62 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 



taxation increases liis burthens, and a depressed market diminishes 

 his means to meet them. His only means of defence against this 

 is an improved husbandry : for that improved husbandry he wants 

 better instruction than is now within his reach. The intelligent 

 agriculturists of the State are, with great unanimity and with 

 great confidence, looking to this institution for the means of that 

 instruction, an instruction by which the fertility of mind is to be 

 set against the fertility of the prairie. The legislator should not 

 withhold the aid of the government from an institution so to edu- 

 cate the farmer of his own State, unless he is prepared to treat 

 them as the brickmaking Israelites upon the Nile were treated, 

 when the taskmasters increased their tale of bricks, and at the 

 same time took away their straw with which they were to make 

 them. 



It is contemplated to commence instruction in this institution 

 under a course of three years' study; the year to be divided into 

 two terms, the summer and winter terms; the summer term to 

 commence about the first of April, and ending in October or first 

 of November; the winter term to commence in December and 

 extend to March. It is expected to bring the expense of the 

 course down to about $150 per year, including board, washing 

 and instruction. 



It is contemplated to teach some literature, such as Belle Let- 

 tres. History, French, German, Latin and Greek languages, some 

 or all of them, if desired; Natural Philosophy, Mathematics, so 

 far as to embrace amongst others Land Surveying and something of 

 Civil Engineering and Mechanics; Geology, Mineralogy, Inorganic 

 Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, particularly in its connection with 

 vegetation and agricultural fertilizers; Botany, in its connection 

 with agricultural plants; Zoology, in its connection with domestic 

 animals and their physiology; Entomolgy, in its connection with 

 such insects as are injurious to agriculture or horticulture; 

 Meteorology, in its relation to oceanic and atmospheric currents, 

 and their effect upon temperature and moisture, and consequently 

 upon vegetation; the Laws of Storms, so far as known, and the 

 evidences of their approach. 



. Then it is proposed to teach Scientific and Practical Agricul- 

 ture, showing where fertilizing elements are found in inorganic 

 bodies, and the best means of their procurement and application; 



