PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 241 



be utterly rejected, not only because false in itself, but still more because 

 it encourages the making- of undulating roads, and thus increases the labor 

 and cost of carriage upon them. 



"greatest allowable slope. 



" A perfectly level road is thus seen to be a most desirable object; but as 

 it can seldom be completely attained, we must next investigate the limits 

 to which the slopes of a road should be reduced, if possible, and determine 

 what is the steepest allowable or maximum slope. 



"This depends on two different considerations, according as the slope is 

 viewed as a descent or as an ascent, each of which it alternately becomes, 

 according to the direction of the travel. 



" Viewed as a dencent, it chiefly concerns the safety of rapid traveling, 

 and applies especially to great public roads. 



"Viewed as an aficent, it chiefly concerns the draught of heavy loads, 

 and relates particularly to routes for agricultural and other heavy trans- 

 portation. 1 . 1 • 1 T 



" The slope should be so gentle that when a heavy vehicle is descending 

 its gravity shall not overcome its friction so far as to permit it to press 

 upon the horses. This limiting slope corresi^onds to the 'angle of repose' 

 of mechanical science; i. e., the angle made with the horizon by the steep- 

 est plane down which a body will not slide of its own accord, its gravity- 

 iust balancing its friction, so that the least increase of slope would ovei- 

 power the resistance of the friction, and make the body descend. This 

 'angle of repose' should therefore be the limit of grade upon all country 

 roads, so far as possible." 



Mr Eobinson.— I did not intend to be understood as objecting to a level 

 grade for roads, in what I said, because I know their advantages, and that 

 if horses do wear out faster, we can afford to wear them out. 



" Chiccory, its Uses and Growth," was continued as one of the subjects 

 for discussion at the next meeting. ^.^^^o o , 



Adjourned. JOHN W. CHAMBERS, Secretary. 



January 21, 1863. 

 Mr. John G. Bergen, of Long Island, in the chair. 



Increasing the Size of -Eggs. 



Prof Mapes called the attention of farmers to this subject. " 



He exhibited specimens weighing 3J ounces each of eggs, produced by 

 a Mr. Pyatt, on the Lyons farm, near Newark, N. J., by improvements in 

 the white Spanish fowls. He is careful to select .^-^\'^e^^^^^\lf /^ 

 eggs to propagate from, and sells off or uses on his table all that do not 

 come up to his standard of excellence. This is a matter to which farmers 

 might profitably give more attention. 



The Chairman.-Not as long as the custom prevails of selling eggs by 

 the dozen, and small ones for just as much as the largest. 



Mr. Solon Robinson.-I have long advocated selling eggs by the pound, 

 [Am. L\st.1 16 



