PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 349 



Doct. Trimble. — Charcoal never acts as a fertilizer upon land. 

 It is rather a detriment to soil. 



Mr. Quinn. — We consider the fine charcoal of locomotives very 

 valuable as an absorbent. It costs us about one cent a bushel, 

 and hauling three miles. It is cheaper than plaster. 



R. G. Pardee. — Coal dust costs 1.5 or 18 cents a bushel in this 

 city. I find it worth that on the garden, 



Mr. Quinn. — We don't consider the coal cinders of locomotives 

 worth hauling three miles. It is good on clay soils as a divisor. 

 The charcoal acts also as a divisor, and there it is an absorbent. 

 We mulch all of our pear trees with charcoal dust, and consider 

 it very valuable. We use charcoal dust largely in South Jersey 

 upon almost pure sandy soil, with good success. 



HOME MADE GUANO. 



Wm. S. Carpenter. — This is the dried flesh of dead animals, 

 taken from the city to Barren Island. After taking out the fat 

 and bones, the flesh is dried and pulverized. I think it a dear 

 manure at $30 a ton. 



Dr. Trimble, of New Jersey.— -Liebig has come to the conclu- 

 sion that there is no manure equal to that from the barn-yard. 

 When you want to build up the fertility of a whole county, you 

 cannot do it by any of the substances sold in shops as manure. 



It was agreed to take up the question of manures of all kinds 

 for discussion at the next meeting. 



TOMATOES HOW TO PRODUCE THEM EARLY. 



Mr. Quinn. — A sash three by six feet may be made so as to 

 produce a variety of early plants. Good soil placed in a box 

 and kept in a room about 60^^ or 70° till about two inches high, 

 and then transplanted into separate boxes or pots. Afterward 

 transplant them once more. It is necessary to keep the plants in 

 a very even temperature. The soil for boxes, or hot beds, should 

 be prepared in summer, and should be very rich and pulverulent. 

 In covering the seeds, sift the soil over them. The seeds and 

 plants must be well watered and aired. The hot bed requires 

 constant attention by some one who has had experience. Tomato 

 plants should be transplanted two or three times before setting 

 in the field. Cabbage plants will do with one transplanting. 

 Early lettuce plants are kept over winter in cold frames. So are 

 cabbage plants, and I have seen a whole field of cabbages covered 

 with snow after set out. 



