12 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



diminish the necessity for hand-help, instead of importing muscles from Ireland by the ship- 

 load. If Irishmen will come and demand their dollar a day and board, and codfish on 

 Friday-, let then pat to those who van afford to pav them and put up with their 



Hess waste. In a word, let us do what almost every manufacturer has long since been 

 obliged to do to make his business profitable, and even to save himself from being crashed 

 by his (iwn machinery ; that is, avail ourselves of all the helps which science and modern 

 improvement - -. -' tor our aid." 



The State Agricultural Society of Illinois have recently introduced a new feature into 

 their annual exhibitions, which is worthy of imitation. This is the exhibition of the natural 

 production! of the State, of every kind and variety, derived from either the animal, \ 

 table, or mineral kingdoms. Bach annual oolleetions must obviously tend to promote, in a 

 very great degree, the study and the taste for natural history and the diffusion of useful 

 knowledge. 



The third annual meeting of the United States Agricultural Society was held in Washing- 

 ton, at the Smithsonian Institute, February 21, 1855. Twenty-edx States were represented 

 by credited delegates from State and county societies, and there was also a large number 

 uf individual members of the Society present. The Hon. M. P. Wilder, of Bdass&chnsi 

 President of the Society, on taking the chair, delivered a pertinent address, in which he reca- 

 pitulated the operations of the Society during the past year. The following resolutions wire 

 d by the Society: — 



Whereat, The prosperity of a country is in proportion to the improvement of its agricul- 

 ture : therefore, 



Resolved, That agriculture should be the first interest considered in legislating for the 

 general welfare, and that such legislation should be had as will foster and protect this intc. 

 which is paramount to all others. 



/,' '. That the time has arrived for the agriculturists of the whole country to meet in 



contention, and determine for themselves what legislation is necessary for their protection. 



E- That such a convention, to be composed of delegates from each State of the 



Union, )"• earnestly recommended by this Society, in order that an agricultural platform may 

 stablished, which will meet the views of, and be sustained by, the whole body of agri- 

 culturists ae a profession. 



Tin- toll. . wing officers were elected for the ensuing year: Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, ot 

 isetts, President; W. S. King, of Boston, Secretary j B. B. French, Washington, District 

 of Columbia, Treasurer; Executive Committee. John A. King. New York, C. B. Calvert, Ma- 

 ryland, A. L. Ehvyn, Pennsylvania, .1. Went worth, Illinois, B. Perley Poor, Maasachust 

 A. Watts, Ohio, and John Jones, Delaware. 



r it nt ion was so amended a- to have the payment of ten dollars constitute life- 

 bership, and to change the time lor hi Lding the annual meeting to the second \\< 



of January. 



The third annual exhibition of the Unite.] States Agricultural Society was held at Boston, 

 Tlo- sun, Kin being desired for the payment of expenses and pre- 

 mium-, ti otire amount was bed in one hour, through the efforts of the president, 



.:' 1'. wilder. $10,000 were awarded at the exhibition for premiums. 

 The . attrition of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, for l *-"■■".. w&t held nt 



isle, in July. An umi-ual degr f interest was excited in respect to the exhibition of 



maohinet intended to illustrate the application ot' steam t.. agi icultura] purposes. For port- 

 able -t'am-engine- adapted to (arm-use, eight entries were made, of eight. seven, and six- 

 horse power. The prioee ranged from $900 to (1800; the cheapest engini I hone 



entered at a I. In the trial-, the getting op of -team involved a con- 



sumption of from ! s t..ul pound hand from IS] to :;.. pound d, in Bpa 



from 89 t.. 66 minutes. The quantity of coal consumed (per pound) per bone, per 

 hour, •. m 81 to 1" pounds. The prize was awarded to an eight-horse portable en- 



gine, costing $1260, consuming, in getting up Bteam, 24 pounds of wood, or 28 pound* 

 coal, in 66 minufc l thi pounds of coal per horse-power, per hour, when in full operation. 



For the prise of £200 offered by ti 3ocietyfor< tm-plow, tractor, or cultivator, 



