PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. VV 



Flattering experiments are made on growing the white nettle 

 of China, for its fibre. The plant grows tall, is planted close, 

 and yields annually a valuable sort of flax. 



FISH SPAWN. 



The coast of China, Algeria, and Morocco, at the spawning 

 season, are found in calm weather full of spawn and boats and 

 sold for food and manure. Much is consumed in Chinese junks. 

 In places among the shores of the Mediterranean the spaAvn is 

 salted and sold, and cooked in a variety of ways. 



POULTRY. 



The so-called Cochin-china fowls (falsely), come from Nankin, 

 in the Province of Tche-kiang,. the chief city of which is Hang- 

 tchow (city of flowers, opulence, luxury and pleasure.) It is the 

 terrestial paradise of the Chinese. Nankin, which grows the 

 remarkable cotton of that name, and the eggs of these fowls 

 being always of that Nankin color, we give them the more 

 suitable name of J^ankin Fowls. This name was adopted on 

 the motion of Vice-Admiral Cecille, who brought them to the 

 Museum of Natural History in 1846. 



William S. Carpenter. — All classes of insects have their favor- 

 ite plants, but when those fail they will take to others. Last 

 year I saw the Ailanthus (usually free from all insects,) com 

 pletely covered with a worm known in our country as the canker 

 worm. Those trees were wholly stripped of their foliage. Wo 

 are continually importing insects in various ways. I am told 

 that every banana stem contains a worm, and some of the same 

 sort of worms have been discovered preying on the quince. 



R. G. Pardee. — I wish every man would try the solution of 

 aloes — two ounces to the gallon of water. It is such a bitter ve- 

 getable that it is ofi'ensive to all insects. It may be used just as 

 strong as it can be made — from one-fourth to a whole pound to 

 the gallon. 



ROSE SLUGS. 



Mr. Carpenter said, the slug is easily killed by hand in the af- 

 ter part of the day, by an application of quassia decoction, sprin- 

 kled upon the leaves, as the slugs are then on the upper surface. 



SQUASH BUGS. 



Extra cultivation, by which the plants grow rapidly, is the best 

 remedy for these pests. 



