352 Domestic Notices. 



and silk culturists of the United States, in conformity to requests contained 

 in resolutions passed at two former Conventions, viz. : an Agricultural and 

 Silk Convention held in this city, Oct. 1844, during the 17th Annual Fair. 



It was deemed appropriate, because this Institution was incorporated by 

 the Legislature of New York in 1829, expressly to encourage the agricul- 

 ture of the United States, and so acceptably had this duty been performed 

 in the estimation of the Legislature, that in 1841, when a State Agricultu- 

 ral Society was formed, this Institute was embraced in it, and constituted 

 the sole representative of that interest in that association, for the city and 

 county of New York, and was made the recipient of the bounty which, in 

 all other parts of the State, was apportioned exclusively to the county soci- 

 eties. The city of New York was preferred for holding this Convention, 

 because of its central situation, and the facilities of reaching it by land and 

 water, and the time was designated during the great Fair as most conven- 

 ient and most likely to ensure a full Convention, when hundreds of thous- 

 ands are attracted to the great city, when specimens from the field and the 

 garden of the highest perfection from all parts of the country are spread 

 before the visitors. 



It is designed to concert measures which will give a more effective im- 

 pulse to the efforts of agricultural improvement, by the collection of numer- 

 ous facts from various localities and details of experiments, thus affording 

 materials for science to extend its discoveries ; this will impart dignity to 

 the occupation of the agriculturist, elevate it in the comparative scale of 

 human industry, proportioned to its inestimable importance. The powers 

 of association, if judiciously brought in aid, will work wonders. Local soci- 

 eties might be formed and kept in continual communication with one great 

 central society, concentrating at one point an accumulation of facts and ex- 

 perience for selection, arrangement, comparison, consideration and publica- 

 tion, the value of which would exceed all computation. Such an organiza- 

 tion should be commenced at this Convention. The numerous associations 

 recently formed in various parts of the country called " Farmers' Clubs," 

 in conjunction with other older societies for promoting agriculture, afford 

 the means for a beginning, and the manifest advantages flowing from them 

 will lead others to follow the example. Practical means for the distribu- 

 tion of the best breeds of cattle, the new and best plants, seeds, &c., iarm- 

 ing implements, machines, &c., should be considered. From the isolated 

 condition and infi-equency of communication and intercourse among farmers, 

 discoveries of vast benefit to the human race have, for long periods, re- 

 mained unenjoyed because unknown but to a few — the potato, which now 

 feeds millions, and the turnip, that Englishmen assert saves England, may 

 be cited as examples. Accident brought the cotton plant into the planta- 

 tion States, which now affords materials for clothing hundreds of millions. 

 Association will be sure to produce the more speedy development and ex- 

 tended realization of multiplied human comforts, and accelerate the grand 

 march of our national improvement. The examination of specimens, the 

 unceremonious expression of thought, and the interchange of views by the 

 independent and noble lords of our soil, will enable each and all to return to 

 their farms with renewed spirit and increased knowledge. — [Circular.) 



