922 Transactions of the American Institute. 



to the growing crops, and other agricultural matters more or less 

 akin to civil engineering; but the length to which this paper has 

 already attained forbids, and we will conclude by expressing the 

 belief that the necessities of asfriculture demand a more thorouixh 

 and distinct recognition of its claims upon the science of engineer- 

 ing — a recognition that can only be afforded by a class of engineers 

 making a speciality of their profession in its relations with the 

 tillage and amelioration of the soil; and although this may be 

 secured only after the lapse of years, and be accomplished by halt- 

 ing and feeble steps at first, we trust that the time will at last 

 arrive when there shall exist a profession worthy of the name of 

 agricultural engineering; when farming shall be raised to the 

 place that belongs to it among the sciences; when the first-born of 

 earth's industrial interests shall claim its tribute alike of practical 

 experience and technical knowledge, and the title of Master of 

 Agriculture take its place with the rank of Master of Arts or 

 Master of the Sciences. 



At the conclusion of Mr. "Whitney's paper, an animated discussion 

 followed on the feasibility of plowing by steam, in which, however, 

 no new plans were proposed. At a late hour the meeting adjourned 

 for one week. 



March 12, 1868. 

 Professor S. D. Tillman in the chair 



NEW HYDRA ULIC APPARATUS. 



Dr. H. Cole exhibited a model of his method of raising water, 

 designed to facilitate the flow of water to the upper floors of 

 buildings. An equipoise is established between two columns of 

 water, the height of which may be varied at pleasure by inter- 

 mediate chambers, and the slightest pressure of the finger on the 

 top of one column causes the water in the other to move. The 

 principle applied is the same as that of the hydraulic press. In 

 the debate which followed, it seemed the general opinion that, 

 although the apparatus was an ingenious combination, there was 

 some doubt as to its practicability, and as to its supplanting some 

 more simple devices for accomplishing the same object. 



Mr. A. H. Fletiry read a paper, most of which is embraced in 

 the following: 



