No. 105.] 419 



equalise the value of labor — would advance the interest of the far- 

 mer, as well as the whole community. 



Dr. Lee spoke considerably in detail and with much force on the 

 subject before the meeting, but as the reporter found it difficult to 

 take such notes as would furnish a just idea of his remarks, he is un- 

 der the necessity of giving only a passing notice. 



Mr. Betts of Rensselaer county, member of the Assembly, ob- 

 served, that there were at least two very important means of advan- 

 cing the agricultural interest which might be said to come legitimately 

 within the duties of legislation. The first was providing a market 

 for produce — and the second affording facilities for arriving at a mar- 

 ket- He thought if these two objects M'ere properly attended to, an 

 inducement was offered which would stimulate the farmer to make 

 both profit and progress in his profession. 



Judge Leland of Steuben county, said our condition as a people, 

 compared with other nations is anomalous. The people of other 

 countries complain that they have not enough to eat ; but we com- 

 plain that we have too much ! Low prices of farm produce had been 

 mentioned as tending to depress agriculture. To that class of far- 

 mers who supported themselves pretty much from their own farms, 

 or lived " within themselves," the nominal value of articles made but 

 little difference. The farmer can eat his bread at as low a price as 

 any one else. To those farmers, however, who are in debt, the state 

 of low prices is a serious evil. I5ut he (Judge L.) thought our mar- 

 kets might be expected to improve. It seemed to be the genius of 

 the country to encourage manufactures, and these open a market for 

 agricultural products. 



Our progress in improvement. Judge L. said, had in many respects 

 been rapid. In some descriptions of manufactures, we were now in 

 advance of every other nation. We had brought those articles near- 

 est perfection for which we had the most use. Thus, in cutting down 

 the forest, which has heretofore been an important business of the 

 farmer, the best tool is wanted, and the American axe, as it now is, 

 cannot be equalled by anything of the kind in the world. 



Compared with other nations, or with England, (said Judge L.) we 

 are in some respects inferior. We are particularly inferior in our 

 live stock, and in the use of means for preserving or restoring the 

 fertility of the land. Some sections of our country are, however bet- 

 ter advanced in improvement than others. The northern section 

 was generally superior to the southern in this respect. Some sec- 

 tions of the south present an aspect peculiarly gloomy — it seems as 

 though the hand of desolation had swept over the country, palsied 

 the energies of the population, and brought barrenness to the soil. 

 He deemed the density of population to be the foundation of the 

 improvement of the soil. 



In regard to certain efforts which had been made to improve the 

 condition of the farmer, Judge L. thought considerable good had been 

 done. The suggestions of the late Judge Buel, given through the 

 Cultivator, particularly in regard to raising corn and making hay, he 

 was certain had been very beneficial. There are undoubtedly many 



[Senate, No. 105.] 27 



