No. 129] 391 



[From tLi9 Aanaklea in la Societe Coatnvle.] 



Paris, 1851. 

 Report on the works offered to the Society, by M. A. Vattemaxe, 

 in the names of the different States of the American Union, by 

 Dr. De Bonis. 



You have received besides, from the State of New-York, three 

 volumes of the Transactions of the American Institute; for 1846, 

 1847 and 1848. The Institute may well be compared to our 

 Society for the encouragement of industry and science, rather 

 than to our National Institute. These volumes contain a good 

 number of curious and interesting memoirs upon the subjects of 

 human industry, manufactures, agriculture, horticulture, build' 

 ing, machinery. Confining myself to horticulture, which is your 

 department, I despair of giving you any thing more than the 

 tout ensemble — or general view. Agricultural schools for the 

 poor as well as the rich, have attracted the attention of the gener- 

 ous and learned of that country, whose reports here prove the 

 importance which they attach to the enrichment of their soils 

 by intelligent labor, and their careful charity for the poor. At 

 their annual meetings, or (as they call it,) Fairs, they distribute 

 prizes for new inventions, the introduction of the best races of 

 cattle, and perfecting their native stock. You will find on read- 

 ing these reports how much the lovely work of horticulture is 

 practised, and how successfully. Mr. Pell has furnished upon 

 the history of fruit and cultivated plants, information and instruc- 

 tion drawn from the best sources of erudition. 



The American way in almost every thing is to call a meeting, 

 at which it is always expected that a Mr. Somebody will get up 

 and say something better than the most learned men of the coun- 

 try. They announce the subject of discussion ; those that do 

 understand the subject and those that do not, all go to the meeting. 

 Good sense, with a strong desire to learn, and a habit of reason- 

 ing, do the rest. Each brings his fruits and offerings, points out 

 their location, history, names, &c. They thus seek to establish 

 a synonym, and to reduce the number of names. Among these 

 reports are recommendations of agricultural schools for the State, 

 a botanic garden in Florida, farm work for the poor on Randall's 



