No. 105.] 37 



a field is open before him which will demand all his care, and the 

 exercise of all his faculties. Agricultural chemistry is opening a 

 new world to the cultivator of the soil, and we are as yet but in our 

 infancy in relation to it. Researches will, I doubt not, unfold to us 

 the richest treasures, and those who come after us will look back 

 with astonishment at the little progress we had made. The best 

 systems which have been devised, illustrating the knowledge of the 

 earth, its cultivation, its seeds, its productions, and the best methods 

 of culture, should be introduced, and also a practical adaptation of 

 principles to the various crops and their cultivation. 



To show that the study of agricultural chemistry and geology can 

 be successfully introduced into our seminaries, I would refer to the 

 effort of the principal of the academy in Cortland county, Mr. Wool- 

 worth, who has met with most signal success. He has a class of 

 young men, from twenty-five to thirty, sons of farmers, who are 

 deeply interested in these studies. He also gives a weekly lecture 

 to the farmers, who have attended in numbers from fifty to seventy- 

 five, who are very much benefi-tted. Thus speaks one of their num- 

 ber, who has availed himself of these opportunities. 



A proper system of agricultural education, combined with practice 

 upon the farm, will do much to accomplish what we deem important. 

 It is more than twenty years since this subject was brought 

 before the public mind in this State, but very little has since been 

 done. A school connected with labor upon the farm has been esta- 

 blished at Aurora, by C. C. Young and David Thomas, which is suc- 

 cessful, and is giving evidence of the utility of such an establishment. 

 One of our leading farmers of Monroe county. Gen. Harmon, in 

 connexion with Dr. Lee, late Corresponding Secretary of this society, 

 is about establishing another institution at Wheatland, Monroe co. 

 I rejoice to see this. But these institutions will not alone accom- 

 plish what we need. An institution adequate to the wants of the 

 State will require larger expenditures than any individual will be 

 found willing to invest ; and besides it should be an institution so 

 managed and conducted as to sustain the character of a public one 

 entirely. The funds of the State have been scattered with a liberal 

 hand for other objects, and of this we are not disposed to complain. 

 But we do ask for those by whose sweat and toil others live and 

 prosper, and upon whom the greatest burthen of taxation falls, that 

 their wants should be attended to, and such provisions be made for 



