early sorts 

 died first. I tried to save them; I found benefit in sulphate of 

 iron, which I had found beneficial on the chlorose of fruit trees. 

 But the early tomatoes turn black for the most part, the stalks 

 not yet too much spotted. I put two drachms of sulphate of 

 iron into a quart of water and sprinkle the plants, eight days 

 after sprinkle again. I w.-is t-o late ibr the early ones, they died, 

 but it helped the later plants. This year I planted early but the 

 malady came. The stalks had black spots and two of the toma- 

 toes before I could prevent it. I immediately used the sulphate 

 of iron, and the malady stopped, and I saved my tomatoes. Solu- 

 tions of other metallic salt would probably have like effect. 



