Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-04-30
Agricultural.

FARMERS CLUB-AMERIoAN .INsrIruTE.--The
Farmers Club met at the Institute ON Tuesday
Judge Livingstone in the Chair.
Judge Meigs, the Secretary, read some trans
lations from the Journal of the Society Of Arts.
In the opinion of Liebeg, lime In tho compost
ton of bread renders it elastic, spongy and free
from acid. The proportions of -four and lime
lcdfeT to be used are best In the prop ortions OF
10 to s. From all that Is known -four In the
state OF bread is not alone sufficient to main
/ tain life--the addition Of lime is necessary for
the building up Of the bony system.
Mr.. Field submitted some remarks on the
growth of trees. He presented specimens,
showing the varying conformation In the roots
of trees growing in light sandy soil, and
others growing in rich heavy soil. Roots In
| sandy soil have disposition to spread those
planted in rich clayey soils have tendency to
descend. The latter IL generally the best soil
Tor most trees.
Mr.. Lawton had ielled forest trees of fifty
| years. growth that were the product Of light
sandy soils, and such trees had evidently been
not worth cultivation. He did not think that
what is called rich soil was necessary for the
| growth offrHit trees.
MIR. Field observed that fruit was on the de-
| cline at the West. He attributed It mainly to
the character Of the soil, which was not calcula-
| ted for the permanent benefit of fruit trees.
Mr.. Robinson said he had seen beech trees
in Indiana growing actually above the sell; one
might walk for miles upon the roots of beech
| trees.
Mr.. Field observed that in such cases, there
| was wise provision Of nature. But the diff
| Guilty in the neighborhood Of New York was,
that our fruit trees were mostly planted too
deeply in the ground.
The subject of the day was taken up, namely;
i s'rhe Origin Of Plants and Animals" The
| Club having adjourned the consideration of the
| a lnut q Int ra.
sumed the subject.
He commenced by showing the close relation
Of such inquiries to the question ofthe improps.
ment Of stock, and arrived at the following CON
illusions, namely;
/. The constitution of the different species
OF animals and plants is such that no one indi.
! vidual can be taken as the type of the race
there being, to the original type, a margin to
allow of variations, and that margin is so wide
as to be covered by no one individual form.
2. This variation is produced to meet neces-
stiles, by the law of development. The exer-
else Of any organ increases its growth.
3. When the variation occurs, it is attended
with change in the chemical composition OF
its food.
A. Ifthe food be defective or cannot be as.
simulated, the modification does not occur, but
the animals die.
These changes are always made in direction
to adapt the subject of them more perfectly to
such now conditions as require them, the yaria-
tions going further as they are reproduced in
the race. They stop at, and never pass, the
line of species. BY crossing they may be car
ried over the line, but the resulting hybrid is
unstable, returning after few generations.
6. The limits of modification are widest in
those species that can assimilate the greatest
variety of food.
| Z. Perfection of breed is relative term, i'm
plying different organizations for different pur-
poses. II fine breeds are to'be introduced,
more pains must be taken to protect and feed
our cattle well and fittingly or they will degen-
eratei fine varieties when properly protected,
| give a greater product from the same amount
of food than the coarse.
The Doctors observations were received with
manifestations of applause, the hour ofadjourn-
ment precluding further discussion.-N. York.
| Times.