460 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Prof. H. E. Colton — The remedy needed by tins gentleman and many 

 others, is sulphurous acid solution ; I wish to be distinctly understood — 

 not sulphuric, but sulphurous acid. The sulphuric is intensely cor- 

 rosive and dangerous ; the sulphurous acid is not. A solution of this 

 acid, if sprinkled on carpets that are to be rolled up for the summer, or in 

 clothes or furs or other things likely to be attacked or supposed to be 

 infested with moths, will kill all eggs or insects and prevent their 

 coming. But, to make it of value, the clothes should be rolled up 

 after sprinkling, as the virtue of sulphurous acid rapidly passes 

 off into the air. Clothes which have been thus sprinkled and rolled 

 up, lose all smell upon exposure to the air. I would again warn 

 persons against confusing it with sulphuric acid, as that burns up any- 

 thing it touches. The sulphurous may probably be bought for this 

 purpose in alcohol solutions, as I have seen it announced that persons 

 were manufacturing it. It is also valuable as a disinfectant. 



Mr. D. B. Bruen — My old mother always used Scotch snuff, and with 

 good effect. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller — I think the sulphurous acid a good thing. It 

 gives off the sulphur smell, which is well known to be hurtful to 

 insects. Camphor is also good, red-cedar wood, etc., but these only 

 act for a time. The sulphur smell would undoubtedly kill all larvae 

 and insects. 



Second-crop Potatoes. 



Mr. N. W. Pierson, Mt. Vernon Township, Fairfax county, Va. — 

 There were some practical experiments in raising a second crop of 

 potatoes reported at the recent meeting of the " Woodlawn Farmers' 

 Club " of this township, which are of general interest, showing what 

 can be done on the old neglected fields of Virginia. 



At a meeting of the Club, held at the house of one of the members, 

 on the 27th ult., several large specimens of early and late varieties of 

 potatoes were exhibited, which led to a lengthy discussion on the 

 subject of raising potatoes, especially of a second crop. Oscar Baker 

 exhibited six Early Rose, raised from tubers grown this season, and six 

 Monitors, weighing together twelve pounds. He stated that the first 

 3rop of Early Rose were dug about the middle of June. On the 8th 

 of July he selected one bushel of the smallest potatoes, cut them, 

 rolled them in plaster, and planted in sandy soil ; the second year, 

 from breaking up of an old neglected field, no manure or fertilizers 

 having been used at any time, the crop was gathered the middle of 

 November, and measured twenty-five bushels. N. "W". Pierson reported 



