150 [Assembly 



For the best piece of silk stuff, 27 inches in width and 60 

 ' yards in length, manufactured in the United States fronn 



native silk, $50 00 



For the best and greatest quantity of American silk, uni- 

 formly reeled, not less than 50 lbs 20 00 



For the best sewings of any color, made entirely from Ame- 

 rican silk, not less than 10 lbs 10 00 



For the best pea nut cocoons, not less than 1 bushel, 10 00 



And to each of the successful competitors, the " Van Schaick Me- 

 dal." 



Are there not opulent and patriotic gentlemen who will follow the 

 noble example of Mr. Van Schaick ? 



Washington's favorite Home Department for Agriculture, supported 

 by the purse of the nation, enjoined in almost his last words to Con- 

 gress, will again be brought before the convention. A department, 

 whose widely extended and intelligent powers might, through our 

 ministers, marshals, charges, consuls, missionaries, and commanders 

 by land and sea, do more in one year for the introduction of new 

 plants and staples, than could by any other means be procured in half 

 a century — thus exhibiting to the world, for the first time in the his- 

 tory of man, the grand spectacle of national power exerting its vast 

 force directly, to multiply and increase human comforts. It is only 

 through the resistless appeals of such a convention as is proposed, 

 that the attention of government can be arrested. Nearly half a cen- 

 tury has elapsed since the revered farmer of Mount Vernon — the 

 Father of his Country — raised his voice in favor of such a department. 

 His arguments carried conviction to all. Still, a measure shown by 

 him to be fraught with unmixed good only, has slept to this day. Let 

 those whose sweat and sinews procure the sustenance of our whole 

 people, who never yet have been duly heard, nor represented, meet in 

 one great convention. It would form an agricultural power that could 

 not fail to take a lasting hold on our people and our government. 



We invoke the aid of the true friends of agriculture, the wise, the 

 liberal, the intellectual, the patriotic and the noble, who are found 

 among all professions and occupations, and invite delegations from all 

 our numberless associations and clubs. Come to this convention, 



