26 



THE NEW GENESEE FARMER. 



Vol. 3. 



Meeting of the New York State Agiiciiltural 

 Society at Albany Jan. 18th and lUth, 1842. 



The Now- York State Agricultural Society held its 

 nnnual meeting in Albany on Wednesday and Thurs- 

 day, the 18th and 19th inst. The Executive com- 

 mittee met for the transaction of business on Tuesday, 

 in the hall of the Young Men's ABsociation. The 

 attendance was large, numbering irom IM to 200 of 

 the enlightened and strong friends of agriculture 

 from different parts of the State. The Chair was tak- 

 en by Joel B. Nott, President of the Society, and a 

 large number of the County Societies were represent- 

 by their Presidents or by special delegates. 



The room was hung round with well executed 

 portraits of superior animals, chiefly of the Improved 

 Durham Short Horns, and improved breeds of sheep, 

 a large portion of them beinj portraits of ani- 

 mals belonging to E. P. Prentice, Treasurer of the 

 Scciety, C. N. Bement of Albany, and other mem- 

 bers of the Society. To an unpractised eye, accustom- 

 ed to look only at the common herds and animals 

 which are seen in our farm yards and pastures, these 

 pictures would have been pronounced the mere fictions 

 of the painter's imagination ; but an actual examina- 

 tion of the animals themselves left no reason to ques- 

 tion his fidelity to truth and nature. The pictures 

 seemed as handsome as the painters art could make 

 them ; and the animals were quite as handsome as 

 the pictures. 



The President's table was at the same time covered 

 with several valuable pieces of silver plate, a tea-pot 

 of silver, and several cans and tumblers, which were 

 to be bestowed on the fortunate competitors for prizes 

 St the Inte Fair at Syracuse. 



In a neighboring room was a large and handsome 

 show of dairy products, presented for the premiums 

 of the Society, and some samples of vegetable and 

 grain crops. 



Some skeins of silk likewise, produced and manu- 

 factured at the Auburn State Prison, were presented 

 for the examination of the committee. 



The reports of the several committees having been 

 made, the premiums were duly awarded end present- 

 ed, some in plate and others In cash. -These reports 

 and awards will hereafter be duly given. At pres- 

 ent not being familiar with the names either of the 

 several committees or competitors, we cannot trust 

 our memory to report them. We can only say we 

 felt a little envy of the gentlemen who carried out of 

 the room the brilliant trophies of their honorable suc- 

 cess ; and could not but imagine the charming and 

 complimentary reception they might expect at their 

 own domiciles, with such dazzling bribes in their 

 hands. 



There was exhibited likewise, a most excellent and 

 beautiful article of household manufacture, in a lady's 

 bonnet, made of Manilla grass. Its fineness was nut 

 surpassed by anything of the kind we have ever seen. 

 The Society voted to the fair nrtis; a complimentary 

 gratuity of five dollars. This was certainly well. 

 One gentleman, a bachelor we believe, and there wns 

 certainly strong internal evidence of the fact, com 

 mended the article, among other excellencies for its 

 darabiUli/. " It was not a flimeey thing which wocld 

 bear the wear only of a season, but was likely to en- 

 dure for years." Just as though this would recom- 

 mend it to our fair city ladies, or even to the farmers' 

 daughters of one of our most secluded hamlets. 

 Alas 1 how little does he know of female taste, when 

 unless it goes by Hardcn's express, it is not certain 

 that you could send n bonnet from New York to 

 Buffalo before the fashion would be changed. One 

 would suppose that this gentleman had just descend- 

 ed Irom one of tlie mountainous cantons in Switzer- 

 land, where the same woolen tiara and the same quilt 

 eii petticoat go down to daughters and granddaugh- 



ters, and a pair of wooden-shoes lasts through several 

 generations. 



The report of the Treasurer was received with much 

 applause, announcing as it did, so different a condition 

 of things from most other treasuries of the day, in 

 stating that the S eiety had remaining in its coffers, 

 after all its debt were paid, a balance of 828 dollars 

 for future operations. In this day of universal empti- 

 ness, when there is scarcely a barkeeper or toll-gath- 

 erer, who does not rei]Ort embezzlement, or over- 

 issues, or suspension of payments, or necessity of a 

 loan, or some new exchequer plan, or ask leave to is- 

 sue treasury notes, this result produced such a shock 

 as the assembly did not recover from for some time. 

 For ourselves, we could only wonder where this green 

 hand of a treasurer could have lived in these days of 

 financial discovery and improvement, and pray that no 

 one would think of putting him into public life lest 

 his good morals might be endangered. The great 

 security is however, that the kind of tact, which he 

 displayed, is not at all in demand just now. Promo- 

 tion with such a man is well nigh hopeless. 



The Report of the Corresponding Secretary wos 

 read, announcing that, in reply to his applications, he 

 had received valuable communications from various 

 distinguished gentlemen at home and abroad, for the 

 volume of Transactions of the Society, now in a 

 course of preparation (or tlie press. His correspon- 

 dence had been extensive and had met with a hearty 

 response. Among others he had received a valuable 

 communication from the Phillippine Isles. 



On motion of Air. Randall of Cortland, a commit- 

 tee to nominate officers was raised ; and it was de- 

 volved on this committee to designate the lime and 

 place for holding the next annual state fair. 



On the report of the committee, the following gen- 

 tlemen were elected officers for the ensuing year. 

 President. 



JAS. S. WADSWORTH, of Livingston. 

 Vice Presidents. 



1st dis. Jeremiah Johnson, Kings. 



2d do Robert Denniston, Orange. 



3d do Antho.vt Van Bergen, Green. 



4th do John Savage, Washington. 



5th do Obville Hungerford, Jefferson. 



6th do Geo. I. Pumpelly, Tioga. 



7th do John M. Sherwood, Cayuga. 



8th do L. B. Lasgwokthy, Monroe. 



H. S. Randall, Cortland, Cor. Sec. 



LuTUKR TfcKEB, Albany, Rec. Sec. 



Ezra P. Prentice, Albany, Treasurer. 

 Ezeculice Committee. 

 Alexander Walsh, George Vail, Henry D. Grove, 

 Rensselaer ; John M'D. M'Intyre, and James 

 L'Amoreux, Albany. 



The committee recommended that the annual state 

 fair be held at Albany on the 28th and 29ih Septem- 

 ber next. This proposition wos subsequently modi- 

 fied so as to read Albany or its vicinity. 



On motion of Mr. Johnson of Oneida, a dynamome- 

 ter was directed to be [lurchased, and it was recom 

 mended that the county societies each procure a simi- 

 lar one. 



On motion of Mr. Clarke, the executive commit- 

 tee was directed to off.T premiums of gold medals, 

 or plate, or their equivalent in money, for the best 

 essay on subjects to be selected by them. 



On motion of Mr. Morrell. of Tompkins, the 

 ilianksuf the society were voted to the Young Men's 

 Association, for tlie use of their rooms. 



The thanks of the society were voted to the officers 

 of last year, and the meeting adjourned, to meet at 

 the capitol at 7 o'clock, P. M. 



The Society having accomplished its business, 

 met at the Capitol ut 7 o'clock, where an ad- 

 dress wo? delivered by Mr. Nntt, the President nt 



the Society. The address was excellent in manner 

 and matter, and received with universal satisfaction. 

 We shall attempt a brief sketch of it, but it must be 

 very imperfect excepting as concerns its topics. A 

 copy was requested for publication ; and in due time 

 we hope to lay it before our readers from the author's 

 own hand. 



Many of the members of the Society and friends 

 of Agriculture, in the evening, partook of an elegant 

 supper at the City Hotel- The company were hon- 

 ored by the presence of the Governor and other 

 guests. The evening passed off with much hilarity ; 

 and presented a beautiful demonstration, that when 

 the benevolent and patriotic affections are kindled in a 

 generous and noble cause, as much healthful heat 

 and exhiliration can be manufactured out of the crys. 

 tal spring of pure water as ever flowed from the col- 

 ored waters of Madeira or the sparkling and gushing 

 fountains of Burgundy, and this too, without leaving 

 any scorching, or cinders, orsmuttiness behind. 



The meeting was addressed in an cff..ctive, appro- 

 priate and agreeable manner by the President, the 

 Governor, Gen. Leiand, Alderman Joy of Albany, 

 Judge Hungerford, Mr. Walsh, and other gentlemen, 

 and broke up seasonably in good fellowship, and with 

 a more quickened zeal and a more fixed determination 

 in the great objects of iheir association. So mote 

 it be ! 



But where are the broken glasses, and the up. 

 turned tables, and the smutty toasts, and the ribald 

 songs, and the profane jests, and the vile taunts, and 

 the fiery resentments, and the folly and the stupidity, 

 and the leadings home and the disturbed households, 

 and the violent headachs, and the bitter mortifications, 

 ond the quickened appetites for further and more de- 

 grading excesses, which constituted once the usual 

 accompaniments and appendix of such evening enter- 

 tainments. Thank God, they are among the things 

 that were! They will soon bo looked upon only as 

 the fictions of romance ; and gentlemen will feel 

 that the very mention of them, is an imputation upon 

 their honor. 



Mr. Nott's Address at the Meeting ol the State 

 Agricultural Society of New York in the 

 Capitol at Albany, on Thursday even- 

 ing, 19th January, 1843. 



We subjoin an imperfect report of this excellent ad- 

 dress from our iwn hnpcrfect and hasty notes taken 

 at the time, under many disadvantages. We have 

 sought only to give the topics and the sentiments, but 

 we may have heen so unfortunate as even to liave 

 mistaken or omitted these. In this naked condition 

 Mr. Nott may not be able to recognize his own off- 

 spring ; and we shall not charge it upon him if he 

 docs not choose to acknowledge it. Presently we 

 may be so fortunate as to receive it in its full dress 

 from his own brilUant wardrobe and perfumed toilet. 



Mr. Nott commenced liis address by stating that the 

 First Meeting of the Agricultural Society of the State 

 of New York awakened a strong interest and excited 

 sanguine hopes of its ultimate success. But year after 

 year,asmallbutgallantbandof the friends of an improv- 

 ed agriculture had nothing to cheer them. They were 

 compelled to struggle with many difficulties ; but like 

 chosen men placed upon the forlorn hope they were 

 determined to triumph. There is a moral power in 

 such a resolution, before which, ordinary obstacles at 

 once retire. Their efforts have been successful. They 

 are cheered with an actual and glorious triumph ; and 

 their path onward, is brightened with the confident 

 hope of continued and extended successes. At one 

 time they had neither the aid of the government nor 

 the inspiriting favor of the people. But circumstances 

 have changed. The Legislature have extended a 

 helping I'.and ; and the people urge them onward by 

 acclamation. 



The great Pair at SvTacuse.held in the last autumn, 



