98 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



impossible to exhaust the air from the interior of the fruit. A raisin con- 

 tains air enough within its dried skin to swell it out if placed under the 

 receiver of an air pump. The French cans are broad, which allows a large 

 surface to sink in when the air is pumped out, and to rise again if air is 

 generated within. If the can is found with the sides swelled out, the fruit 

 is not well preserved. I do not think it would answer to put fruit in long, 

 narrow bottles and pump out the air; there would be no room for expan- 

 sion, which will arise from imperfectly extracting the air. 



Planting Trees along the Highways. 



Mr. Robinson read the following communication from Mr. W. 0. Duvall, 

 Port Byron, N. Y.: 



" The last Legislature passed an excellent act, prohibiting animals from 

 running at large in the highways. Though, to a change so radical and 

 sudden, considerable opposition manifests itself, yet, as a general thing, 

 the law is obeyed, a.nd the roads which heretofore have been almost 

 nuisances, are now sources of comfort to the traveler. One of the ill 

 effects of poverty is to make its victim cruel and hard hearted. Though 

 the poor man, who has been in the habit of using the highway for pasture 

 in summer and barn-yard in winter, knows full well that his cow was daily 

 clubbed, stoned, dogged, and in every other way maltreated; j^et, if she 

 only produced the milk, he gave himself no trouble in the matter. This 

 beneficent law is a God-send to these hitherto shamefully abused animals. 

 Allow me to suggest the passage of another law, which, in my opinion, 

 would produce more substantial good than any act passed by the Legis- 

 lature since the organization of the State government. Let the next 

 Legislature enact that land-owners line both sides of the highways through 

 their land with the different varieties of fruit trees, subject to the super- 

 vision and control of the road masters, who shall see that they are pro- 

 tected from all harm, with full power to annex penalties and collect fines 

 for any damage done to the trees or fruit. Now that the streets are 

 divested of animals, this most beneficent act is perfectly practicable; and 

 what a source of happiness it would be to the poor and the children of the 

 landless. By a little legislative care, 1S80 might find the highways of the 

 Empire State so lined with trees abounding with fruit as to prevent the 

 possibility of a famine, were all other crops a failure." 



Prof Nash. — The writer of this letter is more philanthropist than lawyer 

 or politician. I would gladly see the roads lined with trees; but I would 

 appeal to the people, not the Legislature. I have long since appealed to 

 land-owners to plant trees by the roadside. I do not think the Legislature 

 should enact compulsory laws on the subject. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — I agree with Prof. Nash in this respect; I would 

 not compel, but I would induce, by offering bounties, by relieving part of 

 the road tax for every tree planted; and I v/ould have the present law 

 enforced, and other laws for the protection of tlie road. People need to be 

 set right about the ownership of the road. Every land-owner owns the 

 road adjoining in fee simple. He has only granted the right of travel on 

 his land to the public. The grant does not give them any right to pasture 

 their cattle by the side of the path. Let us keep agitating this subject 



