12 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



diminish the necessity for hand-help, instead of importing muscles from Irelauji by the ship- 

 load. If Irishmen will come and demand their dollar a day and board, and codfish on 

 Fridays, let them pass along to those who can afford to pay them and put up with their 

 heedless waste. In a word, let us do what almost every manufacturer has long since been 

 obliged to do to make his business profitable, and even to save himself from being crushed 

 by his own machinery ; that is, avail ourselves of all the helps which science and modern 

 improvement suggest for our aid." 



The State Agricultural Society of Illinois have recently introduced a new feature into 

 their annual exhibitions, which is worthy of imitation. This is the exhibition of the natural 

 productions of the State, of every kind and variety, derived from either the animal, vege- 

 table, or mineral kingdoms. Such annual collections must obviously tend to promote, in a 

 very great degree, the study and the taste for natural history and the diffusion of useful 

 knowledge. 



The third annual meeting of the United States Agricultural Society was held in Washing- 

 ton, at the Smithsonian Institute, February 21, 1855. Twenty-six States were represented 

 by credited delegates from State and county societies, and there was also a large number 

 of individual members of the Society present. The Hon. M. P. Wilder, of Massachusetts, 

 President of the Society, on taking the chair, delivered a pertinent address, in which he reca- 

 pitulated the operations of the Society during the past year. The following resolutions were 

 adopted by the Society : 



Whereas, The prosperity of a country is in proportion to the improvement of its agricul- 

 ture ; therefore, 



Resolved, That agriculture should be the first interest considered in legislating for the 

 general welfare, and that such legislation should be had as will foster and protect this interest, 

 which is paramount to all others. 



Resolved, That the time has arrived for the agriculturists of the whole country to meet in 

 convention, and determine for themselves what legislation is necessary for their protection. 



Resolved, That such a convention, to be composed of delegates from each State of the 

 Union, be earnestly recommended by this Society, in order that an agricultural platform may 

 be established, which will meet the views of, and be sustained by, the whole body of agri- 

 culturists as a profession. 



The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, of Mas- 

 sachusetts, President ; W. S. King, of Boston, Secretary ; B. B. French, Washington, District 

 of Columbia, Treasurer ; Executive Committee, John A. King, New York, C. B. Calvert, Ma- 

 ryland, A. L. Elwyn, Pennsylvania, J. Wentworth, Illinois, B. Perley Poor, Massachusetts, 

 A. Watts, Ohio, and John Jones, Delaware. 



The constitution was so amended as to have the payment of ten dollars constitute life- 

 membership, and to change the time for holding the annual meeting to the second Wednesday 

 of January. 



The third annual exhibition of the United States Agricultural Society was held at Boston, 

 October, 1855. The sum of $20,000 being desired for the payment of expenses and pre- 

 miums, the entire amount was subscribed in one hour, through the efforts of the president, 

 Marshall P. Wilder. $10,000 were awarded at the exhibition for premiums. 



The great exhibition of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, for 1855, was held at 

 Carlisle, in July. An unusual degree of interest was excited in respect to the exhibition of 

 machines intended to illustrate the application of steam to agricultural purposes. For port- 

 able steam-engines adapted to farm-use, eight entries were made, of eight, seven, and six- 

 horse power. The prices ranged from $900 to $1300; the cheapest engine of eight-horse 

 power being entered at a cost of $900. In the trials, the getting up of steam involved a con- 

 sumption of from 18 to 24 pounds of wood, and from 18 J to 85 pounds of coal, in spaces 

 varying from 39 to 66 minutes. The quantity of coal consumed (per pound) per horse, per 

 hour, varied from 3 to 10 pounds. The prize was awarded to an eight-horse portable en- 

 gine, costing $1250, consuming, in getting up steam, 24 pounds of wood, or 28 pounds of 

 coal, in 66 minutes, or 3 T 6 5 ths pounds of coal per horse-power, per hour, when in full operation. 



For the prize of, 200 offered by the Society for the best steam-plow, tractor, or cultivator, 



