No. 200.] 43 



The whole amount paid for salaries for siiperinlcndinfr agent, recor- 

 ding and corresponding secretaries, and two clerks, who devote their 

 whole time, was last year, iwenty-two hundred and fifty dollars. A 

 compensaUon, which, considering the variety, and complexity of the 

 concerns of the Institute, and the labor required, bears no proportion 

 to the salaries of the ofiicers of our other city institutions ; some fault 

 finding papers have complained that the charge for refreshments, was 

 extravagant. A calculation was entered into, which showed that it 

 was short of fifty cents per day, for each of the managers and atten- 

 dants whose services were afforded without any other compensation. 

 The services of the same men could not have been paid at five, or 

 even ten dollars per day. The managers have used their best en- 

 deavors every year to abridge expenses, and though sometimes suc- 

 cessful in some items, others have been increased, and the amount in 

 the end has not been materiall)'' diminished. Expenses not anticipa- 

 ted occur from day to day, and no time can be spared to seek after 

 cheap workmen. 



As further means of promoting agriculture, the trustees most re- 

 spectfully recommend the encouragement of the formation of farmers 

 clubs. Their tendency will operate directly to create enquiry, exam- 

 ination, reading, observation, and experiments among farmers. 



At least one agricultural college should be established in every 

 slate, under the patronage of the state Legislature, and encourage- 

 ment given to schools in all the farming districts. One central col- 

 lege, with an experimental farm, should be located with as little de- 

 lay as possible, in, or near the city of New-York, accessible at the 

 cost of a few cents, to that great population and the many hundreds 

 of thousands who visit it. An establishment so located could not fail 

 of success. There are in the city many opulent merchants, who, 

 strongly impressed with the disasters of trade, would gladly avail 

 themselves of such an institution to prepare their sons for a farmers 

 life ; and secure to them and their families, competence and indepen- 

 dence. It is believed two hundred students might be obtained from 

 the city alone. 



The opportunities and the facilities for obtaining information, for 

 procuring seeds, plants &c., all kinds of choice live stock, and dis- 

 tributing them by land, and water, over the country, far exceed those of 

 any other locality on the western continent. For the purpose of ma- 



