466 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



ject to decomposition ; so that they cannot be so readily appro- 

 priated. 



Mr. Pardee inquired what was the best manure for rose bushes, 

 which require the richest possible manure to be used in a city 

 garden, where the expense is no object. 



Prof. Mapes. — Place in one corner of the garden a barrel, to 

 be filled with stable manure, and pass water through it, and 

 assist its action by adding potash, if you please. 



Mr. Pardee. — That is unsightly. 



Prof. Mapes. — ^As you are well aware, I consider the best thing 

 to be the nitrogenized superphosf)hate of lime. Dissolve it if 

 you like ; inasmuch as mingling it with the soil might lead to an 

 unequal distribution, giving too much at one time and too little 

 at another. 



CUTTINGS. 



I do not base it upon the maxim, " similis similibus curantur," 

 but I suppose that a rose might thrive better with a supply of 

 particles upon the same level of progession with itself. Of grapes 

 I can speak experimentally. I have a vineyard of 1,200 grape 

 vines, and I am compelled to trim them severely. I then run 

 the cuttings through a cutting box, such as I cut hay with, and 

 divide them into pieces one quarter of an inch long. I mix these 

 with the green sand separated from the Squankum marl, which 

 is the most rapid decomposer that I know of. I apply this to my 

 grapevines with admirable results. I get finer wood and finer 

 fruit with that kind of manure than with any other. 



On motion of Mr. Pardee, the thanks of the club were presented 

 to Prof Mapes, for his very instructive and interesting course of 

 lectures. 



The subject selected for the next meeting is " Indian corn and 

 potatoes." Adjourned. 



