Agricultural Addresses. 17 o 



pects of the Institute, and to the prejudices which exist in 

 certain quarters relative to the success of its annual fairs. 

 We close with this extract, merely expressing our surprise 

 that any individual should deny the great benefits derived 

 from the Institute and its exhibitions. It is an easy task to 

 say what should be done: but, until those who object to what 

 is already doing, propose something better, we are content to 

 acknowledge the good example of the Institute : — ■ 



There is one more subject which, perhaps, in justice to the American 

 Institute, should be noticed. It is this : an inquiry has been started by pri- 

 vate individuals, and echoed by portions of tlie press, on seeing the un- 

 bounded success of our fairs, — " What is done with all the money received 

 for entranced' — and this is couched in the form of an insinuation, A short 

 statement of the matter is due to the Institute. Whenever it has been my 

 lot to preside over any institution, — as I have over this from nearly its com- 

 mencement, until within a short period, — it has been the invariable rule of 

 my life to examine, pencil in hand, the monetary and financial condition of 

 that institution, and to look into the statements of its condition from time to 

 time. This course I pursued while president of the American Institute, and 

 I must say that, at no period since its commencement, has there been any 

 defalcation or fraud in its management, and at no time an absent dollar. So 

 far have these fairs augmented our funds fur the good of the farmer, that, I 

 candidly say to you, the Institute has now at interest about $7,000, every 

 cent cf which awaits but the order of the Institute ; and this they are not at 

 all backward at giving, when any good is to be accomplished by it. The 

 object is to sustain with it the current and necessary expenses of the instita- 

 tion, and, whenever the wisdom of the state shall come in aid, perhaps to 

 establish an agricultural school. 



The address of Mr. Norton, before the N. Y. State Society, is 

 upon agricultural chemistry, and is mainly devoted to an eluci- 

 dation of the general connections of science with agriculture. 



With but few preliminary observations, the author first 

 explains the terms organic and inorganic, as applied to soils, 

 and gives a statement of the different substances, — eleven in 

 number, — which compose these soils. Next, he treats upon 

 plants which are organic and inorganic, and shows, by an 

 analysis of the ash, or inorganic part, of several root and 

 grain crops, what substances are usually present in a very 

 fertile soil. They are potash, soda, lime, magnesia, oxide of 

 iron, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, chlorine, and silica. 

 "All of the inorganic part of the plant," says the author, 



