315 



machinery, as are there displayed. The great object of this ex- 

 hibition is to stimulate laudable ambition, to awaken generous 

 and friendly competition, and induce our friends to come hither 

 and exhibit the results of their skill, to stimulate and improve 

 others for the public good. 



This Society was incorporated by the Legislature of this State 

 to promote Domestic Industry, in the encouragement of Agri- 

 culture, Commerce, Manufactures and the Arts. In regard to 

 Agriculture, remember that on your entrance here, the whole 

 approach and the long avenue leading up to this saloon is filled 

 with agricultural implements ; and it is said in Europe that we 

 surpass every country in this class of manufactures. This Fair 

 exhibits a concentration of agricultural implements, which for 

 delicacy of finish and adaptation to the uses for which they were 

 designed, have not before been equalled. 



I cannot forbear on this occasion to say that the agricultural 

 population need superior Intelligence, and require better means 

 of Education than are now provided by the Government. They 

 want a know^ledge of chemistry to show them the analyses of the 

 soil — the constituent parts most requisite for each crop, and how 

 to remedy any discovered deficiency by the application of the 

 most suitable fertilizers, either mineral, animal, or vegetable. 



A letter recently received from Prof. Mapes will sufiiciently 

 illustrate : 



"Gen. Tallmadge, 



" Dear Sir — During the last winter I made an analysis of 

 soil from a field which refused corn last year, and found the soil 

 deficient in the following constituents : 



Chlorine, 



Soda, 



Phosphoric acid, 



Lime, 



Potash, 



Ammonia. 



" The last spring I applied a compost of common salt, decom- 

 posed by lime — thus supplying chlorine and soda ; spent bone- 



