SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
337 
stone or Epsorn salts. The night soil should be mixed 
thoroughly with the ashes, and exposed to the air to dry. 
The disagreeable smell is thus quick[y removed, and a 
pulverulent manure obtained, which can be applied to the 
fields with facility. 
Animal charcoal, which has served for the discoloration 
of sugar, possesses the property of removing the otfensive 
smell of night soil, and is, of itself, an admirable manure. 
In cases where it can be procured with facility, it will be 
found to add to the efficacy of the latter. 
“STATE AID” TO AGRICUIiTURE— LETTER 
from Hon. B. F. Johnson, Secretary of the 
New York State Agricultural 
Society. 
We comnend the following documents to the carfu l 
perusal of our legislators, and all who desire the advance- 
ment of cur Agricultural interests: 
New York State Agricultural Rooms, ) 
Albany, August 20 tin, 1859. ) 
Editors Southern Cultivator — In answer to your 
inquiry, in relation to the aid which has been given to 
Agriculture by the Legislature of our State, my engage- 
ments will not allow me to give as full account as I. should 
desire, and in my statements I shall confine myself to a 
period commencing .soon after the present State Agricul- 
tural Society was formed, in 1832. As early as 1797 and 
again in 1819, provisions were made by Legislative enact- 
ments and monies appropriated for the encouragement of 
agriculture and domestic manufactures. 
In 1832, the State Agricultural Society, as it now exists, 
was incorporated by the Legislature; and in 1-841 an Act 
for the Encouragement of Agriculture was passed (a copy i 
of which is annexed), appropriating S8,000 to be dis- 
tributed annually to the State and County Agricultural 
Societies, upon the conditions named in the Act, This ap- 
propriation has been continued to the present time, and 
has resulted in very great good to the agricultural and 
other interests of the State, and has enabled the various 
asociations in the State to carry on their operations suc- 
cessfully. It will be seen, by reference to the law, that 
each Society is required to raise, annually, a sum equal to 
that appropriated by the State, as a condition upon which 
the money is appropriated ; and, annually, to make re- 
turns — showing that the provisions of the law have been 
complied with. The main provision, as to premiums, is 
of much importance— that the person claiming the same, 
or to whom the same may be awarded, shall deliver, in 
writing, to the President of the Society, as accurate a de- 
scription of the process in preparing the soil, (including 
the quantity and quality of manure applied) and in rais- 
ing the crop or feeding the animal, as may be ; and, also, 
of the expense and product of the crop, or of increase in 
value of the animal, with the view of sho wing, accurately, 
the profit of cultivating the crop, or feeding or fattening 
the animal. 
The object of this requirement was to secure the expen- 
diture of the monies upon legitimate objects connected 
with agriculture, and has tended to a fair and just appro- 
priation of the funds of the Societies generally. 
The basis upon which the sum appropriated, after an 
allowance of the State Agricultaral Society, was based 
upon the population of the State. This law, also, con- 
tained a simple provision for the organization of County 
Agricultural Societies. 
In IS55, a law was passed authorizing the formation of 
County, Union and Town Agricultural and Horticultural 
Societies, enabling them to hold real estate and giving 
them such privileges as were found desirable, not pro 
vided for in the original law. I send you a copy of this 
law. 
Under these laws we have now in operation 54 Coun- 
ty, and 56 Town and Union Societies which havemadere- 
ports to the State Society. There are several other Town 
Societies which have not availed themselves of the pro- 
visions by reporting their organization. 
The Legislature publishes, annually, the reports of the 
State Society and absiracts of the reports of the County 
Societies, and furnishes from 750 to 1000 copies to the State 
Society, from 40 to 50 volumes to each County Society 
and 20 volumes to each Town and Union Society which 
have made reports, and a very large number, in addition, 
to members of the Legislative officers of the State Govern- 
ment. Eighteen volumes of these reports have already 
been published, and that they have been eminently use- 
ful in advancing the agriculture of the State and of de- 
veloping its resources and adding largely to its wealth, I 
believe is now universally aamitted. The value of 
these works in our own country and in Europe have 
been frequently acknowledged in the most gratifying man- 
ner. 
In addition to what I have referred to, the Legislature 
appropriated $40,000 for the erection of the Agricultural 
and Geological buildings, one half of which is solely de- 
voted to the State Agricultural Society — giving the Society 
spacious rooms for the Executive Committee and for the 
Library, a Lecture Room, rooms for a Laboratory and 
rooms, occupying three floors, for an Agricultural Muse- 
um, where implements, machinery, grain and specimens 
of grasses, &c , are appropriately arranged. The arrange- 
ments of the building, in addition to the $40,000 for the 
erection, probably cost $15,000. The building is warmed 
by turnaces, lighted with gas, and has attendants to keep 
it in order — provided by the State at an expense of about 
$2,000 a year. 
To show the appreciation which the people give to the 
collections which are comprised in the two departments, 
which are open on week days, from 9 A, M. to 6 P, M., 
through the year (except on public and holidays.) In one 
year, while a register was kept, in which visitors, who 
choose, entered their names, upwards of 40,000 were re- 
corded, and probably not much over two-thirds of the 
visitors availed themselves of the register of their names. 
The Agricultural Museum has proved of very greiat ad- 
vantage. Farmers can here examine the old as well as 
the modern implements ; here can be seen the products of 
the State and from foreign countries brought together; 
and, as every desired information is given to inquirers as 
far as the means exist for so doing, it will be seen that 
here is a great practical institution for giving information 
to all who choose to avail themselves of the opportunity. 
The Legislature has appropriated $1,000 a year for the 
prosecution of an investigation as to the insects of the 
State, especially as to those injurious to the farmers. Five 
annual reports have been published, containing an amount 
of valuable facts, the importance of which cannot be ap 
preciated in a money point of view. 
I have not alluded to the Geological Survey of our State 
in which was embraced an agricultural department. — 
Eighteen volumes, with a geological map, have been pub- 
lished — 2 on Botany, 4 on Zoology, 1 on Minerology, 3 
on Geology, 5 on Agriculture and 3 on Paleontology — at 
an expense, probably, of $400,000, all of the volumes hav- 
ing been illustrated with steel plates, lithographs or wood 
cuts. 
I send you copies of the laws passed in relation to tha 
organization of the agricultural societies, and forms adopt- 
ed by our public officers to secure the returns and necessary 
evidence as to the expenditure of the moniesappropriated 
by the State. 
1 regret that the time at my disposal will not permit a 
more complete account of the early appropriations ta 
Agriculture. If what is here given shall, in any way, aid 
