THE CULTIVATOR. 
119 
There was also exhibited a C( Patent for freezing-, cool¬ 
ing-, preserving and churning apparatus.” 
This Society, Mr. Petty Vaughan,* whose name is not 
unknown in America, assured me, had greatly promoted 
improvements, by encouraging through reports from 
practical men, the use of such articles, and the adoption 
of such new suggestions as otherwise might never have 
been known. 
May I not inquire if something of the kind can be in¬ 
corporated with the State Agricultural Society ? Might 
not the interest and usefulness of the agricultural meet¬ 
ings about to assemble, be greatly increased, if it could 
be announced in the morning papers, that such and such 
improvements, or new inventions, would be described, or 
reports upon some previously examined, be read, at the 
meeting of that evening ? E. N. Horsford. 
AURORA AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE. 
Mr. Editor —Agricultural schools are in Europe no 
longer an experiment. Their success has more than re¬ 
alized public expectation. Their great utility is now 
there unquestioned, and their commanding public impor¬ 
tance acknowledged. In this country public opinion in 
their favor has been for some years gathering strength. 
Their utility and eventual success here is, by the well in¬ 
formed generally, not doubted; but their immediate suc¬ 
cess may not be so certain. Of late much has been said 
and written upon the subject. The late Judge Buel, in 
one of his last public addresses, closes some spirited re¬ 
marks upon that topic by saying: <•' They should be es¬ 
tablished—they will be established—and the sooner they 
are established the better for our country.” The same 
sentiments have been since very frequently uttered by 
other distinguished agriculturists. All seem anxious 
to have them established here, and various modes have 
been suggested. Several attempts have been made to 
organize an institution on an extensive scale and requi¬ 
ring a large amount of capital. These have all, thus far, 
failed, as all like attempts will, as we fear, for the pres¬ 
ent certainly fail—not for the want of well founded claims 
to public favor, but for the want of that knowledge of 
those claims which personal observation and experience 
alone can impart. Such schools are here an experiment, 
and like all experiments require to be tried with as small 
an expenditure of funds as practicable. On such a scale 
the experiment is within the power of individuals; and 
it now seems obvious that if any early progress is made 
in their establishment in our State, it must be effected by 
private enterprise. Some of the plans which have been 
suggested for a private institution would seem to be fea¬ 
sible and to promise success. 
The undersigned, with his associates hereinafter named, 
have been waiting with some considerable degree of pa¬ 
tience the movement of others in the matter. They feel 
a deep interest in the improvement of the agriculture of 
the country, and in the early establishment of professional 
schools devoted to that object. They would not know¬ 
ingly hazard or delay the future triumph of the enter¬ 
prise by any movement they might make; but they feel 
that some practical plan should be adopted, and executed 
too, without longer delay. And without the knowledge 
of any similar organization by others, they have them¬ 
selves made arrangements for the commencement of a 
school under the above name and title. 
The form upon which the institute is located is situa¬ 
ted in and directly adjoining the village of Aurora, on 
the east bank of Cayuga Lake, in Cayuga county, New- 
Yorlc, sixteen miles from Auburn, by stage, and twelve 
south from Cayuga Bridge and the Auburn and Rochester 
railroad, by steamboat in summer. It contains 212 acres, 
under a good state of cultivation, with good improvements. 
The soil is various, fruit abundant, and the buildings are 
sufficiently extensive for the present—part of them near¬ 
ly new. The farm and dwelling houses front directly on 
the lake, and are only about 130 rods from the church, 
academy, and steam-boat landing. The location is con¬ 
sidered one of the most desirable of the many beautiful 
situations on the borders of the lake, commanding an ex- 
* Mr Pelty Vaughan, is a son of the late much respected Benja- 
VKU1 Vaughan, Esq. of Hallowell, Maine.— Ed. 
tensive and varied prospect of its waters and of the sur¬ 
rounding country, and is altogether admirably adapted to 
the end in view. The country adjacent, for a few miles 
east and along the lake, is believed to be unequalled for 
beauty and fertility by any section of the same extent in 
the State. 
It is the intention of the undersigned and his associates 
that this institution shall afford every facility for young 
men to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the 
principles of agricultural science, and their judicious ap¬ 
plication to practical husbandry; and particularly to af¬ 
ford young men from our large towns the most favorable 
opportunity for preparing themselves for country life and 
agricultural pursuits. In connection with lectures and 
recitations upon the different branches of natural science 
connected with agriculture and horticulture, regular la¬ 
bor in the field will be required, and there all principles 
involved will be explained and impressed upon the mind. 
It is also their intention to commence a course of expe¬ 
riments, in order to test the correctness of those princi¬ 
ples in agriculture which may be now generally received, 
but are not yet well established. 
The undersigned will have the general superintendence 
and management of the institution. He will receive its 
members into his family, and keep them undei his im¬ 
mediate supervision and charge. Particular regard will 
also by him be had for their mental culture. A suitable 
person and competent farmer will be employed to super¬ 
intend the field operations during his necessary absence 
therefrom. 
Dr. Alexander Thompson, of this village, (a gen¬ 
tleman, in the judgment of Mr. David Thomas, every 
way competent,) will have the particular charge of the 
scientific department. Instruction in botany, geology, 
and agricultural chemistry will receive his particular at¬ 
tention. 
Mr. David Thomas, who resides in the vicinity, will 
visit the institution and promote its object and design, 
by such advice and information as his well known scien¬ 
tific attainments, and long experience in practical agri¬ 
culture and horticulture, will enable him to impart. 
Terms $150 a year, payable quarterly in advance. Ncr 
person under fourteen years of age will, as a general 
rule, will be received. Charles C. Young. 
Aurora, March 12, 1845. 
The publication of the above from Mr. Young, super¬ 
sedes the necessity of publishing, at length, a letter we 
have received from B. P. Johnson, Esq., President of 
the N. Y. S. Ag. Soc’y, on the same subject. Mr. J. says 
—« f From my acquaintance with Mr. Young, I am satis¬ 
fied that he is fully competent to manage an institution 
of this kind, combining scientific with practical agricul¬ 
ture. The gentlemen associated with him are well known 
to the public, especially Mr. Thomas, who will aid and 
advise the principal in the management of his institution. 
I am much gratified that an experiment is about to be 
made to give instruction to our young men, many of 
whom, it is believed, will avail themselves of the ad¬ 
vantages of this institution. Ten or twelve young men 
can yet be received at the institution this spring.” 
CUTTING TIMBER. 
In cutting timber for farm buildings and other purpo¬ 
ses, it often becomes requisite to know the height of the 
trees, more particularly of the straight part of the trunks 
or such as will do for single straight sticks of timber. 
Take a ten foot pole, (or one of any other known length,) 
and measure off the required distance from the tree, and 
make a mark on the ground. Then measure back the 
length of the pole towards the tree, let a second person 
hold it perpendicularly, place the eye at the mark on the 
ground, and ranging with the top of the pole towards the 
tree, of the top if the pole strikes above the straight part 
of the trunk, the stick of timber will be too short; if at 
|or below the first crook, it will be long enough. A sim¬ 
pler, but somewhat less accurate way, is to take a stick 
just long enough to reach from the ground up to the ob¬ 
server’s eye, who then paces the required distance from 
the tree, throws himself on his back, looking towards the 
tree, while a second person holds the stick upright at his 
ifeet, and he makes his observations as just stated. 
