VALLEY OF THE AMAZON. 145 



from these facts that an onion bed should always be ploughed to 

 a uniform depth. 



On motion of Mr. Clement, the Board adjourned, to meet 

 again at 7 o'clock in the evening. 



EVENING SESSION. 



The Board met at the hour appointed, Captain Moore, of 

 Concord, occupying the chair, to listen to a lecture on 



THE AGKICULTURAL FEATURES OF THE AMAZON. 



BY TROFESSOK AGASSIZ. 



•Gentlemen of the State Board of Agriculture, Ladies and Gen- 

 tlemen, — We meet here to exchange our experiences, and it has 

 lately been my good fortune to visit scenes which are not very 

 familiar, and an account of which I have supposed might not be 

 unwelcome on this occasion. Moreover, an event has taken 

 place within three months which will have a decided influence 

 upon the progress of industry and commerce, and it is connected 

 with the scenes to which I shall allude. Therefore, of that event 

 and its influence upon the progress of agriculture I propose to 

 speak to-night. 



On the 7th of September last the Amazon was opened to 

 the commerce of the world. It is an event of great importance, 

 and yet it has passed almost unnoticed. Its importance arises 

 from the fact that an immense extent of territory is now open 

 to traffic, which thus far has benefited not even the natives. 

 And yet that region is fertile beyond description. It produces 

 articles of consumption of various kinds which are in extensive 

 demand, and upon which, in short, depend the progress of 

 industry. I will only mention one. India rubber is one of the 

 natural products of the valley of the Amazon ; and where would 

 many branches of human industry be now if India rubber could 

 not be procured, and where would much of the progress which 

 we anticipate in the future be, if the supply of that article was 

 not daily increasing ? Therefore, you perceive, how desirable it 

 must be that we should know something of the growth and pro- 

 duction of India rubber, and that we should know exactly how 

 far that article may be produced in the quantity needed by the 

 progress of our daily avocations. I have seen the plant grow- 

 19 



