PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 301 



January 21, 1861. 



Present, 60 members. Mr. Robert L. Pell in the chair. 



The Secretary, Mr. Meigs, who is confined to the house by sick- 

 ness, sends the following translation and extracts, which were 

 read : 



TRUFFLES 



Are always in demand by people who can afford to have luxuries. 



A familiar joke was fashionable in Paris some forty years ago. 

 Thus: " Youlez vous des trufiles ? II faut allez en Perigord" — 

 Talleyrand Perigord, where the only trufiles were found. 



Lately they are found elsewhere. Mons. Bailly de Merlieux 

 says that they are now found in considerable quantities in the 

 Pare de Yeaux, a part of France where they were before never 

 known. He calls it a perfect mushroom, whose modes of produc- 

 tion are well known. It is said to be an excrescence from the 

 root of the oak tree, due to the puncture by an insect. There is 

 no truth in this. Few if any trufiles are found out of Talley- 

 rand's native Perigord. 



WILD DOCK. 



One of the first useful vegetables of the spring, gathered exten- 

 sively for the table, and by some palates relished as much as 

 asparagus. 



In 1825, I found that it was carefully cultivated in the gardens 

 near London, and I sent for the seed. I sowed this then in drills, 

 and when well up, left one plant every eight or ten inches. The 

 growth was rapid and vigorous ; so much so, that many days be- 

 fore I had greens to boil, this had leaves about two feet high and 

 four inches Avide. It far excels the wild dock in tenderness and 

 flavor. I continued its cultivation for many years, and lost it by 

 removing to another garden. 



I never saw it in our markets or gardens. It is so easily grown 

 and so easily cut for market, that I recommend its general culti- 

 vation. 



The dandelion appears wild at about the same time, and is 

 extremely easy of culture. I never cultivated any plant of more 

 ready and sure growth, and the roots last giving successive crops 

 of leaves. 



The great markets cannot well be supplied with conservatory 

 plants. A cheap early green for the table is wanted by nine out 

 of ten families. 



