PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 269 



CHANGE OF CLIMATE. 



This question was discussed by several members. 



Dr. Trimble said that he thought the climate had been mate- 

 rially changed by clearing away the forests. 



The secretary thought no material change had occurred in the 

 climate of this or any other region. 



Andrew S. Fuller and Solon Robinson both contended against 

 the theory advanced by Dr. Trimble, that the prairie region was 

 once wooded. They contended that the prairies have never been 

 wooded. The land is now just in the natural condition of the 

 bottom of a lake, from which the water has receded and the land 

 dried up, and which first produces weeds, then grass, and after- 

 wards trees, as the prairie land now readily produces them where 

 fires are kept out. 



Wm. S. Carpenter. — This has been a most remarkable season. 

 We have had no frost in Westchester county hard enough to kill 

 Lima beans. At least, they are still green in many places. 



APPLES FOR STOCK. 



Mr. Carpenter stated that many farmers in Westchester county 

 are feeding apples to cows, at the rate of a bushel a day, with 

 good results. He thinks them worth more as food for stock than 

 they will sell for to make cider. The weather has been very favor- 

 able for gathering apples ; yet there are vast quantities of them 

 still on the trees or on the ground. 



Wm. Lawton of New Rochelle confirmed the opinion of the 

 value of apples for feeding stock. In regard to the changes of 

 weather, he is satisfied that the seasons are remarkably equable. 

 This he judges from notes kept for twenty years. 



Mr. Hurlburt of Connecticut thought apples would increase the 

 quantity of milk, but that they will not produce as much butter. 

 He would not feed apples to milch cows, unless it was for those 

 kept for milk and not butter. He thought sweet apples prefer- 

 able to sour ones. 



Mr. Carpenter said that those who kept cows for producing 

 milk for the city had found great advantage in apple-feeding. 



APPLES FOR PIGS. 



Dr. Trimble thought sweet apples would answer pretty well 

 for pig-feed, but apples were liable to make cows dyspeptic. 



Mr. Hurlburt said that apples would fatten pigs, but the pork 

 would all fry away. 



