1S3S] 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



768 



the first, sulijcct thai elicited iliscussioii was a reso- 

 lufion ollered "tliai eleineiilary books, which treat 

 of UiTficultiire, should be introiiiicecl-into oar com- 

 mon schools." All interesliiiiT debate look place on 

 this motion; and in a short lime, i^ave oonciiisive 

 indications of the views of the convention. The 

 speeches in the alTirmaiive were numerous; with 

 but two dissentients. Upon taking a vote, how- 

 ever, there was only one who gave a negative. 



The next subjects in ordei" were the reports of 

 the several commiitees appointed last year, with 

 instruclion to report at this meeting. Having 

 given time to collect facts, the n^ports were conse- 

 quently more valuable and interesting. Judge 

 -Buel reporteil all the facts h-^ had been enabled to 

 gather in relation to the history and habits of the 

 grain vvorm (vibrintritici) ; !)ut, as nothing satis- 

 lactorily had yet been ascertaiiieil, thai will tend to 

 prevent its ravages upon our wheat, it was refer- 

 red back to the same comaiiitee, to glean furifier 

 facts, and report to a subseq.ient convention. You 

 are aware of the important bearing this subject 

 must have upon our prosperiiy and agriculture. 

 In truth, if we cannot get rid of the evil or obvi- 

 ate the effects, and if it. contuiues to be spread, as 

 it has done for the last two yeas, it will be t)Ut a 

 short time before it will extend into the western 

 portions of the state, where wheat is ihe great 

 staple, and where it will most effect ually prevent 

 the raising of thai article. This would be almost 

 a death blow to the prosperity of the stale, as we 

 carmot disjiense wiih wheat as an article of food, 

 nor afiijrd to lose it as a source of revenue. The 

 region in which I live, was a few years aso a 

 wheat-grov/ing country; but since this insect has 

 made its appearance, the destruction of the crop 

 has been so irreat, that we are discouraged from 

 sowing It at all. In 1836, I sowed sixieen bushel.^ 

 of winter wheat, on prime Isnd; my crop in 1837 

 when thrashed, amounted to two and half bushels. 

 My neighbors have fa:ed little or up belter; and 

 from selling every year a large sur|)ius, most of 

 us are obliged to buy it for bread. The ravages 

 of ttie i\y probably now extend lo about one liun- 

 dred miles s(|uare, making Albany the centre — 

 certainly not less than that; but it seems to spread 

 each succeedinu year, rather Jiirlher in the direc- 

 tion towartls our wheat reijion in the west, than 

 any other. I have been led into this digression to 

 show how important it is tor the farmers in this re- 

 gion to discover an aniidoLe for sog'reat and spread- 

 iiiijr ail evil. 



The next report was in the nature of "an in- 

 quiry whetlier in the distribution of public moneys 

 in aid of agriculture, a betier mode could be de- 

 vised than that of givinir it to the county agricul- 

 tural societies, to be awarde.i in premiums." Mr. 

 Viele of Rensselaer, in behalf o!" the commitlee,- 

 took a very interesting view of the subject, and 

 concluded by moving three resolutions: First, that 

 fi'om all the information we have had," and. the ex- 

 perience gained by the Ibrmer eslalilishmenl of 

 agricultural societies, we cannot do belter than to 

 re-establish them, avoidini; the defects of (he fbr- 

 mersystem; second, that a Centra! Board of Ag- 

 ricultare ought to be established at the seat of 

 government, to correspond with the county so- 

 cieties — c illect rare and valuable seeds and dis- 

 seminate them — examine new farm implements — 

 f(jrin a mineraloa'icai, geological, and agricultural 

 cabinet — and publish, as occasion may require, [ 



such essays and communications as will tend to 

 Ihe advancement of agriculture. Third, that the 

 legislature furnish ILinds tor ihe endowment of an 

 agricultural school. The two first resolutions 

 were received with acclamation, passed upon with- 

 out debate, and without a dissenting voice; that 

 asking for the endowment of an agricultural 

 school led to a good deal of discussion. 'J'he 

 committee did not press it, and at the time of of- 

 fi'ring it, told the convention so; but so many 

 warm friends came forward so promptly to advo- 

 cate its adopt. on, and so tew to oppose it, that, af- 

 ter an animated discussion, it passed with but one 

 dissentient voice. 



A communication was next read b}^ Judge Uuel 

 on ihe necessity of the legislature providing fumls 

 in aid of agricultural improvement. I cannot now 

 enter into a detail of the many subjects embraced 

 in this communication. It was principally a col- 

 lection of statistical facts, and the reasoning fbund- 

 ed u[)on them, to show how much was yet want- 

 ing to place our husbandry upon the ground we 

 ought 10 occupy, as commensurate with our posi- 

 tion, our resources, the lijriility of our soil, and the 

 industry and inielligence ol' our citizens. 



Mr. Walch reported u])on the necessity and im- 

 portance of increased attention to horticulture and 

 the household arts; Gen. North on neat stock; 

 Mr. Randall on sheep; and Mr. Barnetl on swine. 

 Some of these reports were elaborate essays on 

 the subjects presented, and were as interesting to 

 the convention, as they were creditable to the gen- 

 tlemen who prepared them. 



Resolutions upon various topics within the scope 

 of our duties, were severally presented; many of 

 them elicited debate and gave rise to interesting 

 discussions; generally they were adopted, and as 

 I hese reports are to come in at our next meeting 

 in February, 1839, they will give interest to the 

 proceedings at that time. Suffice it to say that we 

 have cut out business enough for a vveek's session 

 hereafter. You see by this short abstract that our 

 proceedings have lost none of their interest; and, 

 for the last year, agriculture, qone of its friends. 

 The resolutions last referred to, you will have the 

 opportunity of seeing in our printed accounts, and 

 you can form j'our own judgment, how far their 

 adoj)iion will hud to beneficial results. Thesigri.s 

 of the times are auspicious to the attainment of 

 our object. Several of the prominent members both 

 of the -senate and asseniMy took an active pan in 

 our ilisciissions. Political consiileralions gave wav 

 to a higher sense of duty; and all stood on com- 

 mon ground, and were desirous to prouiote a com- 

 mon oiijcct. At no [irevioKs time have our legis- 

 lators come forward nianliilly and satisfactorily, 

 and given assurances, as iiir as their declarations 

 and speeclies in the convention are evidence of it, 

 of their deierm nation to ad as will best promote 

 the ijreat interests of agricuhure. I think there is 

 hardly a doubt, but, at ihis meetiiio- of our legis 

 lature, we will carry out (he plans suggested 

 in the report oi' tlie committee on agriculture of 

 the assembly, a copy of which [ send yon. No 

 doubt there will be some alleraiion.5 in the details, 

 while. ptissing throuirh the house, lo make them 

 more eflicieni, but as the report is, in a me;isurc, 

 baseti upon acis of the convention, and that con- 

 vention composed of persons as competent to ad- 

 vise upon the wants of agriculture, as could, bv 

 any pussibilitj', be selected in this stale, -there is 



