320 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Chairman stated that there are two varieties of Spitzen- 

 bergs — one called the Flushing Spitzenberg. The Esopus variety- 

 is the highest flavored. 



Dr. Trimble — This is a local fruit and grows better on the 

 Hudson than anywhere else. 



Mr. Burgess said they grew well in England. 



Mr. Pell — I have sent some trees to England of the Esopus 

 Spitzenberg, and also the Newtown Pippin. 



The Chairman said that several varieties of apples cannot be 

 grown to advantage on sandy soil. The best soil for an orchard 

 is one that will grow good corn — that is, in this section of coun- 

 try, 



Mr. R. G. Pardee — A rolling gravelly soil is the best for an 

 orchard in this State. 



Mr. R. L. Pell — No land can be said to be suitable for an 

 orchard, no matter what its constituents may be, unless it is 

 thoroughly underdrained. 



SEA WEED AS A MANURE. 



Mr. R. L. Pell — Made the following remarks on the value of 

 sea weed as a manure. 



The remarks made at the last meeting of this Club, respecting 

 sea weed, and its value for agricultural purposes, would have led " 

 me to reply, had not matter of more apparent value consumed 

 the time of the meeting. 



Sea weed is much used on our sea coast as manure ; being 

 washed up by the waves, it is procured with little trouble and 

 small expense. 



Ribbon weed is one of the most common. It is long, narrow, 

 and exceedingly green ; four-fifths of it are pure water, and the 

 balance carbonate of lime, carbonate of soda, phosphate of lime, 

 magnesia, and silex. This weed may be melted down into a 

 semi-liquid gelatinous mass, and is then known as kelp, and con- 

 • tains from three to five per cent, of soda, and is used for making 

 glass. Barilla is now found superior, and kelp is less used for 

 that purpose. Soda may be extracted from kelp by dissolving it 

 in boiling water ; one pound will produce six ounces, but it inva- 

 riably contains chloride and sulphate of potassium and sodium, 

 from which it is next to impossible to separate it. 



Rock weed is exceedingly gelatinous, and consequently admira- 

 ble for manure, and, being found, by all farmers who have made 



