224 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



power any substance that will readily absorb or repel moisture, and I have 

 always regarded it as an instrument that should accompan}^ the barometer, 

 but have never adopted it for the reason that I never have been able to fix 

 upon any absorbing substance as a standard instead of the wet bulb. The 

 two instruments combined would render both more valuable than either 

 alone. 



Dr. Trimble. — My barometer in summer time is the action of swallows 

 in their pursuit of insects. 



Mr. Cavenach. — The poor man's barometer is found in many plants, 

 which certainly indicate changes in the weather. The pimpernel and the 

 common chickweed always close their flowers on the approach of a storm. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — I would advise every one to stud}' them carefully, 

 and use them as adjuncts to many other things that will help them in prog- 

 nosticating the weather. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I have listened with much interest to Mr. Kendall's 

 remarks, and think for the future they will be of benefit to me ; and I take 

 great pleasure in moving the thanks of the Club to Mr. Kendall for his 

 explicit explanations. 



The motion was unanimously adopted. 



The subject of the day, "Beautifying our Country Homes," was then 

 called up. 



Mr. Pardee. — I hope Mr. Carpenter will open this subject, as he has had 

 Eome experience that will be of interest to us all. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I am always ready to say a few words on this subject. 

 The farm I now occupy was like the rest of my neighbors' — it had a very 

 desolate appearance; nothing to please the taste or delight the eye; the 

 usual stone walls, and a few poplars planted before the house. I com- 

 menced by laying down a lawn and planting out a great variety of orna- 

 mental evergreens and choice flowering shrubbery. I have also erected 

 suitable outbuildings. My taste was in favor of fruit, of which I have now 

 a great variety, embracing nearly all the new kinds. My neighbors have 

 all gone into the decoration of their houses and grounds. Evergreens are 

 now generally cultivated. My first experience with flowers Avas planting 

 a running rose. These improvements are very marked in Westchester 

 county, and give an air of comfort, ]iot only to the residents, but even to 

 the wayfarer. 



Prof. Mapes. — I spoke last week on the importance of landscape garden- 

 ing, but in our improvements we generally begin at the wrong end. 

 While straight lines of garden walks remain, and long avenues of trees 

 are planted, the rules of beauty are infringed upon. The walks should 

 always be in curves, and the trees planted in such a way as to improve the 

 landscape. Color of foliage should be so arranged that we do not have 

 the same to strike our eyes on the rising as on the setting sun. Landscape 

 gardening should be classed as one of the fine arts. When once we become 

 imbued with the beauty of form, we always attempt to carry it out in 

 our various improvements. Go to the stores and examine the articles 

 made in France, and admire their beauty; the art of design is there carried 

 out in all their manufactures ; the whole world is indebted to Prance for 

 its arts. Ladies of wealth, in England, wear French lace, although they 



