112 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, ETC®- 
ercise. Rye, clover, ami corn, cut green, is their 
principal food in summer. Capt. R. has an excellent 
corn-stalk cutting machine of hi's own invention, 
which we think highly of, when one wants to do 
business on a large scale. It is very simple in its 
construction, is moved by a two horse-power, and we 
understood him to say, that it would cut 240 bushels 
of corn-stalks per hour, measured after cutting. His 
churning is also done by horse-power; one horse 
moving the dashers of four large barrel churns, and 
bringing the butter with ease and rapidity. The sta¬ 
bles are extensive and convenient, occupying two 
sides of the barn-yard. The piggery is also well ar¬ 
ranged, and is graced with a fine stock of the large 
English white breed imported by himself. These 
animals easily attain 400 to 600 lbs. at eighteen 
months and two years old. They are generally very 
fine in their hair and all other points. 
Captain Robinson commanded for some time one 
of the Havre packets out of this port, and though he 
lives on one of the noblest rivers in the world, this 
does not seem to quite satisfy his sailor habits; ac¬ 
cordingly, he has formed him a mimic sea on his 
own territory; stocked it with delicious European 
carp, imported by himself, and other fish; built him 
a sail-boat, and can still make his voyages whenever 
disposed, and harpoon and hook the scaly inhabit¬ 
ants of the deep, and not move from his farm. He 
is stocking the Hudson river at Newburg with carp, 
and generally gives them, when to be spared, to his 
neighbors. Mr. Pell, of Ulster, informed us that it 
was here he procured his stock. 
The house is neat and handsome, and commands a 
fine view of the noble Hudson, the adjacent country, 
and bold mountain scenery, opposite and below, of 
the Highlands. Among the ornaments of the grounds 
around, we noticed a full length female statue resem¬ 
bling the graceful figure-head of a ship. We forgot 
to ask, but would venture to guess, it might have been 
that which adorned his own gallant craft transferred 
by the veteran sailor, by way of memento, from her 
bows, to grace the lawn of his pleasure-grounds. If 
so, it must be a happy and quiet change to the fair 
figure. Having now and then taken a toss on the 
rough old ocean ourselves, we know something of 
its upheavings, and could not but congratulate the fair 
statue upon finishing its stormy voyages and being 
moored at last in so comfortable a birth. 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The regular monthly meeting of this Association 
was held in the rooms of the Historical Society, at the 
University, on Monday evening 3d of March. Hon. 
Luther Bradish, the President, in the Chair. 
The meeting was well attended, and several distin¬ 
guished gentlemen from abroad were present. The 
table was adorned with beautiful plants in full bloom, 
and there were a variety of choice seeds sent in for 
exhibition—oats from Mr. Pell—wheat from Mr. See 
ley, and quite a package of various kinds of seeds 
from the Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, Commissioner of Pa¬ 
tents at Washington. 
The Executive Committee made a favorable re¬ 
port, showing an increase of 47 members the past 
month. 
Dr. Daniel P. Gardner was appointed chemist of 
the Association. 
Mr. Kerr, from Scotland, read an interesting paper, 
giving a condensed view of the agriculture of Scot¬ 
land. 
Mr. R. L. Pell, of Pelham, read a paper on the 
raising of several crops of the same kind in the same 
season, and exhibited a specimen of oats which were 
a part of the second crop raised the past year from 
the same ground as the first were taken from. He 
also read an interesting paper on soiling. 
William A Seeley, Esq , read an extract from a 
letter to Mr. Allen, from Mr. Norton, of Connecticut, 
now in Scotland (see page 123 of this number for the 
same), on the subject of electricity, giving an account 
of experiments made in England by Mr. Pine and 
others, of its effects on vegetation. After this he en¬ 
tered into a succinct history of the whole matter, and 
finished by generously offering any part of his farm 
on Staten Island to the Association the ensuing sea¬ 
son, to conduct any desired experiments in electricity 
or general agriculture. 
Several resolutions were passed in the course of the 
evening. One, that specimens of the Peruvian and 
African guano, now in this market, should be ana¬ 
lyzed, and the analysis, with suitable directions for 
its use, be furnished the different papers for publica¬ 
tion as soon as practicable. (For this analysis, &c., 
see page 108 of this Number.) 
An excellent collation was prepared for all present, 
in the upper room of the Historical Society, to which, 
after the meeting was over, the members adjourned, 
and indulged in free and social intercourse. 
The next meeting will be held at the same place 
on the 7th of April. 
Subsoil Plowing. —We are glad to see that this 
new branch of husbandry is obtaining increased at¬ 
tention. We were among the first to adopt it in 
this country, having made several experiments in it 
seven years ago. Several of our farmers in this vi¬ 
cinity have procured subsoil plows, determined on try¬ 
ing them effectually the present season. Those who 
used them last year are highly satisfied with their 
experiments, and generally intend extending them 
this spring. They stir the soil without turning it 
up, which gives the roots of crops a wider range for 
their food. 
Horticultural Society, Cleveland, Ohio.— 
We beg to return our thanks to this Society, through 
their Secretary, J. F. Hanks, Esq., for the honor they 
have done us in electing us an Honorary Correspond¬ 
ing Member thereof. We have frequently noticed 
its praiseworthy efforts in behalf of Horticulture, and 
are pleased to hear that they have met with so much 
success. 
To Exchange Papers^ We observe the whole¬ 
sale plunderings from our journal begun again, and 
kept up for the past three months. Long and valua¬ 
ble articles, together with cuts, have, in several in¬ 
stances, been copied, without the slightest hint given 
of the source from whence taken. We have com¬ 
menced sending these papers back, marking the ar¬ 
ticles, and if they are not credited hereafter, we intend 
to stop the exchange. 
We would respectfully call the attention of out 
readers to the reviews of books in this Number 
Most of them are highly valuable works, and should 
be placed in the library of every Farmers’ Club. 
