No. 105.J 73 



There is also good reason for believing that where salt is used for 

 manure, the disease of the wheat crop, known by the name of rust, 

 which more or less every year affects it injuriously, will be measura- 

 bly abated if not wholly averted. At all events, it is well establish- 

 ed, that in one particular di^rict of England, where old brine has 

 been long used as a manure, rust rarely if ever makes its appearance. 

 It is true that there is a wide difference between the cold, damp cli- 

 mate of England, and the hot and dry climate of New-York. Still 

 the subject deserves the especial attention of the New-York farmer. 



Your committee have already extended their report beyond the 

 limits they had assigned, but they must nevertheless remark, that the 

 liberality of the Legislature, in allowing a drawback on plaster car- 

 ried by canal to certain points, is likely very soon to meet with its 

 desired reward. To some considerable extent has western plaster 

 supplanted Nova Scotia plaster in the river counties, and the hearty 

 preference which is given to western plaster by those farmers who 

 have tried both kinds, leaves no room to doubt that in a few years 

 the foreign plaster will be entirely driven out of the State. It there- 

 fore appears to your committee very unwise, hastily to change a po- 

 licy, the beneficial effects of which is just beginning to be appreciated. 



Your committee have on a former occasion been compelled, by an 

 imperious sense of public duty, to report against a petition from the 

 American Institute, for an appropriation from the State treasury, for 

 the purpose of founding an agricultural college and purchasing an ex- 

 perimental farm in or near the city of New- York. 



Your committee feel every disposition to award to that institution 

 its full share of praise, as one which has done and is doing a vast deal 

 for the agricultural and mechanical community. No compliment that 

 we can pay that institution will be undeserved. Any suggestion that 

 is made by so useful and valuable an institution, should be listened to 

 with respectful deference. But the finances of the State are not at 

 present in a condition to warrant any appropriation for the purpose 

 alluded to. The time may, and no doubt will soon come, when such 

 an appropriation will be both wise and proper. 



All which is respectfully submitted. 



J. C. KINNE, 

 S. L. SHAFER, 

 ELIAS DURFEE, 

 CHAtlNCEY C. COOK, 

 March 18th, 1846. HORACE HAWKS. 



