PROCEEDINGS OP THE FARMERS' CLUB. 197 



ARTERIAL DRAINAGE. 



In Ireland, extraordinary success has attended the operation 

 of the general act of Parliament by the board of public works. 

 Ten years have passed, and 7,000,000 acres have been chiefly 

 cleared of the water, and rendered sub-drainage possible, at a cost 

 of about $21 per acre. Eleven thousand square miles have been 

 thus cleared of the water of ages and brought into cultivation, 

 much of it highly profitable. 



COMPOSITION OF TURNIPS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF GROWTH. 



By Prof. Anderson, chemist to the society. Fourth period. 

 Water, albuminous compounds, other organic matters, ash and 

 nitrogen, peroxide of iron, lime, magnesia, potash, soda, chloride 

 of sodium, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, carbonic acid, silicic 

 acid. Rationale by the learned Professor. Supply the soil with 

 all the turnip wants. 



Let farmers consider this subject, and apply the remedy to any 

 soil that lacks the constituents of a good crop of turnips. 



THE MOWING MACHINE. 



From The London Farmers'' Magazine, the secretary read some 

 accounts of the American mowing machines. One man and a 

 boy and a pair of horses can cut fifteen acres a day with ease, 

 and the machines are fast gaining in favor. 



RAIN WATER. 



It is stated that 511 tuns of water to an acre fell in June in 

 some parts of England. 



ROOM FOR PLANTS. 



All plants should have an abundance of room, both in roots 

 and branches. There is as much need of room for food from air, 

 as food by the roots. 



A FROZEN SOIL, 



That is susceptible of some cultivation and production of food 

 plants, exists at Behring's Straits, that never thaws more than 

 seven inches deep, as appears by a statement read by the secre- 

 tary from the Russian Imperial journal of agriculture. 



