310 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



attains a large size ; sometimes the heads weigh twenty-four 

 pounds each. 



The Chairman said it was one of the easiest varieties to head 

 that has been cultivated in this vicinity. 



R. G. Pardee. — I hear my friends speak of this as the best cab- 

 bage they have ever used. It is well worthy the attention of 

 those who wish to plant seed the next season. 



A NEW AGRICULTURAL MACHINE. 



Bronson Murray introduced models of a new agricultural 

 machine, invented by Prof Turner, of Jacksonville, Illinois. It 

 is a frame about six feet wide, fixed upon two broad wheels, 

 which serve as rollers for the soil. This frame is arranged to 

 carry two plows, when required for plowing, and at the same 

 time drop corn or other seed. The plowshares can be removed 

 and implements for cutting corn put in their place, by which the 

 ground is cleaned and the dirt turned to or from the hills. There 

 are knives that precede the cultivators and shave off all the 

 weeds. There is a guard attached to the frame that covers the 

 small corn so that it is never covered too much by the dirt. 

 This machine is the result of ten years' experiment of the 

 inventor, and he has proved that one hand can plant and culti- 

 vate sixty acres of corn on the western prairies. It costs $100, 

 and requires two to four horses to work it. 



A JAPANESS UMBRELLA. 



Wm. S. Carpenter introduced, as a curiosity, a Japanese 

 umbrella, which was much admired. When closed it more 

 resembles a wooden club than anything else. 



sows DESTROYING PIGS. 



Solon Robinson read the folloAving letter upon the above sub- 

 ject from William Manlius Smith, of Manlius, New York : 



I have lately lost a fine litter of pigs a little over a fortnight 

 old. As I might probably have saved two of them if the farmers 

 to whom I applied for information had been in possession of it, 

 I communicate the circumstance to you for the benefit of others 

 in my situation. 



On Tuesday night, at feeding time, the little pigs were doing 

 well, apparently. Wednesday noon, all were missing but two. 

 A very careful examination of the pen, bedding, &c., revealed no 

 traces of blood, bones or hair. The two pigs were taken to the 



