PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTE. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE OF THE 

 AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Committee on Agriculture of the American Institute, in 

 pursuance of the 49th section of the by-laws, beg leave respect- 

 fully to report : 



Your committee entered upon their labors on the 13th day of 

 February, 1862, and, in accordance with the duties prescribed for 

 them, have actively carried out the purposes of the Institute in- 

 trusted to their care. 



That most useful adjunct of the Institute, the Farmers' Club, 

 has held 36 meetings, the attendance at which has been generally 

 large. Many philanthropic members of the Institute, in addition 

 to the members of your committee, have attended the meetings of 

 the Club, and have lent their aid in rendering the transactions 

 instructive and interesting. Among those in attendance are some 

 of the most able agriculturists and horticulturists of the day; and 

 the discussions have been so conducted as to enable those in 

 attendance to become acquainted in a single hour with the best 

 current information on the subject under consideration. The read- 

 ing and experience of all present have been rendered available to 

 each, and we do not doubt that after the discussion of many of 

 these subjects, that every person present knew more of its merits 

 than any one at the commencement of the meeting. Letters are 

 received at every meeting asking the advice of the Club on various 

 questions, and the replies are generally pertinent to the questions. 

 These letters are usually read during the hour devoted to miscel- 

 laneous business, and thus the hour devoted to the regular question 

 of the day is rendered doubly valuable by being so appropriated. 



Among tli.e subjects which have been fairly discussed at these 

 meetings are the following : 



1. Butter and butter making. 



2. Culture of the Strawberry. 



3. Culture of Grapes. 



4. do Currants and other small fruits. 



5. do Peaches. 



