188 AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.-AGRICULTURIST ALMANAC FOR 1846 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The regular monthly meeting of this Association 
was held in the rooms of the Historical Society, on 
Monday evening, the 5th May. 
Hon. Luther Bradish, the President, at 8 p.m., took 
the chair, and after the minutes of the last meeting had 
been read and approved of, various donations were 
received,” the most interesting of which were, 1st, a 
fossil penguin, found among the guano at Ichaboe, 
at a distance of 25 feet below the present surface of 
the soil; 2d, a collection of plants grown by Mr. 
Pell since the 19th of April last, which had been sub¬ 
jected to a galvanic action, among which were a 
tomato plant 36 inches in height, a species of climb¬ 
ing vine 72 inches high, and a plant of tobacco and 
cotton about 18 inches each—these plants were 
healthy and flourishing; 3d, a specimen of wheat 
grown upon glass without soil, and covered only by 
straw. Various rare seeds, &c., were also presented. 
Communications were received from Messrs. E. 
£). Hurlbut&Co., and E. K. Collins, Esq., enclosing 
analyses of African guano, which were ordered to be 
placed upon record. 
A letter was read from Thomas Spalding, Esq., of 
Sapelo Island, Georgia, accepting the appointment as 
one of the Counsellors of the Association. 
A Report was received from the Executive Com¬ 
mittee, recommending a change of the time of meet¬ 
ing of the Association, from the 1st Monday to the 
1st Wednesday of each month. 
Lieut. Col. Reed, Governor of the Island of Ber¬ 
muda, was appointed a Counsellor of the Institution ; 
also R. M. Paterson, M.D., of the U. S. Mint, at 
Philadelphia. 
A communication was received from Major Le 
Compte, stating that on examination it appeared that 
the insect so injurious to wheat, various individuals 
of which he had examined, was the Collondria Cro- 
noria, or Curcv.Uo of Pliny—not the Collondria 
Orisa, or weevil. 
A communication was read by Mr. D’Jay Browne, 
on the history of the Isabella grape—see page 170 of 
this number. 
Prof. Loomis explained a long and elaborate theory 
of storms, as elucidated by a violent one which 
passed over the United States early in February, in 
the year 1842. This theory was illustrated by a 
number of diagrams, containing a collection of 
meteorological observations obtained from almost 
every part of the United States, in consequence of a 
determination previously made to investigate, as far 
as possible, this most important subject. From these 
data Professor Loomis inferred, first, that violent and 
extended storms rarely have a single centre, but are a 
conglomeration of various minor vortices; that there 
is a gradual depression of the barometer towards the 
centre or node of each of these vortices , and that the 
tendency of the wind throughout the whole expanse 
covered by this storm was, as is usually the case in 
the United States, from the south to the north. From 
the above isolated facts, the learned gentleman in¬ 
ferred that it was possible to prognosticate storms, by 
means of a connected and carefully collated series of 
meteorological observations, a beginning toward 
which had been made in those now taken, according 
to law, at all the academies of this State. This com¬ 
munication was received with the most marked ap¬ 
probation. 
Mr. Stevens made a communication in reference to 
cattle and beef. His first proposition was that there 
should be enacted sanatory regulations by our public 
authorities, with a view to prevent the slaughter of 
unhealthy animals for beef, and the sale of the beef 
of unhealthy animals. He mentioned that large 
numbers of the cattle of the West, Ohio, Indiana, Illi¬ 
nois, Missouri, and Kentucky, had diseased livers. 
Vast numbers of these diseased cattle are slaughtered 
annually. Of northern cattle he remarked few had 
diseased livers, perhaps not more than one in fifty. 
And livers are not the only parts diseased. Many 
cattle are scrofulous. The health of all, and of those 
in large cities, especially, demands that none but the 
meat of healthy animals should be eaten. But those 
who purchase have no knowledge by which to be 
guided. Therefore, persons should be appointed by 
our public authorities to view all animals before sale 
to the butchers ; and after sale ; and the carcass and 
especially the intestines and viscera after death; with 
power to prohibit the exposure to sale, and sale of 
cattle or other animals that show disease before 
death; and the exposure to sale and the sale of car¬ 
casses of diseased cattle after slaughter. He also 
embraced in his remarks the qualities of beef; the 
value of different cuts; the proper method of cook¬ 
ing, and the chemical condition of meats as affected by 
different modes of cooking. 
Some conversation then took place, relative to the 
subjection of p^nis to galvanic action, and the most 
convenient mode ol applying the galvanic electricity. 
Dr. Gardner stated, that intelligence had been re¬ 
ceived from Europe, giving an account of the intro¬ 
duction into the Parisian markets of vegetables fully 
a month earlier than usual, and of the application 
for incorporation in England of various companies 
which contemplate the establishment of large market 
gardens. A committee to consist of three persons, viz., 
Mr. Pell, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Doremus, was appoint¬ 
ed to consider and report on this interesting subject. 
A resolution was offered and passed relative to the 
communication of Professor Loomis, and proposing 
the nomination of a committee to procure an appro¬ 
priation from the State for meteorological observation. 
The following Resolution was proposed and unani¬ 
mously adopted : 
Resolved , That this Association offer a premium of 
$50, for a series of investigations into the nature and 
origin of the disease of the potatoe, to be made under 
the conditions imposed by the Executive Committee. 
These conditions have been made public in the daily 
papers, and may be seen on application to the Secretary. 
American Agriculturist Almanac for 1846. 
—This highly valuable and indispensable little work 
is just issued from the press of Saxton & Miles, and 
may be had of the booksellers generally. It com¬ 
prises 32 pages, handsomely embellished with nu¬ 
merous wood-cuts, and is full of useful matter for the 
farmer and his family. There are different editions 
with various sets of tables and monthly calendars, to 
suit the different latitudes of the Union. The story 
of Thrifty and Unthrifty is capital, and shows the 
farmer in the most agreeable manner the difference 
between good and bad management. Price very 
cheap, only $13 per thousand—less than one-and-a 
half cents each ! Every farmer will be completely 
lost if he does not possess this valuable work. 
