New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-03
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FARMERS CLUB.

Tie Farmers Club held its first meeting to-day at
,oou in it, location Room No. - of the Cooper
Institute building, having leased rooms there for the
e,t three or five years. The meeting considering il
lad been mistakenly advertised for next Monday in
s,ead of to-day, was well attended by both men aud
romen. Among the miscellaneous matters discussed
1uriug the hour devoted TO such business were the
TEe Iec Freacl Scaling PototO.--Dr. Horror
presented sample Of the Decaigsne Potato, from
French Seeding 1t is cultivated by Pliny NJ. For
ward of SOuthwck, Mass. aud is esteemed 10y him. as
well as hy all who know il in France, the best
cultivated. DR.. Holton obtained two tubers and sent
them TO MIR. Forward two years ago, and from this
mall beginning is hoped an improved potato VIII be
Introduced into general cultivation in this country.
several were distributed TO members present, and In
formation given 10 where seed could be purchased.
A sample Of the potato cooked was passed around,
and we think generally approved. Its looks were GER
certainly favorable.
NE ncrf C0ttIe ShOw-SoLoN RoBISsOS called up
sbe question of the next cattle show Of the Institute,
ss he said with view TO create an influence upon the
Boari Of Managers to induce them to make q cattle
sboy more wO,thv of a NatiOnal~lnstitue than some
AZ il predecessors had been. The truth is said he,
he show of stock, and agricultural matters has gen
,rally been made IA sort If ta-plece TO the Annual
Fair and treated of but little consideration Now,
that want is to il made the head instead Of the
l and such inducements offered TO farmers that they
Tl get up a national show worthy of the name. Let
u agitate the subject.
prof REywICE the new President of the Institute
lam glad to hear this subject brought up for discussion
the Farmers Club. fully agree with the gentle
nan upon the importance OF the agricultural eXhbi-
ion and particularly the cattle show and am pleasedto
aiom the Club that have already had the question
fore the Board, and hope the subject will be kept
i've and that the next show will be that will give
satisfaction and do mnch good.
GEo. NJ. ATwATER of Springfield, Mass, said
an delighted to hear that the Institute will take
urss 10 improve this part of It's annual show aud
lad hoped to hear from Mr.. Robinson that horses
should be made leading object, and then think you
nay look to Massachusetts for little help and since
he United States Agricultural Society will probably
od its next show at the West, there will be grand
opportunity for this Institute to get up good show
SoLoN RoBISsON-l shall continue tn agitate the
subject and from what the President OF the Institute
has said do believe ii will have this year good cat
lie show. -
The Sandusky RasPJerry.-The CHAIRMAN an
pcunced that he would after the adjournment, dstrb
NE a couple of hundred raspberry plants, of a very
hardy variety from Sandusky Ohio; plants that, al
though not bearing full some OF the tender sorts,
are able to stand the Winters and are ready to
crow and bear fruit the next season.
The MooR: It's Influence upon Plants and Animals
-SoIoN RoBINsoN-I hold in my hand letter OF in-
Ouiry about the influence of the moon upon vegetation
and other farm matters, the writer OF which, aliudng
10 the common superstition upon the subject, wants
he matter discussed and if the supposed lunar in'i-
ence IL all superstition let be sad in manner that
will convince some of the believers IN the moons ln-
hHence. -.
Judge MEIGs-It is in vain, says very scientific
variation of the weather great IN different local.
lies that no rule will serve for all. But in regard to
the moon influence upon growing vegetables, all Inc
n earned men in Europe are well agreed Una, II can
have no effect whether seed Is sown III the old or new
Of the moon Innumerable experiments have been III
stuted by the scientific TO prove this great fact.
Prof REywICK-Arago has stated that, 40 lar as II
concerns planting crops killing ANIMALS the moon
has no influence whatever. Ii is established that
.torms are more likely to i'll certain stages OF the
moon than in others but theory can be established
I'd God
TO fix rules for operations III me- ahd 10 reS"u hoou
he Maid TO the phases of the moon.
x q. PARpFE-Therc are millions OF dollars l0st IN
this country BY depending upon the moon more tnSh
the fitness Of the weather Call 1t superstition OF the
want of knowledge, or what yon VIII, 'he gteae inct
,.s that many people will not plant or SOW until inc
moon is right and crops often lost by missing Ia
yorabe moment when, rs the farmer believes, the
moon ia wrong. | hope what Judge Megs and Prot.
Renwick have said viii tend toward correcting TINS
strongly-grouudcd belief in the moons influence.
sot os RonISsoN-No matter that it is false notion
lis rue that il exists and greatly to the injury oil De-
6evers in it. Yet don't know that II Is any more re-
narkabe than ii is that three-iouhs OF the farmers
do NOT believe in the baroneterthey scout the idea OF
one who has one being able to foretc rainy weather.
and so secure hay while they are cng more TO spoi
in the coming storm. -,
Mr.. VAN OUTEy / think tie d.di.o.,y about the use
Of the barometC Is iOI 1 Wa az IN Wedge al us
value That is The reason whyn. more general
use There s TO be sure, great deai OF superstition
among farmers about the moon and other things on
ii is more for want Of knowledge of the truth among
The old farmers But the rising generation VIII improve
for they are readers--they take the daily papers.
People in the country too read with interest the ds
euSsiOns Of this Club, and derive great beneit. so
We should be- careful not to advance any OPINIONS mat
are not practical or that cannot be made applicable.
There is no calculating the good influence OF good
paper upon farmers family.
Judge MEIGS-The descriptions oi Straho OF the
Weather are so much like the modern descriptions,
hat ! have often been surprised at the samenesS'
Here does 10 be VARIATION. ne same logs
Of London the same clear sky in France the same
sUperstitiOns about the moons influence.
Mr.. PARDEE-These almost universal superstions
have done an immense amount of HARM but such dis
oesOns as these are well calculated to do good They
Stend to show the class of persons or their chdren,
Who read, that many learned men have no faith IN
belief in the influence Of the moon.
HooeR Rags.-SOLON ROBNSoN-A correspondent
whites TO know what is the value FOR manure OF WOODEN
fsgs, and how TO use them.
Judge MrIGs-I always bury all old rags about
pants and they very beneficial.
Prof. RENwIcK-Old rags in Europe have CONNER
cal value for mannrial purposes.
r. G. PARDEH-ln this country old wooden rags APP
pear to be worth from to 1 cents pound. think
thebest way to them is to compost n n In the
manure heap. There is no doubt that they are much
more valuable than many substances that farmer
.ould buy for manure, while he would throw away the
" Old rags.
TYc rse Of Lime as a Maaurc--Ths, the regular
question of the day was now taken ny, ana an inter
eS'ing discussion followed. -,
Tie SFcRFTARi read from an advanced sheet of the
mex, number Of The Working Farmer an article,
translated from French paper, upon the dlnereh'
Kinds Of phOsphates Of lime which discusses te queS'
ton very fully and scientifically Of mineral phosphateS'
showing that although the chemical analysis OF NINE
ra phosphate and bone phosphate would be the same
We, the bones altogether supenor-n TACT OF I'M
uense value to the farmer, while the n2eral PhOs-
pAste would be useless The same fact also exists III
regard TO carbonate of lme-tha; from animated lie,
Tor instance shells is far valuable to the farmer