148 
MOORE’S RURAL WEW-YOIKER 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mon¬ 
tana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, 
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, 
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. South 
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,Vermont, 
Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and 
District of Columbia. Several of these del¬ 
egations represented organizations not in¬ 
cluded in the call of the Commissioner. Af¬ 
ter tho call of the States au effort was made 
to admit all the gentlemen present repre¬ 
senting Industrial Organizations and Agri¬ 
cultural Colleges, but It failed, and the 
whole matter was referred to a Committee 
on Credentials, consisting of one delegate 
from each State represented. A similar 
Committee oil Organization was appointed. 
Permanent Officers. 
The Committee on Organization reported 
for permanent officers of the Convention: 
President, i lr. Gtao. B. Lorln 
Vicc-P resilient .*.— T. G. Reid, Ala.; T. 
Smith, Ark.; E. II. Ovate. (Vim. ; H. Field¬ 
er, Ga.; W. II. Purnell, Del.; J. O. Cun¬ 
ningham, III.; T. S. Dowling, Ga.; E. B. 
Shankhuni, Iowa; Joseph Denison, Kansas; 
J. 11. H'ftviuan, Ky.; S. I,. Goodaie, Me.; 
A. B. Davis, Md,; W. 8. Beard, Mass.; T. 
C. Abbott, Midi.; Col. W. S. King, Minn.; 
II. V. Daily, Mu.; D. 11. Winmffir, Neb.: 
General Nut head, N. H • G. II. Cook, N. J.; 
Ezra Cornell, N. Y.; N. N. Woodford, N. 
C.; J. P, Robinson, Ohio; 11, V. McAllis¬ 
ter, Pa.; G. F. Wilson. R. I. 
Pec. Sec.— C. w. Mnrtfeldt of Mo. 
Cor. See.- J. It, Dodge, of the Agricultu- 
ral Bureau. 
The report was adopted. 
Tho Committee on Credentials imported 
in favor of admitting all delegations that 
had arrived, and they were so admitted. 
We have thus given, as nearly in detail as 
is necessary, the manner of, and results in, 
organizing the Convention. 
The Agricultural Department Topics for Discussion. 
The Business Committee, through its 
Chairman, the Commissioner of Agricul¬ 
ture, presented a scries of resolutions for 
tiie action of tiie Convention, tile substance 
or which was that Agricultural Colleges, es¬ 
tablished under tiie Congressional Laud 
Grant of 1802, should be distinctively agri¬ 
cultural, should adopt the manual labor fea¬ 
ture, and should admit males and females as 
pupils; that these schools, and agricultural 
an I horticultural societies, should co-ope¬ 
rate, ami tin' Department of Agriculture 
should co-operate with all. These resolu¬ 
tions seem to have originated in the Depart- i 
— iii,-td-oi:Vjvv'uli e^v , n.jj . (»mbraccu the main , . 
business it had to present to tlib^ViRVen- f 
tion. But this did not seem to be regarded j j 
of profo md importance by the Goniculiun, . 
Thu Equalization and Increase ol Laiul Grants 
to Agricultural Colleges evident ly was Hr.-.t * 
in the minds and purposes nl many of the 
Western members representing Agricultu- j ‘ 
i‘al Colleges, amt the subject was introduced t 
by President Folweli. of Mimieaota, who c 
complained of the unequal distribution of 11 
the public lands by Ihe act of 18(52, on tho * 
bams of representation—each State recoiv- 1 
iug 30,000 acres of land to each Senator and 
Representative—asserting that some of tho 
younger and growing States were entitled, 8 
at. t he time of distribution, by their popula- * 
tion, to larger representation than t hey then \ l 
had, and hence to more land; whereas tho ** 
reverse was the case in some of the older } 
States. IIo submitted the facts, and recom- ** 
mended an increased grant of land to the 
various colleges, and an equalization on tho v 
basis of acreage or superficial area of the 11 
States and Territories. This whole subject, 
together with resolutions offered upon it, . o1 
was referred to a committee of five. 
Committees Appointed. ir 
On Equalization of Lund Grants— Fol- «« 
well, Gilman, Abbott and Fielder. j,< 
On- Milita ry Education— Gregory, Clark cc 
of Mass., Clark of Vermont, Atwood, and w 
Klippurt. w 
On Experimental Farms or Stations— ns 
Nicholson, Mellon, Hamilton, Johnson, I 1 , 1 
Allen. tb 
for the support of a reputable college of 
Comprehensive character; and 
Whereas, The apportionment of the lands 
on the variable basis of representation 
tribution is made of these lands. In Min¬ 
nesota there were but one hundred acres, 
while in New York there were over eight 
hundred thousand. This distribution was 
alone according to which eleven States and unfair; b-cause the State of MinSiSu” 
ieiritorics received nothing, and many capable of having a population eq.nlto that 
« 9 f New York. The distribution of public 
tion of millions, received less than some 
small States; aud 
Whereas, Subsequent;legislation required 
many of the States to accept land scrip of 
doubtful value instead of the lands them¬ 
selves, donated in the original act of endow¬ 
ment; therefore 
Resolved , That Congress be respectfully 
asked by this body to remedy both the in‘- 
equulity ami insufficiency of the endow- 
monts of tho m i . j I8CB, ..op¬ 
tional lands in such quantities that no State 
shall receive less than one million of acres, 
which may he selected aud located accord¬ 
ing to the pleasure of the grantees. 
Ilrsol red, That the additional endow¬ 
ments so granted should, in nil cases, fall to 
those institutions already established un¬ 
der the provisions of the act ol 1802. or 
which may hereafter be established in pur- 
I nuance of the same. 
Resolved, That a committee of one from 
ear!) State here represented be constituted 
to bring (he subject of tlieso resolutions to 
the attent ion of Congress. 
Wm. W. Foewell of Minn., Chair’ll. 
T. C. Abbott of Mich. 
J. 13. Bowman of Ky. 
Herbert Fielder of Ga. 
D. C. Gilman of Conn. 
This report was discussed in detail, and 
resulted in eliciting many interesting facts 
from members, to which we shall have oc¬ 
casion to refer when wo have more space. 
The report was not adopted. Substitutes 
were offered, and finally the following, 
offered by Dr. Gregory of Illinois, was 
adopted: 
Resolved, That this Convention respect- 
folly recommend to the Congress of the 
United States the best owal of an additional 
liberal grant, of land, or the proceeds there¬ 
of, upon the colleges of agriculture and the 
mechanic arts which have been established 
in the several .States and Territories, in ac¬ 
cordance with the enactment of July 2, 
and its amendments, and upon such an may 
hereafter be established in 8tat.es and Ter¬ 
ritories where such institutions have not yet 
been established. 
oj new ioik. i ne distribution of public 
lauds should be according >3 the area of 
territory. Congress will make this distri¬ 
bution upon some basis, upon some pro rata 
as they always do; and as that is evident! 
let us suggest, for the purpose of bringing 
int o requisition the minds of Congress upon 
this point. 1 would say. giro one-half of 
these lands to population and one-half to 
area. I havo said now all that I have to 
say. 1 want to wash mv hands clear of all 
the folly of which you have been guilty. 
Relations or Department of Agriculture ,to Ag’I 
Societies and Colleges, 
The Committee, through Mr. Barnard 
of Georgia, made tho following report on 
this subject, wliieh was adopted, and re¬ 
ferred to the Commissioner of Agriculture: 
The commit to to consider and report 
upon that portion of tho recommendations 
<>t the Commissioner of the Department of 
Agriculture which refers to tho establish¬ 
ment of closer relations between that De¬ 
partment and the State societies and agri¬ 
cultural colleges throughout the country, 
beg leave to report; 
That they regard the recommendation as 
one of prime importance, full of promise of 
future good, yet attended with difficulties 
not generally appreciated. Combination is 
strength, but to combine i - not easy. ( om- 
rVu 1 * a- * hief means of knowledge. 
I In* National Department of Agriculture 
presents peculiar advantages for securing 
efiecti i c co-operation and for furnish ing the 
means of studying the comparative agricul¬ 
ture of different States and sections, and 
when so studied, of diffusing information 
us to results. It is 1 he lens to concentrate 
the scattered rays of liglil coming from all 
parts of the. country, and the eyes which 
jouk t hrough it, wisely can report what t hey 
indicate. 
To comparative agriculture, as to cornpar- 
ttvo anatomy or philosophy, we are to look 
for the. best data for observation. It j a un¬ 
necessary to dwell upon a point so obvious 
to all rellecting minds. 
In carrying out the great ends of its or¬ 
ganization—the increase and diffusion of 
knowledge - the Department, lias done much 
ill the past. The call of this convention is 
Seed Distribution. 
Appended to a series of resolutions ema¬ 
nating trom the Commissioner of Agricul- in improving and perfecting iIn* organiza! detail, and of careful study of these, as a 
tore, r > the following, which was ad lions. It can furnish to all an abstract‘of l "<oin for constant annual improvement, 
wit ho discussion or disgeilt It dill not the constitutions and modes of each State Third. Un the best means »»r organizing 
.I,,,,,...,,.;. . .. society, and of all the colleges, for study and neighborhood associations for mutual im- 
*eom to attract tliciattention of the m< u .in a word, for comparativeor- lavement. 
1 ' an.i, iiui ''M. omiiyof them a-iureil n- ;:aiiizati.ni ns well as comparative methods fourth. Un the best method of conduct- 
Mib.-eijn Idly that they did not know that | *»' 'ailUvat.ion. The organization, in sonic experiments, and tho necessity of care- 
Iicli a r . 1 , hail bu ll present ! Thi- l ' l,t tar more efiiemnt than in others, ful records, aud of separating the condi- 
. . | Vet the litter pursue their course, little involved. 
, . , ; guided l. , i ie experience of tho bet ter or- 10 \ * hat copies of this report bo com- 
' * hat (lie "liven i a.e ne g,.- i gaoi/.ed -icietles. No one need underesti- uiunicuted to t he several State societies and 
quest, i m api-imt a committee -i ■ * mate the a-G.mtagos «.l a good constitution agricultural colleges of the United States, 
" Iio.-ie duty it. shall be to visit the Commit- —not merelya collection of words, but u and they be requested to Communicate 
tee of Agriculture of the two Houses of Con- practical system. their action in regard to the proposed rela- 
gn^ss, and request them to increase the Much light cuu thus be thrown upon such tio,ls to the National Department of Agri- 
amount, ol appropriations for the distilim- questions as the proper relation of these culture, and of the persons appointed as 
turn of publications aud seeds of this Do- societies to the States—whether the mem- organs of communication, 
partment. bers should be all who unite as individuals, A Secretary of Agriculture. 
The Commissioner Exercised. or oompoeed of representatives Of Htfoietiu*. * A . . , . A 
• ■* . ,, Tiie ) (tail di<st t’i lint a t in* in Km* An effort WilS Ultt (.](-? on the part of Cuas. 
'IK ayu l ernoon, immediately after the IIS- of observation and co-ordinate them among w * Mtrtieujt of Missouri, to distinguish 
scmblmgof the Convention after recess, the the other bodies acting in concert with it! himself, by uikiug the Convention to adopt 
Commissioner of Agriculture got tho floor ^rtain departments or investigation can a resolution recommending the charming 
and washed his hands of tho Convent iouand Commissioner of AgricuD 
‘ ^ H "V) ll .' ° "Ig gi acetal language. Tho field i-. immense, and subdivisimi iieees- tore to that of Secretary of Agriculture, 
\\ o deem it Of sufficient, importance to make sary. 1’roper subjects can be assigned for and demanding for him a place in the Cabi- 
d. historical by recording it ; for many cm- scientific observation to the different colic- net. Horace Maynard of Tcnnesee punc- 
sidered the language insulting to the Con- ^ w /"A be lit ob- tU rod this bubble of gas, bv stating that the 
vent.ion, and the manner of its delivery , ■ - v , HUt " "" *‘iis, iictead of sepa- n f 
highly obieotionible He said- 7 ni ^ 111h1 '".iependent investigations, with- l>«partment of Agriculture is entirely dis- 
° J ‘ • . out consent, a wider field would be cover- tmet from any other Department of tiie 
I would be glad to occupy the attention V 1 V ach p8, fc ot lt more thorough- Government, and that the Commissioner’s 
jf the members for a lew moments. I 0 cultivated. , . ... 
lave some fear that the Convention will 'Vh.it the soeleHes and colleges can do p | a< -‘ ( ’ ” l t he Cabinet is entirely a matter of 
lot arrive at whut it was hoped wo woulu towards the National Department is the discretion with the I resident—just as is 
n tiie beginning. We desired to have inter*. Counterpart of its duties to them. They that of tho Attorney and Postmaster Gen- 
sourae with the colleges of the States, be- ! aa **.«|»<*rt to it; accept its probloma of orals. If ail increased salary for the Com- 
;ause they ware porpctuaUy in session. Wt mvcstigal Ion; inform it of their own ureth- missioner is desirable ii should bn «i- w i 
loped through the colleges to have inter- <>,U, constitutions, &c, and consider its . m" L i!! T, , 
lourae with the people of the States. We suggestions. ror * *dca of asking that the present 
vqintod to give to these colleges all the seeds Much of the time of tho convention has Commissioner should be considered a Na- 
ve had, all the roots and bulbs, &e.,mid only been ocfcupied with questions concerning tional Counselor, in view of tiie figure he 
oim.rn ^‘attiiey keep the Deq.an- the agricultural colleges. They have a great presented to the Convention, seemed to 
, 1 ,tj nt ad' mod as t.i the experiments tried m work to perform. But it must not be for- mril.r all as ridienluns Mr Mitptvid tit’a 
he different parts of the countiy. gotten that the intention of the actual l.udv stnU . J &t> ll 'ticulous. .Mi. Mi r.n am s 
You will readily see that when I called of farmers who liuvo passed beyond their proposition was laid on the table, 
ins Convention the question of the public college life must for years be the chief Planllnn Forest Trees 
mds d id not enter into mv mind. While means of practical improvement. We most 
**•••* * . .* ■’ " *’ earnestly hid the colleges God speed in their Mr. LiNSS of Kansas offered the following 
mission of spreading light and knowledge, resolution, which was adopted: 
but we would not forget the present gem.-- Resolved That we earnestly advise and 
ration of men who have not ciiioyed these . . .V b ' ' earnestly acn ise aim 
opportunities. To dilliJ k vi l , entreat the farmers of our wlio e country, 
more tedious process than it is usually re- i° Cat * d f ; ,r t 1 h< ‘, PUl '?°T’ 
garded; indeed, a very stem and difficult I'latit toie..t ti tts, not merely foi shade 
WfJ) .] f> ’ - uiuiciui ami ornament, but by the acre and hun- 
Could we hut , , dreds of acres, in order to reproduce forests, 
>» <»{« lh«,1-too of tn r a...t urc Wto* S o 
0.11 n M » i,. ... , Hi. 11 lapnlly and fearfully demolished hi every 
that education i‘, attained. It islmededby ^ ir ‘ ,cti,,u : thereby not only providing for 
each quarter, ami by each member of ft 3 theuctiial uecessitifs of those who are to 
The committee, not to dwell too long come after its, but also t o avert oglaunties 
would riTommoiw - lon ®» that can neither be imagined or described, 
i , . .. , that must eventually ensile whenever pur 
i, *.n ,jat Hie several societies and colleges broad land siiall be stripped of its forests, 
80*ti fi Specific organ of communication and consequent ly deprived of the numerous 
with tne .Department of Agriculture, the beneficent influences they are known to im- 
peraon, tune, and topica known, ami that part. 
the Department prescribe the topics, with , . ,, .. 
ajipropnate printed inquiries. This closes the record of the proceedings 
2- That an annual convention, like the I of the first two days. We shall give th« re¬ 
present, be held, in which representatives | port of the third day's doings next week. 
for i he stndy of comparative agriculture— 
with improvements growing <>\|I of closer 
from the several State societies and other 
societies, covering a larger or smaller area, 
and the agricultural colleges, maybe repre¬ 
sented on some proper basis. 
3. That the Department tabulate the in¬ 
formation thus obtained, and distribute it 
amongst, the several lesser organizations. 
Amongst the subjects to be presented shall 
be the briefs of all the organizations of 
States and other large district societies, 
with such revision and suggestions as may 
aid m determining the best mode of organ¬ 
ization. 
4. That the several State societies co¬ 
operate fully with the Department in ob¬ 
taining statistics of every* sort—especially 
of growing crops—and make suggestions as 
to improved met hods of estimating them; 
also, in such observations upon the weather 
as may greatly increase the data for deter¬ 
mining the local variations of the season. 
I he degree of success already attending tho 
observations made give encouragement to 
this direction of inquiry*—to be made in 
detail, to endeavor to determine the local 
laws—and for larger periods, to anticipate 
the probable state of t he seasons, and possi¬ 
bly to influence them to some extent, or at 
least better to conform to them. 
h. The Department shall consider the en¬ 
tire field of investigation, and assign to the 
several Statu societies appropriate subjects 
of observation, and also subjects for seien- 
J'lie investigation by tbo agricultural col¬ 
leges and professors. 
(!. It shall collate information as to (he 
practical working of different forms, of mi¬ 
nor organizations, less than statu societies, 
so as to exhibit t he best and most approved 
lorm of clubs for the immediate informa¬ 
tion aud education of tiie farmer at his 
work—making them schools for t he ear and 
eye alike. 
7. Prior to tho assembling of (lie National 
(.onveilt ion, specific subjects of considera¬ 
tion shall be prescribed, and persons of 
high qualifications appointed to open tho 
discussions. 
8. That for each duly a specific organ, 
whether of tiie Department or tho societies, 
shall be provided, either by* the appoint¬ 
ment of an individual or a committee, 
thorough elaboration of information, and 
a proper digest ion of mat tor for publication, 
•■hall, if possible, be the duty of some oili- 
cer of the Department. 
fl. That among tho subjects for reports at 
the next convention held, according to the 
first resolution, be the following: 
First. On the importance and means of 
improving physical oxportileHs in agricul¬ 
tural labor, the object being to devote to 
the development ut human skill tiie atten¬ 
tion too much confined to the horse and tho 
brute creutiun* ami a report to be presented 
concerning experts in farm labor. 
Second. Un the importance to farmers of 
7 -- « VUUDUU, 4 I, ,11 zV . . J - 
Allan. the different purts of the country. 
|',W 1, "If D TV"‘ CM *f ">0°“.,."v"i.t’lm. 1 'tl.LI‘in‘„ omL'.SS 
11 1 flOriC t<> AarlcullUiat Lotteries — lands did not enter into m\ mind Wliil.-* 
relations to other societies -it can also aid accu ?' nt,y Hccouuts of expenses, receipts iu 
Resolved, That the Convention ho re- ganized 
I quested to appoint a committee of live, mate tin 
" hose duty it shall be to visit the (Ymnnil- —not nn 
too of Agriculture of the two Houses of Con- practicu 
gross, and request them to increase the Much 1 
amount of appropriations for tho distribu- question 
tion of publications and seeds of this De- societies 
partment. bers shoi 
The Commissioner Exercised. or eonipt 
Friday afternoon, immediately after the as- ,,r ni^eri 
semblingof the Convention after recess, the the otbei 
Commissioner of Agriculture got the lloor Certain 
and washed his hands of the Convent ion and l ’ l ‘ :i ssi 'gri 
its acts in the following graceful language, qqjj, 
We deem it of sufficient importance to make sary . ' l b 
it. historical by recording it; for many con- scientific 
side red the language insulting to the Con- for \ 
volition, and the manner of its delivery h .‘\ < '! l * s 'i 
highly objectionable. He said: nulVousi 
i would be glad to occupy the attention od, and y 
of the members for a few moments. 1 b cuitivi 
have some fear that the Convention will What i 
not arrive at what it was hoped wo would towards 
in tin* beginning. YVe desired to have inter- counterp 
course with the colleges of the States, p,*. can repo 
cause they were perpetually in session. \W invest iga 
hoped through the colleges to have inter- ods coin 
course with the people of the Slates. We suggestio 
Wanted to give to these colleges all the seeds Much < 
we bad, all the roots and bulbs, &c.,nud only heeu oce 
asked in ret urn that they keep the Depart- the agrici 
incut advised as to (ho experiments tried in work tw i 
Hilary 
1 ffoY'antT pursuics professions of | fig ve yet acted upon. *".” 
cm -l . Tile subject, of disposing of these lands 
thu ^t S ;. r n e if m ? 0 ' V,11( ‘ rit6 ,, ‘' si . ,lt5n ?fr°ui i upon the ratio i would like to speak of. 
th.s g.ant will be in every case insufficient I Now, by the act of 18G2, a most unjust dis¬ 
may i 
as of I 
you I 
opportunities. Jo difiuse knowledge is a 
more tedious process than it is usually re¬ 
garded; indeed, a very stern and difficult 
work. 
1. That the several societies and colleges 
have some specific organ of communication 
With the Department of Agriculture, the 
person, time, and topics known, and that 
the Department prescribe the topics, with 
appropriate printed inquiries, 
2. That an annual convention, like the 
present, be Ladd, iu which representatives 
