1858 . 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Editors Country Gentleman —The United States 
Ag. Society assembled at the Smithsonian Institution 
on the 13th, and the President, Col. Wilder, opened 
the meeting with an address, briefly alluding to the 
operations of the Society, and after paying a deserved 
tribute to G. W. P. CusTisand Senator Rusk, who had 
deceased during the year, announced his. intention to 
retire from the Presidency of the Society. The report 
from the Treasurer exhibited a balance of $1,500 after 
reserving enough to pay premiums due. Mr. French of 
N. II., gave a very interesting and satisfactory account 
of steam plowing, as observed by him abroad, and an 
interesting discussion arose in which several gentlemen 
participated—among them Col. B. P. Johnson, N. Y., 
Mr. Bvington, Iowa, Mr. Washburn, Ill., Mr. Jones, 
Del, Lt. Gov. Brown, Boston. Mr. Johnson informed 
the members of the determination of Gov. King, N. Y., 
to retire from the Executive Board, and President Wil¬ 
der very appropriately alluded to the truly valuable 
services of Gov. King to the Society from its com¬ 
mencement. 
Mr. Johnson, N. Y., Gen. Tilghman, Md., Dr. Loring, 
Mass., Judge Arny of Kansas, and Mr. Tayloe, Wash¬ 
ington, were appointed a committee on Mr. Morrill’s 
Land Bill for Ag. Schools, who reported resolutions in 
favor of the same, which were adopted. 
Dr. Antisel, who aided the lamented Delafield in 
the survey of Seneca county, read a paper on the ne¬ 
cessity of having a more perfect knowledge of the min¬ 
eral necessities of crops developed. The Doctor said, 
after a thorough chemical examination for years, ofsoils, 
he had come to the conclusion that analyses of soils 
give no valuable results, either practical or scientific. 
So we are all afloat, and the Doctor must be called up¬ 
on to set us agoing again. 
A discussion in relation to the sugar cane arose, and 
much difference of opinion was exhibited. It struck 
me that we had arrived at the same position we occu¬ 
pied some years since on the potato disease, when every 
man had a specific for the disease, while all raised 
nothing but diseased potatoes. Those who have seed 
to sell, sugar mills to dispose of, books to explain the 
theories and practices of culture of the plant and the 
preparation of the syrup and sugar, doubtless actually 
believe it is the greatest boon ever given to America— 
even more important than the Dioscorea, while the men 
present who had tried the culture seemed to me to 
expect something hereafter, few being prepared to say 
that as a general crop this could as yet be recommend¬ 
ed as a substitute for any of our reliable crops. 
A committee appointed by the President, reported a 
list of officers. Gen. Tench Tilghman of Maryland, 
as President. Gen. T. is well known in our State as 
well as at the South, and his position as a real practi¬ 
cal farmer, his intelligence, his standing, all pointed to 
him as a suitable man to preside over the deliberations 
of the Society—and very many of the real tried friends 
of the Society rejoiced at the announcement of his 
name. Mr. Poore, as Secretary, whose industry and 
strict business habits during the last year had com¬ 
mended him to the Society, was renominated. Mr. 
Wager of N. Y., was placed in the position occupied 
by Gov. King, Chairman of the Executive Committee, 
and will worthily fill that vacancy. The residue of the 
Executive Committee are working men , and will, I 
doubt not, make every effort to place the Society in a 
position to extend its usefulness. The list of officers as 
reported, was accepted and the persons named elected. 
45 
Immediately after the election, the Executive Com¬ 
mittee met, and resolved to open rooms at Washington 
where the Secretary is to be in attendance from Nov. 
to July , the season when Congress is in session, and 
gentlemen present from all parts of the country, and 
during the interval to have an assistant at Washington 
to attend to any matters necessary. 
The commencement of a library was decided upon, 
and meetings of the Executive Committee quarterly, 
appointed, and a monthly bulletin to be published, ad¬ 
vising the officers, life members, and correspondents of 
the Society, of what is being done. 
I consider these measures of the utmost importance. 
They give the Society a place of business at the Capi¬ 
tal of the nation, where an opportunity exists of se¬ 
curing the co-operation of the leading agriculturists in 
every portion of our country and the world, and I shall 
be much disappointed if the action of the Committee 
does not advance the interests of the Society. 
The subject of holding a Fair was referred to the 
Executive Committee,who will, if suitable places should 
be offered, take action in relation to the matter. 
A testimonial was voted to President Wilder, in ac¬ 
knowledgment of his valued services to the Society 
since the time of its organization. 
The subject of Imphee and Sorghum elicited a warm 
discussion between Mr. Wray, in favor of the former, 
and Mr. Browne of the Patent Office. The debate 
seemed to indicate some heart-burnings somewhere, 
but valuable suggestions were elicited, as well as some 
facts which were very much wanted. Prof. Jackson 
of Boston, gave some valuable information in relation 
to bis investigations on this subject, which will ap¬ 
pear at large in the Patent Office Report. I under¬ 
stood that after he had made these valuable statements 
before the Society, it was suggested by some one that 
they could not be published, as they belonged else¬ 
where. My impression is that the Society did not re¬ 
cognize the right of anybody to say, after a discussion 
and elucidation of valuable facts before the Societ}*, 
they are to be tabooed until some one can make some¬ 
thing out of the matter. I presume, therefore, you 
will see the material and very valuable facts obtained 
by Prof. Jackson, as to sorghum for syrup, sugar, &c. 
A paper on the “Hog Cholera,” by Prof. Higgins 
of Maryland, was read, and said to be valuable. 
The new President, who entered upon the duties of 
his office at the close of the meeting on Thursday, per¬ 
formed them to the acceptance of the Society, and 
at the close on Friday P. M., in a brief but eloquent 
address, after announcing that the Executive Com¬ 
mittee had made preparations for the establishment of 
permanent rooms for the Society at Washington, urged 
upon the members of the Society present, to exert 
their personal influence to increase its members, ex¬ 
tend its influence, and make it worthy the position it 
occupies among the agricultural institutions of our 
country. 
My impression, from all I have seen here, is, that the 
Society is now upon a working platform, and with eco¬ 
nomy, energy and perseverance, will make itself known 
at Washington and abroad, as one of the Institutions 
of our country. 
-- 
The bark Grayhead, from Constantinople, at Boston, 
has on board ten goats and three sheep, of the Angola 
breed, consigned to the U. S. Government. 
