Agriculture is the most healthful , the most useful , and the most noble employment of man .— Washington. 
VOL. IV. NEW YORK, JANUARY, 1845. NO. I. 
A. B. Allen, Editor. 
TO EXCHANGE PAPERS. 
As a great majority of the papers with which we 
exchange are of little benefit to us, we shall expect 
all those that wish to continue to receive this periodi¬ 
cal, will give a favorable notice of it under their edi¬ 
torial head, and one insertion in their advertising 
columns of its prospectus, which will be found on the 
last page of this number, and send such papers to our 
office marked and done up outside so as to catch the 
eye at once. All journals not requested to continue 
the exchange may then stop their paper, although 
they will be sent the Agriculturist monthly, till 
they receive a number for January, 1846. The 
reason for our making this request is, that we have 
not time to look over the greater part of the papers 
sent us ; we wish, therefore, to save them the trouble 
of enveloping them for us. We are greatly obliged 
by the kind notices of the press, and solicit a contin¬ 
uation of them, and shall be happy to reciprocate 
their favors in any way in our power. Any single 
article which may appear in their journals likely to 
interest us personally, or benefit the cause of agricul¬ 
ture, they will greatly oblige us by sending it to this 
office conspicuously marked and done up outside. 
All editors, when agreeable to them, will please 
act as agents for us, taking the commissions allowed 
by the prospectus. In so doing a mutual benefit will 
be conferred. Our paper has scarcely yet been heard 
of in many parts of the country, and we shall be 
under many obligations to our cotemporaries if they 
will aid in making it more widely known. This can 
easily he done by a little effort; and as it is a work 
of great utility to the farmer, and does not come in 
competition with the newspaper press, we trust they 
will extend to us their generous aid. 
Saxton & Miles, Publishers, 205 Broadway. 
TO THE FRIENDS OF AGRICULTURE. 
With this number commences the Fourth Yoluroe 
of our journal, and in again appearing before you, 
we trust we shall have your renewed exertion in its 
behalf. Nearly all the contributors to this periodi¬ 
cal are practical agriculturists, and speak of such 
things only as they are in the daily habit of perform¬ 
ing ; while others are known and esteemed for their 
advances in those sciences which directly benefit the 
farmer, and add to his power of production. The 
monthly perusal of such a work as. this by the agri¬ 
cultural class, is not only of incalculable benefit to 
each member of it individually,, but to the. country at 
large. All, therefore, who exert themselves in the 
spread of this paper are doing- a public good, and in 
making it more generally known, will bo* conscious 
of having performed a highly meritorious act. There 
are thousands of farmers,.throughout the-country who 
do not yet see an agricultural periodical. Let every per¬ 
son, then, whose eye may rest upon this-page, make 
unceasing efforts to bring one to theis- notice, and in¬ 
duce them at least tgsi^aq# if?they will not subscribe—- 
trusting that they will. ultimately be convinced of 
what is for their true -interests^ 
Thus far we- h ive scarcely,publ ished a word of the 
many highly flattering things said periodical; we 
chose to let it take its own silent‘course,, and find 
such favor with a discerning public-as,it-best might. 
Three handsome bound volumes., are- now given to 
the world by which to judge of iR.&nd of these,, one 
of the most distinguished practical farmers, of- the 
South thus writes us: “ Permit me to. say,.with out iin- 
tending-ahything like flattery, that I regard the Amer¬ 
ican Agriculturist as standing AT THE HEAD of oui 
agricultural journals; and .it has. .been. so. well, sus- 
