194 [Assembly 



It is well known that many of the fine lands of Virginia, and other 

 parts of the southern country, have been thought to be worn out ; but 

 our Farmer's Club has clearly established the fact, that it is only the 

 surface that has been exhausted ; and that by deep ploughing, and 

 light manuring alone, most of these lands may be again rendered 

 available. These hints have been put in practice, and many lands 

 which could have been purchased a few years since for $5 or $10 per 

 acre, are now worth from $40 to $100 per acre. This practice of 

 deep plowing is now restoring the miscalled worn-out lands of Virginia 

 to luxuriant and profitable farms. The Agricultural Society of this 

 State was first proposed at our agricultural convention, and the chair- 

 man of our board of agriculture, Gen. Jeremiah Johnson, advocated 

 the cause so ably before the State Legislature, as to result in the for- 

 mation of the State society. 



Our ploughing matches have also been productive of benefit. The 

 style of plow, mode of handling, &c., are all important. Thousands 

 of dollars are spent annually to improve the telescope, and nothing for 

 the plow. 



The exertions of the Farmer's Club, added to our exhibition, have 

 doubled the supply of grapes in the vicinity of New- York, within the 

 last few years ; and the immense amount of grapes raised by one of 

 our members at Croton Point, is too well known to require com- 

 ment. 



The horticultural exhibition at our fairs brings us friends from all 

 parts of the Union ; and the number of experimental horticulturists 

 from the vicinity of Boston, now in this room, clearly proves the esti- 

 mation in which our Institute is held by our neighbors of Massachu- 

 setts. 



It cannot be doubted, that the improvements in our agricultural pro- 

 duts, fiom the causes already stated, are at least one per cent, on the 

 whole amount of the crop : and as this amount, exclusive of the to- 

 bacco, sugar, cotton and rice crops, is certainly $700,000,000 our In- 

 stitute has benefitted the country at large, in the department of agri- 

 culture alone, $7,000,000 per annum. 



The sugar planters of Louisiana have received a still grealer ratio of 

 benefit from the exertions of some of the members of this institution, 

 and they freely acknowledge it. 



