AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, ETC. 
109 
Sand, and requires a rich soil. It is sometimes 
plowed in green, to enrich the land. 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The monthly meeting was held on the 4th of last 
month at their rooms in the University, the Hon. 
Luther Bradish, President, in the chair. 
The committee appointed at the February meet¬ 
ing, to procure a proper place for the meeting of 
the Association, reported that they had made a con¬ 
tract with the Historical Society, for the use of 
their rooms in the University, at an annual rent of 
$150, subject to the approval of the Association. 
The report was adopted. This contract is for the 
year ending March, 1847, but may be terminated at 
any time at the pleasure of the Association. 
Mr. Edward Clark read a paper on the subjects 
of the Mulberry and the Silk Culture of the United 
States. His paper is too long for publication, and 
does not admit of analysis. He was followed by 
Mr. Van Epps, who gave some information as to 
the silk culture of the country. He is the manager 
of a large silk manufacture now being established 
at Washington, D.C., by Mr. Van Ness. He gave a 
condensed statement of the statistics contained in 
the reports of the Commissioner of Patents. It ap¬ 
pears that the mulberry is cultivated and cocoons 
produced in every State in the Union. The mass 
of cocoons, however, is produced in the following 
States. 
1840. 
1844. 
815 lbs. 
New Hampshire - • • 
tl 
1,100 
Vermont.. 
- - 4,286 
U 
10,990 
Massachusetts. • • • • 
• • 1,741 
U 
37,690 
Rhode Island.. 
450 
1,140 
(C 
Connecticut.. 
-- 17,538 
176,210 
“ 
New York. 
- • 1,735 
“ 
6,340 
5,200 
“ 
New Jersey. 
- - 1,796 
u 
“ 
Pennsylvania..- 
- - 47,262 
u 
33,110 
“ 
Delaware. 
• • 4,158 
u 
458 
“ 
Maryland. 
“ 
8,530 
“ 
Virginia.. 
- - 3,191 
u 
7,720 
“ 
North Carolina.-•• 
8,050 
It 
South Carolina.-•• 
- - ’ 2.080 
“ 
6,930 
tl 
Tennessee... 
« 
25,090 
« 
Kentucky -.. 
737 
u 
5,810 
a 
Illinois.... 
-- 1,154 
4,250 
“ 
Ohio.. • • • 
- - 4,417 
u 
31,500 
u 
About 371,000 lbs, in 1844, equal to 30,000 bushels, 
which would employ 25 reels for six months. The 
amounts for 1840 are actual, being taken from the 
census of that year; those of 1844 are from the 
report of Mr. Ellsworth, Commissioner, who pro¬ 
cured his information through the facilities and 
means of the patent department. Mr. Van Epps 
stated that the amount of 1844 was over-rated by 
the Commissioner ; but that there had been a very 
large increase in the four years. Already, the pro¬ 
duction of cocoons exceeds the power of the reeling 
establishments to reel it. The w r ant of capital is 
the great difficulty. The most of the cocoons pro¬ 
duced in the north are reeled by the producers, and 
made into sewing silk and fabrics by themselves ; 
those of the South are largely sent North, for reel¬ 
ing. It is admitted, that the raw silk of America 
is superior to any produced in Europe. Mr. Van 
Epps stated that nothing now was needed but the 
investment of capital, the patronage of the public, 
and the encouragement of the Government or States 
to make the production of silk, raw and manufac¬ 
tured, a vast branch of industry. The requisite 
skill and knowledge we now possess. To the 
agriculturist it is of vast importance. Our country 
can produce cocoons unlimitedly, and find in 
Europe a consumer, without a nval. England 
pays annually to France and Italy, $30,000,000 
for raw or reeled silk to manufacture. America 
may monopolise the whole of this, and add vast 
wealth to our country. Not only so, but she may 
supply all Germany with raw silk for their manu¬ 
factures. Time will bring all this about; but will 
not our farmers and planters hasten the good work ? 
Mr. Clark then offered a resolution, which was 
adopted, for the appointment of a committee to con¬ 
sider and report upon the expediency of action on 
the part of the Association, in devising and procur¬ 
ing the establishment of a silk manufactory in the 
vicinity of New York. 
Dr. Gardner then read a paper on the proper rota¬ 
tion of crops. He advised the following course, 
viz.: 1, roots (turnips, carrots, parsnips, &c.), or 
corn; 2, oats; 3, clover; 4, wheat; 5, beans, or 
potatoes ; 6, clover; 7, wheat. Some discussion 
followed the reading of the paper, in which Mr. 
Maxwell, Mr. Veeder, and Prof. Mason, took part. 
Prof. Mason read a letter from Mr. G. Wilkin¬ 
son, of Dutchess Co., stating that he proposed the 
opening of an Agricultural School in Dutchess Co., 
New York, and asking the favorable consideration 
of the Association. The matter was referred to a 
committee, consisting of Prof. Mason, Mr. J. F 
Sheaf, and Dr. Underhill. 
Mr. Gardner G-. Howland, through Mr. Pell, ten¬ 
dered to the Association the use of his fine farm of 
300 acres, with all his farm stock, &c., at Flushing, 
L. I., for five years, free of charge, for the purpose 
of establishing an Agricultural School, and an ex¬ 
perimental farm. Mr. P. stated that the farm last 
year produced 300 tons of hay ; is in excellent con¬ 
dition, and may be made highly productive at once; 
and furnishes the requisite capital to commence 
such an institution as has been for a long time 
deemed necessary. 
A vote of thanks to Mr. Howland was passed, 
and the following committee appointed on his noble 
gift and project, viz.: Hon. L. Bradish, G. G. How¬ 
land, Chancellor McCoun, S. Knapp, A. P. Halsey, 
A. H Stevens, H. Maxwell, J. F. Sheafe, A 
Stevens, S. T. Jones, J. B. Parsons, and R. L. Pell 
Mr. Pell also announced Mr. Sheafe as a sub¬ 
scriber to the fund for the importation of Alpacas 
to the amount of $500 ; and letters were read Lorn 
Mr. D. D. Campbell, of Schenectady, N. Y., sub¬ 
scribing $600 ; and from Dr. Wm. Ferrell, of Sparta, 
Geo., subscribing $300 for the same purpose 
The Sun Flower. —This plant should be culti¬ 
vated much more than it is at present, in rich soils. 
It yields a large quantity of seed per acre, and it is 
especially valuable for fatting poultry, making the 
flesh exceedingly sweet and delicate. It is also ex¬ 
cellent food for cattle, more especially when ground 
up with a mixture of other grain. It is said that 
from 30 to 40 lbs. of oil can be extracted from 100 
lbs. of seed, and that it brings a good price. The 
leaves make good cigars. 
