New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-20
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FARMERS CLUE

AMERICAN INSTITUTE FARMERS CLUB.
TUESDAY, June le.-Dr. AUSTIN CHURCH in the
Chsir-Henry Meigs, Seeretary.-Notwithstsnd
the incemency of the day-a chilly northeast rain
aing and the busy of the year, there
a very good attendance both Of city and country gen.
tlemen.
Judge MEIGs read paper that was listened to with
much interest upon the subject OF Botany, with the
lanes of ancient authors and dates of the papers,
written 10 illustrate this study. Throphroses wrote
before Christ 800 years, and Hippocraes 400
years and gave the history OF 500 plants. Dios-
cordes wrote A. ID. 20, and described 600 plants
A. ID. "a, Plny made a compilation of the history of
LOCO species. Galen wrote "A. ID. l3l. The FIRST ac-
count we have of the history of plants, Illustrated by
accurate drawings, was in 1892. One year later the
Botanic Garden at Padua takes its date. The first
Museum of Natural History was that OF Conrad GEES
ner in 1860, at which period the idea TO have
been started of making system of plants, with the
class order, genera, species, &c. But 1t was not I'M
I'll 1892 that Coumna printed his copperpate draw
ings of plants and botanic language. From that
time until the establishment OF the Royal Society OF
London in 1868, botanical writers more plenty.
The names of twenty-five are given Following the
London Society came the Royal Academy of Science
at Paris in loco. The system of Linnaus was pub
shed in 1895. Since then Botany has become a study
science, and five or six hundred practical BoanIsts
have devoted their lives TO searching out and Illus
trating plants, until scarcely thing grows
that has been described and its properties and
known.
Insects-The history of insects has been us closely
studied as that of plants. Judge Meigs read an ex-
tract upon the subject, which states that there
total destruction of the turnps near London in the
year IVA. In October there was week OF dry east
erly wind when il was found that thousands of acres
of turnips were turning yellow and dying. Where
they were sheltered by hedges or buildings they kept
green. After the turnps were destroyed the insects at
tackled the hedges and trees. Some of the farmers
thouOht tho m ischef done bv the HOCks Al
birds and tried all they could TO Kill them, just as
some folks do nowadays for after all the birds were
the farmers best friendshey after the insects.
One of the beet things to kill insects or worms that
prev upon vegetables is oil worms that live in spirit
die in oil directly.
Old Times in Netr. Y0rk-Judge MEIGs read an
extract from one of DIR. Mitchels pamphlets dated
| September 1894 which says: "The Tonue Coffee
House under the care of Mr. HYDE is the best hotel
in New-York He sets from twelve to sixteen
dishes every day. He charges for years board,
| without liquor, $3.50 10 s400. Mrs. Loring, 10
| Z" Broadway, charges 81 week, without liquor But
{" ter in the market is 81 cents pound; beef COM
"pared with English beef is poor The does not give
! the price "turkies are 62i cents each; common
3" fowls are % cents each. Of Albany beef, stur.
! " econ YOU cen get enough for l2l cents TO feed
family Oysters are plenty and large don't like
them but others do. Peaches cell cents for three
" to six of them. All ranks of the people smoke ci-
"gais or inches long Silver money is plenty but
" gold is rarely seen. Tie population of the City
" Is about 30 900. There two places of public
" entertainment in the envrons of the City that
"much visited in Summer; one is called Bevidere,
"lon Bunker's Hill and the other Broudlng's
A." Gardens.
Pruning Fruit Trees.-An interesting discussion
ensued upon the subject of pruning fruit trees
Mr. FIELD of Brooklyn, gave his views of Summer
pruning anc the advantages to all trees of only grow
| ing Just as much wood as you want to produce fruit
The CHAIRMAN remarked that the more you prune
| the more YOU may The idea 49, that unpruned
tree makes little new wood; consequently 1t does
not produce the fruit bearing spurs We have lately
apple trees that had not been pruned for forty
years. The product is in proportion to the care be
slowed.
Judge Mics said trees TO bear fruit must be trimmed
aud washed and kept healthy.
Market Gardening.-A long discussion upon the
manner of selling marketing iii the City had anc
will be continued next Tuesday.
Mr.. BERGEN of Long Island, said there was Just
| ground of complaint at the way farmers have beer
crowded out OF market. Some 25 years ago Futor
market was a good place for farmers. Then they wer,
driven from there to Washington Market and now
that has become great wholesale mart and wagons
are nearly shut out. There ought to be accOmmoda
tons for farmers and then | would not care how
many middemen there were, because prefer to sell a
! wholesale, but want a fair chance for competition
Some of the midde-men are as honorable as any othe
class Some farmers would like TO retail their vegeta
bles but most of them would like to have fair chance
in market to sell at wholesale. We have no objection
to sell everything BY weight that plan is universally
! adopted -
gro, Il. NARING-lnere are sucn obstacles IN the
farmers way that he cannot come to market with bis
vegetables to sell out of his wagon at retail. have
known men who had tried it to have their traces
| and other damage done TO deter them from under
selling the huCksters.
! Prot. MAPEs made some remarks Illustrating the
upiustness of our present Market ordinances not only
TO the farmers, but to the people, particularly to the
! poor in the City.
Sar for Filling Trees.-P. c. Ingersoll of Green
! witch Conn exhibited horizontal saw, which be
rLad md explaiued how would close 70
! the ground. One can work it ami cut down q
large tree. The cost is only SEQ. The saw must be
followed by a wedge.
Leftuce-A discussion arose upon ettuce-lts value
a. foos-Inode of cultivation and profit as a market
article. Mr.. Judd thought ii too much like peoples TO
! be healthy. DIR. Waterbury said that that difficulty
was obviated by high cultya alton Mr.. Bergen thought
| the opium in lettuce never hurt anybody.
| AJsorbents of AmmOnia.-Mr. JUDD complained OF
newspaper reporters not giving correct reports OF his
savings. He did not say that muck and charcoal
would not absorb ammonia. Ii was only when they
| were dry that they would not DO it. Whea wet they
| absorbed ammonia lust in proportion TO the amount
Of water they contained.
| Prot. MAPEs-I covered my manure heap with char
coal from locomotives and it stopped all the smell
| sun ose that it absorbed the ammonia Decomposed
muck keeps my stable sweet. | have 500 barrels Of
sIoilt fish on my place the heap is covered with char
coal dust and there is no smell. IL will sweeten q
privy.
| The Market Ordinance question, and butter and
cheese and pruning pearl will be discussed next week
|
| DEsrRrcTIoS OF THE LAsyALE FACTORY By
| FIRE.-About II o'clock on Saturday night destrnc