No. 216.] 343 



several rows, he paused to make an examination, and by the aid of 

 a powerful lens, he found the cause of the difficulty — at least in his 

 crop — in a beautiful pink colored worm (if indeed a worm can be 

 beautiful, said he,) which was only observable after dividing the 

 stalk. This worm was about a sixteenth of an inch in length; every 

 dead stalk had at least one of them — and many from three and four 

 to seven and eight, in each. He never found a potato diseased unless 

 the stalk was in the same condition. 



On motion of Mr. Wakeman, the Convention here adjourned until 

 the next morning, Tuesday 12th, to meet at the rooms of the Institute 

 in the Park, that being a more convenient location for those attend- 

 inof the Fair. 



SECOND DAY. 



Tuesday, October 12. 

 The Convention again assembled on this date, at the rooms of the 

 Institute in the Park. Col. Clark, in the chair, called the meeting to 

 order, and being obliged to leave on business, inducted Col. Travers, 

 of New Jersey, as chairman; and the meeting was opened by the 

 reading (and approval^ of the minutes of the preceding day's session, 

 by the Secretary. 



Dr. Lee then reported from the committee on memorializing Con- 

 gress to establish a department of Agriculture. The paper was well- 

 drawn, apt and forcible, calling forth much commendation from the 

 ♦ audience. 



Prof. Meigs expressed his unqualified admiration of the paper, and 

 thought its publication and transmission to Congress would be cal- 

 culated to do great good. He said the objects of an Agricultural 

 Department were there set forth in a correct and elegant manner, and 

 the transmission of such a document with the attached memorial of 

 this Convention, must produce an immense impression upon our na- 

 tional legislators. He then proceeded to speak of the practical 

 operations of such a department, considering it of incalculable im- 

 portance. He hoped the report would be adopted; and made a mo- 

 tion to that effect, which was seconded and unanimously adopted, 

 after a few remarks from some other gentlemen. 



Mr. Benjamin P. Johnson, Secretary of the State Agricultural So- 

 ciety of New-York, wished to be heard for a few moments on this 



