PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 295 



A new salvia, the scabios^folia, is introduced from the Crimea. 



Calathea fasciata (by Regal & Koernicke), from Brazil, a beau- 

 tiful plant, low, leaves horizontal, rounded oblique and marked 

 with broad bands (on top) of alternate white and green, and below 

 tinged red, bears white flowers. A beautiful specimen was given 

 to the Society last year by the Princess Helena Paulowna. 



A learned inquiry into the history of the potatoe, by Mon. the 

 Baron Croesa, of Berges. He says the potato was believed to 

 have been brought to Europe from Columbia about the year 

 1565, about 20 years before it was brought by Drake to London, 

 where he gave some of the tubers to Gerard the Botanist, who 

 then lived in London. The learned Clusius is the first who men- 

 tioned the potato, and Parraentier was the first to introduce its 

 culture into France, and to him the title of Benefactor of Human- 

 ity has long been granted, because yamme so frequent and terrible 

 before the introduction of the potato has never been known since .' 



R. G. Pardee. — The government of France was very anxious 

 to introduce potatoes among the people, and the expedient was 

 resorted to by Parmentier of cultivating a field, and when ripe, 

 issuing a handbill, offering a large sum as a reward for the dis- 

 covery of any one interfering with the crop. The result was that 

 all were stolen, and thus the public got a taste, and soon grew 

 fond of the new article of food. 



SALT HAY AS MANURE. 



Solon Robinson inquired the value of salt marsh hay for 

 manure, or rather whether the manure made of it is of any great 

 value. 



Wm. S. Carpenter stated that he had seen very beneficial 

 results when used as a mulch. 



Wm. Lawton stated that salt hay is now about one-fourth the 

 price of timothy hay, and if not as good for manure, it is very 

 useful for bedding. 



R. L. Pell. — Salt hay contains three ingredients ; straw eleven 

 ingredients, therefore straw is just so much more valuable as a 

 manure. 



Wm. S. Carpenter. — Our sea-side farmers use a great deal of 

 sea weed, and I don't see why salt hay is not nearly as good as 

 sea weed. We all know that it is extensive!}^ used as manure 

 with the best results, 



The Chairman. — Salt hay is extensively used in New Jersey^ 



