No. 129.] 263 



pained to reply, no. There are more than thirty in Ireland, 

 established by the local government. If the members of this 

 Club will come prepared at the next meeting, we may cause 

 great advantages ultimately to flow from this small beginning. 

 The aids of chemistry must form part of the ordinary business 

 of the farmer. I hope that if this proposition be deemed useful, 

 a competent committee may be appointed to examine this subject 

 thoroughly and report a plan of a character so practicable as to 

 satisfy public judgment. Some four years ago, we had made a 

 provisional arrangement for the purchase of nearly two hundred 

 acres for an experimental farm ; the cost of this was to be about 

 twenty-one or two thousand dollars. We made earnest application 

 to the Legislature for aid to coniplete this. We failed. The 

 same land is now worth about one hundred and fifty thousand dol- 

 lar si We had assured the Legislature that the State could not 

 lose by the purchase! That opportunity has gone away. Now let 

 us look out for another. 



Professor Mapes hoped that this subject might not be pressed 

 at present. Several States are now endeavoring to create such 

 schools. Let us see how they succeed..' I think that schools are 

 first wanted to make suitable legislators. I have spent six weeks 

 in laborious attempts to persuade our New-Jersey Legislature to 

 commence a proper system of instruction in agriculture in vain. 

 It was opposed by so-called farmers, who canH raise oats that 

 woii't lodge! England now, without such schools, beats France! 

 We should begin by teaching farmers as far as possible in their 

 own way, on their own farms. A simple competent teacher could 

 do more with them in that way than colleges can. 



General Chandler approved of the proposition of the President 

 and wished that it might not be deferred. It is time that this 

 important subject should be amply discussed, and, if possible, a 

 practicable plan for the diffusion of agricultural knowledge 

 arrived at. 



Professor Mapes moved an extra meeting of the Club for Tues- 

 day next. Carried. 



Subject — Use of phosphate of lime in agriculture. Adopted. 

 The Club adjourned. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



