290 ( Assembly 



lessons on this subject, are given in the Farmers' Library, to which 

 or to the original works, it is necessary to refer those who desire full 

 information on this point. 



I wish to say something in reply to Mr. Wakeman's remarks, at 

 the last club relative to the appeal to Congress for aid to the cause 

 of Agriculture. The resolution to call Congress to the adoption of 

 General Washington's plan of a department for agriculture is a ste- 

 reotyped resolution! Of what avail is that? I wish to stimulate the 

 farmers to take this their own cause into their own hands, and I 

 pointed out the outlay for war as being 80 per cent of our expenses, 

 and this drawn from their pockets! 



Mr. Wakeman. — We have for several years urged in numerous 

 appea's to the farmers that they should take this matter up, insist on 

 it, nor stop until they were so represented by farmers of their own 

 choosing, that the great cause of Agriculture should take the lead as 

 it always ought to do. 



Mr. Skinner. — Sir, I have in all this matter, as little personal in- 

 terest as any man. Few men suppose that war costs 80 per cent, 

 the greater number think that two or five per cent is high enough. 

 Mr. S. read a circular prepared b} him to be laid before Congress, 

 and he laid copies of it on the table for signatures. 



Mr. Skinner proceeded to observe. Something like objection to 

 books on agriculture has been made, but I say that the agricultural 

 papers, books of our country have proved eminently practical, and 

 therefore highly valuable. 



Mr. Skinner then read further extracts from the Farmers' Library 

 on the subject of drainage, also from the Journal of Agriculture. He 

 mentioned the judicious draining by E. F. Hall of Delaware, who 

 has made on his farm, twenty thousand pounds of pork, and four 

 thousand pounds of butter in a season. And Mr. Hall's blind drains 

 were made at a cost of only twelve and a half cents a rod. 



Mr. Skinner said that the drainage alone at Lindenwold, by Mr. 

 Van Buren, was judiciously and profitably executed. So were Lord 

 Stanley's in England. 



Charles Henry Hall. — I came in late to-day, not knowing what 

 was under discussion, but I heard a part of the remarks of Mr. Skin- 

 ner, and if he undertakes to vindicate his agricultural labors, I assure 



