Dinner at the next Meeting of tae N. Y. S. Ag. Society—-To Correspondents, 
S77 
visited this part of the country lately, with the object 
of examining its. capacity to graze sheep, goats and 
other stock ; to yield turpentine, tar, resin, lampblack, 
&.C., and all have been much pleased with the prospects, 
and many of them are now preparing to locate here 
permanently, and consult “ health and contentment,” 
with a reasonable competence, instead of fretting away 
their lives in a sickly country, stimulated alone by the 
ephemeral idea, of making cotton bales or sugar hogs¬ 
heads by the hundreds or thousands. 
The importance of our fisheries may be judged of 
from the fact, that many persons come here from the 
North every fall with their fishing smacks, and con¬ 
tinue the business until spring, when they return North 
to spend the summer with their families, but are back 
again with the first frost. 
Very respectfully yours, 
Jno. J. McCaughan. 
We need only say that we heartily approve 
of the suggestions below of Mr. Robinson, in 
getting up the dinner at the forthcoming 
meeting, of the N. Y. State Agricultural So¬ 
ciety at Rochester, next September. It is 
the same manner in which the Fourth of July 
is usually celebrated in New England, and 
more delightful re-unions are not known. 
We sincerely hope that a strong body of our 
prairie friends will be present $ we assure 
them that they will be heartily welcome— 
wives, daughters, and all. We expect a 
goodly number of our Canadian neighbors 
will be present at Rochester, and as for New 
York, especially west of Cayuga Bridge, we 
hope to witness such a turn out as she never 
yet made even in the most exciting political 
times. We anticipate a superb show of 
everything in the farming line in September, 
and a full and enthusiastic meeting. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Dinner at the next meeting of the N. Y. State 
Agricultural Society. 
Messrs. A. B. & R. L. Allen : 
Well, and so you “ hope to have three thousand 
guests at an agricultural dinner at Rochester, at your 
next State Fair.” Then let me tell you how,—you 
must adopt the western fashion, and have a free dinner. 
It is easily got up, and no one feels the expense. Let 
a few of the spirited friends of these great holidays and 
farmer’s festivals, in the vicinity of Rochester meet to¬ 
gether, a few weeks before the Fair, and appoint a 
« dinner committee,” whose business it shall be to see 
that a suitable spot of ground is selected, and tables 
and seats built of rough boards, that any lumberman 
will lend for the occasion,—and so will some crockery 
merchant, who desires the custom of the farmers, lend 
the necessary articles, while a few bolts of cotton sheet¬ 
ing, that will be readily donated by the merchants, will 
make very good table linen, though I would much pre¬ 
fer to see the tables covered with a real home-made 
flaxen cloth. And now for the substantials, where¬ 
withal to crown the tables, and furnish forth the joy¬ 
ous feast, that will be a real “ thanksgiving dinner” to 
the twice told three thousand happy human beings who 
will partake of it. 
Let the word once go forth, that the fanners, and the 
farmer’s wives, and sons and daughters, are going to 
provide the feast, and my word for it, you will see such 
a display of good things as you never saw collected to¬ 
gether at one dinner party before. Even many of the 
dwellers in the city will be aroused by the excitement 
and novelty of the scene, and pour forth their contribu¬ 
tions of delicacies, that will serve by way of desert to 
the more substantial viands of the farmers. This is the 
only plan of a public dinner that affords an opportunity 
for all parties, classes, and sexes to meet together in 
the full, free, unrestrained enjoyment of life. Every 
farmer should bring his family, for those who furnish 
the good things should also be present. 
This is the kind of dinner, and this is the way that 
so great a number met together at our great dinner in 
Illinois, which I have mentioned in the article to which 
your note referred to, is appended. 
There was a little incident at that dinner, which I 
should like to see imitated at every similar one. Two 
daughters of a very respectable farmer, appeared in 
beautiful woollen shawls, entirely the work of their 
own hands, even from the rearing of the lambs that 
produced the fine wool, to the last finishing stroke of 
the excellent fabric. They were publicly compliment¬ 
ed at the table, and the association of ideas in my mind 
at the time, tended much to heighten the natural beau¬ 
ty of their faces, which showed much good sense in 
every feature. And such incidents will often happen, 
and be commented upon and patterned after, if such 
occasions are given to bring them to light. I look upon 
these great family dinners as one of the very best fea¬ 
tures in our agricultural shows. These are shows of 
human nature. They ought to be fostered and encour¬ 
aged. 
Addresses, conversations, toasts and sentiments, at 
such a time, make deep impressions upon the mind. 
And if you wish me “ and others of my prairie friends 
to be with you and partake of the good things” at your 
next State Fair, you must get up a public dinner after 
our fashion. Try it; it will go well and do good. 
Your friend, 
Solon Robinson. 
Lake Co. H., Ia., Jan. 25, 1843. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
We had prepared a short article on the prices of 
wool and further protection, in answer to Mr. Gidings, 
an Illinois Farmer, and others, but wishing to wait 
some more information on this important subject, defer 
it till April No. Communications are received from 
John Lewis, A. Campbell, Wm. Partridge, Charles 
Starr, Jr., Solon Robinson, John J. McCaughan, L. F. 
Allen, T. L. C., Americus, and H. A. Field, which shall 
appear in our next. 
Mr. Hussey’s request is acceded to. The engrav¬ 
ings should be here as early as the 15th March, to ap¬ 
pear in our April No. All matter that is not sent in 
by the middle of the month hereafter, must necessarily 
lay over till next number, and it would be better to 
have it come in as eaily as the 10th. In order to get 
our work out promptly, it has become necessary to go 
early to press. 
As our own article on the cultivation of Sugar Beet 
would extend to two numbers, we have concluded to 
defer it till April, so as to give it complete to our read¬ 
ers in the 2d volume. 
We had written an article entitled <£ Rural Walk in 
the City,” noticing the splendid seed stores and nursery 
establishments here, but found too late that we had not 
room for it. The “ Selections ” which appear in this 
No., have been in type some time—we shall condense 
hereafter and give the substance only of such papers. 
