122 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



March 



For the A'etc England Farmer. 



LETTER FROM MR. FRENCH. 



My Dear Browx : — The United States ^Agri- 

 cultural Society met at the Smithsonian Institute 

 on the 14th January, to hold its fifth annual meet- 

 ing. 



Promptly at the hour named in the notice, a 

 much larger than usual number of members and 

 others were present. The President of the United 

 States appeared, and by invitation of the ofScers 

 of the society, took his seat on the right of the 

 President of the society. Gov. Johnson, of Ten- 

 nessee, occupied the seat on the left. 



The President, lion. Marshal P. Wilder, 

 read a letter from Wm. S. King, Esq., Secretary 

 of the society, resigning his office, and Maj. Ben 

 Perley Poore was elected Secretary pro tem. 



President Wilder opened the meeting with an 

 address, setting forth succinctly the history and ob- 

 jects of the society. The receipts of the society, 

 since its formation five years ago, have been more 

 than $<S0,000, nearly all of which has been expend- 

 ed in premiums and exhibitions. The President 

 suggested that in future the funds of the society 

 should be carefully exhausted with a view to estab- 

 lish a permanent Secretary's office, with a Secre- 

 tary to give exclusive attention to the duties of his 

 office. 



The Chinese sugar c?.nc was then spoken of, and 

 Col. Wilder stated that Mr. Peters, of Georgia, 

 has made arrangements to plant one hundred acres 

 the next season. It appears to be adapted to both 

 northern and southern latitudes, and is found val- 

 uable for sugar and molasses, and also for fodder. 

 It is said that 19,000 lbs. of dry fodder have been 

 produced on an acre in Kentucky. To D. Jay 

 Browne, a native of New Hampshire, now in the 

 Patent Office, is due the credit of the introduction 

 of this most valuable plant. 



The President next adverted to the culture of 

 the grape, and expressed his opinion that we shall 

 at some future day not only supply our own coun- 

 try with wine, but export a large amount for for- 

 eign w-e. Already has brandy, produced from our 

 own vines, been exported to France to flavor their 

 own brandy made of New England rum ! 



The horse question at cattle shows was then dis- 

 cussed by the President. A distinction was sug- 

 gested between a race-course proper, made and 

 supported merely as a gambling "institution," and 

 the course at our shows, merely for the convenient 

 exhibition of animals. 



The value of all the hors3s in this country is said 

 to be $400,000,000, and it is important therefore, 

 that the subject of improvement of horses should 

 receive due attention. The President recommend- 

 ed that a special committee be appointed to report 

 on this subject to this society. Col. Wilder, at 



the close of his remarks, declined a re-election, 

 and hoped to be excused from further official re- 

 sponsibility, assuring the society of his willingness 

 always to labor for the good of this society, and its 

 cause. It was suggested by the President that a 

 Department of Agriculture should be established by 

 the government, and that so the interests of the four- 

 fifths of our citizens engaged in agriculture should 

 be fostered. 



A unanimous resolution was adojjted, of thanks 

 to Col. Wilder for his efficient services as Presi- 

 dent, and expressing the hope that he would still 

 remain in the office. 



Committees were then raised for the nomination 

 of officers, and upon the various subjects suggest- 

 ed by the President in his Address. 



The Treasurer (B. B. French, Esq.,) made his 

 annual report, by which it was shown that some 

 $42,000 was received at the Philadelphia exhibi- 

 tion, and about $41,000 paid out in expenses and 

 premium.s. 



Mr. Calvert (of Maryland,) inquired for what 

 all this money had been expended. It is time, 

 said he, that these "humbug shows" should cease. 

 We should have a permanent Secretary first, until 

 we have a Department of Agriculture. A Secre- 

 tary is wanted here to look after the interests of 

 agriculture. We want a Department to look after 

 the Land, as well as the Navy and the Army. En- 

 couragement is due to the great leading interest, 

 above everything else. 



Explanation was made that the various exhibi- 

 tions had paid their own way, and something more. 



Mr. Calvert advocated with great force the im- 

 mediate establishment of an agricultural office, with 

 a paid Secretary, by a direct tax on agriculturists. 



Hon. Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky, in- 

 sisted that our shows have been useful, and ought 

 to be continued. Mr. M. then offered the society 

 the use of grounds in Kentucky, free of expense, 

 for the next meeting. Mr. M. objected to that 

 "superfine sentiment" which finds harm in horse- 

 races, and the use of wine ! 



Col. Kimmell, of Maryland, notified Kentucky 

 that Maryland would enter the lists against that 

 State for the next exhibition ; so, concluded Col. 

 K., 



"Lay on, McDulT." 



Mr. Guthrie, Secretary of the Treasury, a del- 

 egate from Kentucky, said he, with his colleagues, 

 should make a proposition in writing to the socie- 

 ty for the next exhibition. A box of apples from 

 Oregon was then exhibited. They looked very 

 large and fine, but were seized on so ravenously by 

 hungry members, that the Committee had great dif- 

 ficulty in rescuing them. 



Mr. KiMMEL stated that Mr. George Peabody, 

 of London, was present, a gentleman well known 

 to all who had travelled in England for his hospi- 



