582 [Assembly 



Col. J. S. Skinner. The following letter from him was read; and 

 a reference of the subject of it, was made as desired. 



Dear Sir — Will you permit me to submit to the American Institute 

 for examination and report, some specimens of oil extracted from a 

 cheap substance with a view to have its quality pronounced upon, 

 and a report as to the uses to which it may be applied. It is proper 

 to add that I have no interest in the subject, except as a matter of 

 domestic and agricultural economy, and some hope that the results 

 may prove to be of utility to that great and neglected class whose 

 welfare we are endeavoring to promote. When I say neglected, T 

 mean by themselves, and in the legislation of the country. I will 

 only allow myself to say turther, that it would be hopeful intelligence 

 to learn that these specimens of the crude and of the refined oil, 

 refined by a process in which it is said to lose only 15 per centy 

 had been committed to the care of Professor Mapes and Renwick. 



Submitting all to your well known zeal in the development of all 

 our industrial resources, 



I remain, sir, very truly yours, 



J S. SKINNER. 

 To T. B. Wakeman, Cor. Sec, Am. Inst. 



22d February, 1847. 



Col. Edward Clark. If this oil is obtained from cotton seed, it 

 will be useful for lamps. 



Mr. Wakeman, requested the members of the club to send in writ- 

 ten communications, giving their views of the new system of agri- 

 cultural education, that we may have all the light possible, in the 

 organization of such schools. There seems to be a general agree- 

 ment on the subject of the position for the first school, and that is 

 near New-York city. The object is education of the right sort, per- 

 fectly practical, for the mass of our people. We can have some in- 

 dependent and patriotic man who will serve as president without 

 salary, for the love he bears the cause; and even professors of high 

 science who will also serve the popular cause, and others who will 

 do so for small salaries. And the daily labor of smart young schol- 

 ars on the experimental farm, will add greatly to the resources of the 

 school. Such a school will soon alter the views of our people on 

 the subject of education. 



Mr. Meigs. Such an experimental farm will become of very high 

 value by merely raising the best of all seeds of all useful plants. 

 There all the bad seeds will be condemned to the flames. There wilj 



