274 [ASSEMBLT 



introduced among us, and every information in relation to them 

 may be universally diffused. 



With this view, we believe that an agricultural college and expe- 

 rimental farm can be of distinguished advantage to our country. 

 And as the city of New-York is by commerce connected with all parts 

 of the world, and readily receives all the productions of the earth, 

 and by the vast consumption of food — by the manure of more cattle 

 and horses, Sfc, on this spot than on any other in America, by the 

 refuse of articles employed in works of all sorts, the city of New- 

 York is capable of affording more material for fertilizing soil than 

 any other spot in this country. For it is a fair subject of calculation 

 and will result in this, that the half million of people in New-York 

 and the immediate vicinity, furnish those means for enriching more 

 land than will sustain a million of people. And the city is also full 

 of strangers from all parts of the world who can be induced to 

 bring with them from every quarter, seeds, plants, animals, books and 

 every thing that a State experimental farm can employ, at the least 

 expense. 



And as it has a great and increasing population, of which it is 

 desirable that thousands should be made to love and understand agri- 

 culture — as there are numerous sensible capitalists who prefer for their 

 children the life of a farmer rather than manufactures, or than the 

 learned professions, who would avail themselves of such a college as 

 this, we hope that your honorable body will take the first important 

 step in our country for the establishment of such a college. We re- 

 spectfully urge these as arguments for commencing the agricultural 

 education here, hoping that when the trial here is found to be suc- 

 cessful, then the State will establish like institutions in all the sections 

 of our country suitable for them. If there is any thing true in our 

 views of the distinguished importance of such an agricultural school, 

 where could it do more good than in the vicinity, under the eye of a 

 vast city population? We trust that of all public institutions such 

 an one, by its wholesome example, would continuall}' attract from 

 inferior avocations, thousands of the growing youth of the city to 

 the manly, noble exercises of such a school as this, keeping thus al- 

 ways before the eye of our great metropolis the inestimable evidence 

 of the high value of- a practical, economical, intelligent and heal- 

 thy nursery of. young men, contrasting deeply with the puny ineffi- 

 cient offspring of mere city growth. 



The American Institute would provide in such a college, that eve- 

 ry student should acquire the best knowledge to be obtained from the 



