AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 515 



part in fulfilling the destiny at first assigned to man by the Al- 

 mighty — namely, that of possessing and subduing the earth. 



We have not been unmindful of the office thus assigned to us. 

 The British islands have been the seed beds of nations. We are 

 not yet as attentive to agriculture as we ought to be. We hear 

 constantly that agriculture is yet in its infancy, and that of all 

 sciences it is the least advanced. Let us look back to the elo- 

 quent Roman, 1,900 years ago. Cicero said " Omnium verum ex 

 quibus aliquid acquiritur, nihil est agricultura melius, nihil ube- 

 rius, nihil dulcius, nihil liomine libero dignius," Of all the 

 things from which we acquire, none is better than agriculture, 

 none is richer and more productive, none more delightful, none 

 of more dignity in a freeman. 



St. Hilaire justly remarks, that on more than one point we may 

 still take lessons from Columella and Varro. 



The Royal Agricultural Society, of England, sends us Part 2d, 

 No. 40, of Vol. 18, 1857. 



It contains seventy pages on the Steppe Murrain or Rinderpest, 

 and concludes that from all that is known about it, it is not at all 

 probable that it will reach England. Horse-shoeing, with fine 

 drawing, occupies twenty-seven pages. Vegetable Physiology, 

 with illustrations of the cellular structure, magnified 400 times, 

 occupies forty-three pages, very instructive, and increases our 

 desire for extensive use of the very greatest magnifying jjowers 

 for examination of the structures of all bodies. 



Lists of Agricultural premiums, among which we distinguish 

 the increasing estimation of poultry, by the high premiums, viz : 



Dorkings, best cock and two pullets, 5 sovereigns. 



Spanish, best cock and two hens, 5 " 



Geese, _ _ 4 " 



Turkies, 3 " 



Cattle, as high as, 30 " 



On the manurial properties of clay from gas works. 



On the growth of barley by different manures, '77 pages. 



For a steam cultivator, 500 sovereigns. 



