To our Readers. 
as not only to merit the approbation of that public 
whom we address, but inculcate also, that respect for 
this noble profession which it so eminently deserves. 
The pursuit of agriculture in its broadest sense, it 
need hardly be observed, constitutes the basis of our 
national virtue and national wealth. Yet important 
as it is in the accomplisment of these great objects, 
and in its truly elevated and dignified character, it 
has been, and still is, in its real merits, estimated 
below that of other professions in our land. 
The pecuniary troubles, which, within the last few 
years, have so extensively visited our country, have 
been produced almost exclusively by the neglect of this 
indispensable basis, on which all other pursuits should 
rest; and the disastrous fate which other occupations 
have met, constituting as they have done, a too en¬ 
larged eruper-structure for our agricultural founda¬ 
tion, has taught the present generation, lessons 
of wisdom which they will not soon forget. We 
must now begin, once more, to build our social 
system, and make our foundation sufficiently broad, 
and strong, and if our intemperate ambition and mis¬ 
guided enterprise induce us to enlarge the edi¬ 
fice beyond the extent of a perfectly adequate 
support, we must inevitably expect to see it “topple 
down headlong. ” There are principles and laws in 
the social system, as firm and unyielding as in the 
mechanical, and whenever they are disregarded, we 
must look for its partial derangement, or entire sub¬ 
version. That shrewd observer of men and things, 
Baron Rothschild, foresaw with a noon-day clearness, 
the tedency of our system in the recent heyday of our 
fictitious prosperity, when he refused the tempting 
offer of an American loan at a large premium, for says 
the sagacious banker, “ a nation that ought from its 
pursuits, to furnish-a surplus of produce, can find mon¬ 
ey neither for principal or interest while it has to buy 
its bread in Europe. ” 
We need to have the occupation of farming made 
more popular and attractive ; it should occupy a higher 
niche in popular estimation and in the scale of nation¬ 
al employmentsit should command not only the 
cold respect and distant admiration of . our active and 
enterprising business men, but their warmest regard 
and cordial participation. When this is the state of 
public opinion and our professional and mercantile and 
speculating pursuits, are disineumberecl of their le¬ 
gions of supernumeraries, our mechanics and manu¬ 
facturers sustained in their meritorious efforts to supply 
our country with her own fabrics; then may we expect 
that real and substantial return of prosperity, which 
we may otherwise look for in vain. 
To aid in directing and stimulating the efforts of 
our enterprising and patriotic countrymen in consum¬ 
mating so desirable a result, our time and talents will 
be devoted, and we shall feel amply compensated if we 
shall succeed in contributing, even" in a remote degree, 
to the accomplishment of an object so dear to every 
American heart. 
Resolved , That in the opinion of this Board, the es¬ 
tablishment of a national Journal of Agriculture in the 
city of New-York, at this time, is demanded by the 
vast and growing interests of American husbandly 
and domestic economy in the United States. Believ¬ 
ing that its location at the seat of our great agricul¬ 
tural fairs, where the highest sources of information 
on all subjects connected with this great interest are 
at hand, will be productive of eminent good, and pos¬ 
sessing entire confidence in the ability of- Mr. Allen 
to conduct the work in such manner as will promote 
our agricultural advancement, we cheerfully recom¬ 
mend it to the attention and support of our fellow 
citizens throughout the country. 
JEREMIAH JOHNSON, Chairman . 
Nicholas Wyckoff, Secretary. 
The following gentlemen compose the Board ©f 
Jeremiah Johnson, 
Charles Henry Hall, 
Thomas Addis Emmet, 
Francis Price., 
Henry Whitney, 
Nicholas Wyckoff, 
Joseph Wood, 
Samuel Bradhurst 
Gideon Freeborn, 
Abraham Bell, 
J. E. Cropsey. 
We should be justly deemed neglectful of the unso¬ 
licited compliment paid by the intelligent gentlemen 
composing the board of agriculture in the American 
Institute of this city, to one of the editors Of the Agri¬ 
culturist on learning that he was about to establish 
such a work here, should we omit to give it publicity in 
our columns, and we can only say that our own exer¬ 
tions shall not be wanting to reedeem the pledge they 
nave so liberally proffered. 
At a meeting of the “ Board of Agriculture ” of 
‘The American Institute of the City of New- 
York, held on the 27 day of December, 1841, a 
prospectus of “ The American Agricultural Magi- 
zine, ” about to be established in this city, and con¬ 
ducted by Mr. A B. Allen, having been read and sub¬ 
mitted to their consideration, it was 
The forih of our sHEET'differs from that 
of a large proportion of our American Agri- 
culturai papers, and it may perhaps be proper 
to give the reasons for this variation. They 
are simply these. It is a more compact and 
convenient form for reading as an unbound 
sheet, and as we intend to give a series of vol¬ 
umes that will not only afford matter for present 
entertainment,' but contain such information as 
will justify being bound, and have their appro¬ 
priate place hereafter in the library, as a work 
for future reference and perusal, we deem a 
form and size similar to that of the larger books 
found there, absolutely essential. We know-ho 
reason for giving a large quarto form to an 
Agricultural publication, that requires a sepa¬ 
rate niche for itself, or must be lying exposed 
on a table, or stowed away in some remote 
drawer. As we shall claim for it a place 
among kindred works of a well-selected library, 
we think the public have a right to demand of 
us a similar size and shape. The only objec¬ 
tion that occurs to us, is the inconvenience of 
giving large plates ; but this is perhaps totally 
removed, when we consider for all general pur- 
iposes, a portrait of any animal of the size of 
one of our pages is sufficiently large, and a 
plan of a farm, buildings, &c., can be given on 
a map if required, that can be folded without 
injury. 
Our location being in the heart of a Com¬ 
mercial Metropolis, may cause some apprehen¬ 
sion of a want of that entire devotion to Agri¬ 
cultural matters, which must characterize a 
Journal that is expected will be in the highest 
degree beneficial to the Farming community. 
In answer to any such well suggested objection, 
we would say, that we have maturely weighed 
