No. 216.] 341 



to the credit and importance of the American Institute, if we should 

 become the agents to receive and forward those objects from our own 

 country, and in return become the recipients and guardians of objects 

 sent to us in return. 



We therefore offer the following Resolution: 



Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to confer with M. 

 Vattemare, and report to the Board the result of their consultation. 



During the reading of these papers, the Committee on the Order of 

 Business returned, and reported through Dr. Lee, their Chairman, as 

 follows: 



Questions for discussion. 



1. An Agricultural Department of the General Government, to 

 watch over and foster that important interest of the country, 

 conformably to the earnest recommendation of General Wash- 

 ington, fifty years ago. 



2. To urge on the farmers of the United States the importance 

 of preserving, in their purity, the best breeds of Cattle, Horses, 

 Swine, and especially of Sheep, that our skilful manufacturers 

 may not be compelled to resort to European markets for the 

 materials of fine cloth. 



3. The establishment of Colleges and Schools in the States of 

 the Union, for teaching both the science and the practice of 

 rural economy in the most thorough and skilful manner. , 



4. The condition of the Linen manufactures of the nation — what 

 has caused them to languish; what is necessary to make this 

 branch of Industry prosper. 



5. Silk culture and manufacture. 



6. Potato disease — what is the best remedy. 



This order was adopted, and afterward Dr. Lee made a few re- 

 marks relative to the project of M. Vattemare, of which he had heard, 

 but being on the Committee which had just reported, had not heard the 

 papers read. He expressed his great gratification that exchanges of 



