530 [Assembly 



hues of the heantiful colors which spring up from beneath the hand 

 of the gardener; from these come the ever changing fragrance and 

 odors which laden the summer breeze; and from these are formed the 

 luxuriant fruits of fertilized fields and ripened orchards. 



The business of the tiller of the soil is, by the use of proper agents 

 and the aid of natural laws, to decompose these three gross materials, 

 and from their component parts to form the endless varieties of com- 

 pounds which appear in the vegetable kingdom. Is it not evident, 

 therefore, that to do this most advantageously, we must be governed 

 by rules which conform to the natural laws? But by whom, where 

 and how, are such rules to be formed ? It cannot be done by each 

 farmer for himself. He has neither means, time, nor the necessary 

 qualifications for conducting all the requisite experiments; nor is he 

 singular in this, for the settlement of rules by each individual for 

 himself has never been done in any department where exact rules are 

 used. I therefore submit, that there is no conceivable way of so 

 successfully accomplishing this end, as by the use of an experimental 

 farm, under the direction of those whose scientific attainments qualify 

 them for the duty. 



But where should such a farm be located? This is a question 

 often asked. The answer to it obviously is, that to be of most ser- 

 vice and to exert the greatest influence, such a farm should be situa- 

 ted, at some place commanding the greatest advantages to facilitate 

 its operations; such as a variety of soil, access to other scientific 

 institutions, information, suggestions, specimens, supplies, &c., and 

 where the largest number of persons are habitually brought together 

 for other purposes, and could therefore most conveniently visit it. 

 Such a place, evidently, is the vicinity of the city of New York, as 

 commanding every required advantage, and being more convenient 

 for visitation than any other location. 



Let such a farm be established here, and it will soon become the 

 choicest jewel of the country, and be visited by pilgrims from every 

 direction, resorting hither to consult the oracles of nature, as there 

 revealed in her works. Crude suggestions and imperfect discoveries 

 would constantly flow to it, while settled facts and rules, systema- 

 tized and adapted to the use and understanding of all, would as con- 

 stantly issue from it to all parts of the country, bearing with them 

 authority sufficient to penetrate the most calloused prejudice, and to 

 secure general confidence and consequent practical use and applica- 

 tion. And thus the desired object would be attained, the means for 



