8 



which still exist to benefit your husbandry. From that time howev- 

 er, soundly slept every thing like State patronage to agriculture, 

 agitated by only an occasional throe at public improvement by the 

 late lamented JESSE BUEL, and a few kindred spirits, whose wakeful 

 minds were ever alive to the importance of agricultural progress ; 

 and since the demise of the " Plough Boy," not a single publication 

 devoted to its interest had issued from a public press, until in 1828, 

 when the " New-York Farmer," a monthly periodical, was published 

 in the city of New- York. The circulation of this paper, however, 

 was limited, and its influence consequently feeble in arousing the re- 

 quired interest to resuscitate the effort necessary to awaken the exist- 

 ing torpor of the agricultural community. In 1831 commenced the 

 publication of the " Genesee Farmer," in Rochester, a weekly peri- 

 odical, conducted with ability and spirit, and now, through its suc- 

 cessor, by the same title, continued, in a growing career of useful- 

 ness. 



But the chief actors in the work which we have detailed, were 

 passing away, and the younger generation taking their places, were 

 gradually catching the spirit of emulation, occasionally thrown off by 

 the survivors, until in February, 1832, a few gentlemen from differ- 

 ent sections of the State, assembled in Albany, and formed the New- 

 York State Agricultural Society, since recognized by the State, and 

 now the body of which you, gentlemen, compose the members. This 

 was seventeen years ago ; and, although in the recollection of most 

 of you, as but yesterday, it is amusing, as well as interesting, to mark 

 the position of the few then assembled a forlorn hope in contrast 

 with the attitude you now present in the agricultural interests of this 

 State, and of the American Union. A constitution was formed, a 

 president and four vice presidents elected, and a report of its proceed- 

 ings published in the Albany newspapers. Among the gentlemen 



