382 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



would not use top dressing, and would like to know what crops or 

 what soils required it. 



Mr. Gale would not give 10 cents a bushel for roots, to be 

 hauled by himself for a mile. He would rather have one bushel 

 of corn than ten bushels of turnips, for feeding cattle. 



The subjects for the next meeting will be " Root crops and 

 surface manuring." Adjourned. 



JOHN BRUCE, Secretary pro tern. 



Dr. R. L. Waterbury in the chair. 



March 18, 1861. 



THE NOVELTY CHURN. 



Mr. J. E. Walter exhibited Cornell's churning machine, which 

 is adapted to producing the temperature of 62°, at which the 

 best butter can be made, and to the thorough aeration of the milk. 

 The churn being supplied with sweet milk, and brought to the 

 proper temperature by hot water poured into the lower chamber; 

 butter was produced in 2| minutes. 



FRUIT BASKETS VENTILATION OF FRUIT. 



Mr. L. F. Pingree exhibited a specimen of Cook's fruit basket, 

 which are constructed of splints of bass-wood, so as to secure not 

 only elegance of form, but free ventilation. If the berries are 

 picked whole they can be shipped any reasonable distance with 

 Bafety. 



Mr. Carpenter mentioned that he had received strawberries 

 from Boston in tight boxes, and they seemed to keep better than 

 in open baskets. 



Mr. Robinson. — The tight boxes are almost exclusively used in 

 Boste n, where they have tried both plans ; and that Prof. Mapes 

 pursues the same plan; the result being favorable to that process. 



Mr. Pardee. — The condition of fruit determined the question 

 whether it was safe to put it into tight boxes or barrels. If 

 apples are put into tight barrels while in the sweating condition, 

 they might rot in forty-eight hours. But if they have passed 

 through that, and become dry, they will keep best in tight barrels 

 for a certain period, when sweating will again take place. Fruit 

 needs careful watching, or fruit which has been bruised or begun 

 to decay will infect and destroy the whole. 



Mr. Robinson. — The same truth applies to all kinds of fruit. 



