Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 323 



also our grapes and pears. To sum up : where can land be bought 

 so cheap in the States that will do as well, with all the facilities 

 we have for marketing our produce — Washington, Baltimore, Phila- 

 delphia, New York and Boston giving us our choice, and at reasonable 

 rates of freight ? My family consists of five children, myself and wife. 

 I have lived here two years. My doctor's bill has been less than 

 fifteen dollars, and probably half the amount for medicine. During 

 sixteen years in New York city it would average fifty, and one year, 

 I remember, it was nearly $300. Now, my experience so far is that 

 the health of my family is better than when I lived in New York 

 city. I have no doubt that Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota and other 

 places, are healthy, and possibly clear of chills and fevers, but there 

 will be something else, and men will die even in these healthy places ; 

 and here in our town I will show as many men and women over 

 sixty years as can be found in any town of its size in my native State 

 of New York. 



Adjourned. 



October 31, 1871. 



Nathan C. Ely, Esq., in the chair; Mr. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 

 Planting Coen. 



Mr. D. B. Bruen — I always reject the kernels from the tips and 

 plant only those which are perfect. I believe that wrinkled corn 

 comes from wrinkled kernels. . . 



Mr. Curtis — Every careful farmer rejects the tips and buts of ears, 

 and plants nothing but the plump and perfect kernels, ivpon the prin- 

 ciple that they will produce strong and vigorous plants. Further- 

 more, I am of the opinion that the crooked and twisted kernels are 

 apt to produce knotted and imperfect ears. Dr. Trimble made a very 

 sensible suggestion on this subject, when he. recommended to a 

 correspondent to get the best seed corn he could in his own neighbor- 

 hood, and not send away to another State. I have a string of seed 

 corn now hanging in my corn-crib, of superior quality, which is the 

 same kind of corn raised by a neighbor as long as I can remember. 

 Now, sir, I believe there is no use of changing seed corn if the best 

 ears are carefully selected every year. If plant food is supplied suffi- 

 cient, there will be no deterioration, but rather an improvement ; 

 hence, to send away to remote places for seed which is not natural to 

 the climate and soil is generally a loss, and the idea is absurd that by 



