AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.-MEXICAN PHEASANT.-—LARGE CROPS.-SALT. 7* 
Society be tendered to our late President, Dr. Beek- 
man, for his valuable services in promoting the har¬ 
mony and interests of the Society during the past 
year—particularly for his able and eloquent address 
this evening; and that a committee of three be ap¬ 
pointed to request a copy of said address for publication. 
The committee named under this resolution con¬ 
sisted of Messrs. Jones of Oneida, Sherwood of Cayu¬ 
ga, and Kirby of Jefferson. 
On motion of Gen. John J. Viele, it was 
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare 
a memorial to the Legislature, at its present session, 
for a renewal of the Act of 1841 for Promoting Agri¬ 
culture. 
The committee under this resolution consisted of 
Messrs. Viele, Prentice, Rathbone, Walsh and Tucker. 
And then, after notice being given that the newly 
elected officers of the Society would meet to organize 
on the following day, at the Agricultural Hall, in the 
Old State House, the meeting adjourned. 
Henry OReilly, Rec. Sec’y . 
MEETING OF THE AMERICAN AGRICUL¬ 
TURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The first general meeting of this new Association 
was held on Monday evening, the 10th of January, 
at the rooms of the Historical Society, in this city, 
and the following officers were elected for the ensu¬ 
ing year:— 
President. —Hon. Luther. Bra dish. . 
Vice Presidents. —Hon. Theodore F relinghuy- 
sen ; James Lenox, Esq.-, James Boorman, Esq.; 
Dr. A. H. Stevens; Thomas A. Emmet, Esq.; 
Hugh Maxwell, Esq.; Stephen Whitney, Esq.; 
Shephard Knapp, Esq.; Vice Chancellor Me Coun ; 
Cyrus Mason, D. D ; W. A. Seeley, Esq.;. J. S. 
Livingston, Esq. 
Consulting Officers. —Major Le Conte, U. S. A., 
Entomology and Zoology; Professor Ren wick, Me¬ 
chanical Philosophy; W. C Redfield, Esq., Geolo¬ 
gy; Professor Torrey, Botany; Professor Draper, 
Physiology; John Johnson, Esq., Rural Architec¬ 
ture ; Professor Loomis, Meteorology; Dr. D. P. 
Gardner, Chemistry, D. J. Browne, Esq., Arbori¬ 
culture. 
Dr. C. C. Grice, Veterinary Surgery. 
Recording Secretary. —Dr. H. A. Field. 
Corresponding Secretary. —D’Jay Browne. 
Treasurer. —A. P. Halsey, Esq. 
Publishing Committee. —A B. Allen, Esq. 
Executive Committee. —The President and the two 
senior Vice Presidents; R. L. Pell, Esq.; Dr. J. W. 
Draper ; . Archibald Russel, Esq.; Edward 
Clark, Esq.; Dr. J. P. Gardner. 
Though suffering from a recent dislocation of his 
right shoulder, such was his interest in the good 
cause, that the President appeared at the hour appoint¬ 
ed for the meeting of the Association, and after call¬ 
ing it to order, made an eloquent address. 
An admirable and elaborate paper, replete with 
scientific detail, was read by W. A. Seeley, Esquire, 
proprietor of the Wheat- Sheaf Farm , on Staten Island, 
on Organic and Agricultural Chemistry, which elicited 
warm marks of approval, and has since been issued 
from the press. 
The meeting was also addressed by Hugh Max¬ 
well, Esq, Dr. A. H. Stevens, Professor Mason, Dr. 
Underhill, and others, in honor and praise of agricul- 
ural pursuits, and their tendency to promote the 
aealth and general happiness of our people. 
The assemblage then adjourned to Monday even¬ 
ing, the third of March. 
We may well congratulate the country on the for¬ 
mation of this Association, for it numbers already 
among its members several hundred of our most emi¬ 
nent and respectable citizens. The object of it is, to 
collect and diffuse correct information on Agriculture 
and its kindred sciences. It is proposed to accomplish 
this by the following means: 
1 . By founding a Museum of seeds, fruits, speci¬ 
mens of choice varieties of plants, models of imple- 
ments and buildings; portraits of improved animals; 
together with a collection of geological specimens, 
and all other objects appertaining to agriculture. 
2 . The establishment of a Laboratory for the exam¬ 
ination of manures, composts, marls—and the inves¬ 
tigation of the mineral food of plants, fruits and seeds. 
3. The establishment of an Agricultural Library. 
4. The instituting practical and scientific experi¬ 
ments in these arts; and essays, papers, and lectures 
for publication in a series of transactions. 
5. The discussion at stated meetings of topics in 
these arts. 
6 . The establishment of an interchange of soils, 
plants, fruits, seeds and scions, implements, engrav 
ings, &c., with other societies and individuals. 
The Mexican Pheasant. —We are informed by a 
correspondent, that this splendid bird is of a peculiar 
species. It is nearly as large as a turkey, with shin¬ 
ing black plumage, and a singular yellowish band at 
the insertion of the beak. We wish some of our 
wealthy merchants who send ships to that country, 
would import a few more pairs and acclimate them 
here. We have no doubt this may easily be done. 
They would prove a good addition and great orna¬ 
ment to the poultry-yard. We understand a pair of 
these birds were brought home in the Eugenia, the 
same vessel in which our late minister to China, Mr. 
Cushing, came passenger from Vera Cruz. 
Large Crops. —An unknown friend has had the 
kindness to send us the proceedings of the Tompkins 
County Agricultural Society, at its meeting in Janua¬ 
ry. Much of the land in that section of the State is 
very fertile, and the people are remarkable for their 
intelligence, fine stock (especially of sheep), and the 
large crops they get from their land. Mr. John Se- 
lover, 2d, of Ithaca, raised from 2 acres, less 10 rods, 
115 bushels (59 \ per acre) of wheat, weighing 60 
lbs. per bushel; from 2 7-8 acres, 148J bushels of 
barley; and from 2£ acres, 37£ bushels of flaxseed. 
Mr. Brewer raised on 3 acres and 10 rods, about 15 
bushels of clover seed. 
Salt. —A quantity of soil taken out of a ditch, ana 
full, of docks, was entirely cleansed of them by the 
application of salt. 40 cwt. was added to the soil, 
and mixed for six months previous to being applied 
to three acres; this was spread in January on a use¬ 
less kind of grass, that cattle would not eat; a good 
herbage immediately took its place, and it became the 
most valuable part of the field. Salt sown on turnip 
land, and also previous to sowing wheat, is of great 
value. A few handfuls of salt strewn over horse 
manure, immediately after being taken from the sta¬ 
ble, combines with the ammonia and retains it. This is 
washed away by rains, unless protected from drainage 
