156 [Senate 



quantity of grain produced in that far-famed wheat growing region. 

 And in what section of the State that has ever borne wheat, may not 

 wheat crops be again advantageously produced by proper cultivation ? 



Dr. Lee, of the Assembly, remarked that it was a knowledge of 

 such facts, showing the depreciation of the wheat lands of Western 

 New-York, that mainly induced him, years ago, to turn attention to 

 the subject of improved modes of cultivating that grain. He referred 

 to the vast importance of the subject ; and was rejoiced to perceive 

 the attention now awakening towards the policy of improving the 

 crops while renovating the soil. Additions cheaply made to even 

 worn out soils — supplying them with the comparatively small amount 

 of ingredients essential to the production of grain, and without which 

 wheat cannot be grown — would richly repay the farmer, and vastly 

 enhance the wealth of the state. Analysis shows that a very small 

 portion of the nutriment of wheat comes from the soil ; but that por- 

 tion must be restored in some form, as lime or otherwise, if we ex- 

 pect to make the earth yield profitable returns for ourl abor. 



After some further remarks, on motion of Mr. O'Reilly, a resolu- 

 tion was adopted, requesting Hervey Ely, of Rochester, to furnish 

 further information of the condition of the w^heat culture in Western 

 New -York, for the last thirty years — or since the commencement of 

 the flour manufacture in that region — showing the average annual 

 quality, quantity and price, between Cayuga lake and the Niagara 

 river — with such observations as his experience and reflections may 

 suggest respecting the mode of culture that has been, and that which 

 should be, adopted by wheat growers, for renovating their lands. 

 Mr. O'R. remarked that this was imposing a heavy duty ; but he felt 

 assured that Mr. Ely would not shrink from furnishing facts and ar- 

 guments with which he is amply supplied on this important subject. 



DUTCHESS COUNTY— DR. BEEKMAN'S ADDRESS. 



Extracts from the address of Dr. Beekman, before the Dutchess 



County Agricultural Society: 



I commenced this addressby propounding the query — " Where is the 

 farm that will now upon the average yield forty bushels of wheat to the 

 acre V If in this assemblage there is one individual who owns that 

 farm, and realizes, positively realizes that result, I will here stop, and 

 respectfully ask him to give us the benefit of his practice and intelli- 

 gence. No one speaks. If not forty, then thirty ; if not thirty, then 

 twenty. With less I cannot be content ; because with less, although 

 it might be an improvement, it would not be so decided as that the 

 man's experience would be of essential benefit. They have raised 

 seventy — eighty bushels of wheat to the acre in England ; and shall 

 we, the freemen of America, who own the soil and its improvements, 



