THE CULTIVATOR. 
15 
our journies; and they give a charm to our rural retirements.” 
Education immensely enlarges the capacity and disposition to re¬ 
ceive pleasure from natural phenomena, objects, and scenery. The 
scientific classification of the clouds makes them objects of new in¬ 
terest. The knowledge of the names and places of the stars in¬ 
troduces us to a kind of living and almost speaking familiarity and 
companionship with them, which enlivens the solitude of the still¬ 
est evening, and the most retired walk; and fills the mind with no¬ 
ble, elevated, and irrepressible aspiration^. Botany, chemistry, 
mineralogy, multiply, indefinitely, our sources of pleasure, and 
give an interest and value to objects, which we might otherwise 
trample upon without notice, or pass by with utter indifference. 
Natural philosophy, natural history, in all their branches, people 
every part of the physical world, to which we can have access, with 
objects of delightful and absorbing interest; and to the inquisitive 
and enlightened mind, unlock treasures infinitely better than golden 
treasures which are hermetically sealed to the incurious and igno¬ 
rant. Before the farmer, the privileged resident in the country, 
the book of natural theology spreads its instructive, ample, and 
brilliant page. The most ignorant can scarcely remain always un¬ 
moved by it; but study and science are necessary to read it with 
advantage and effec'. The enlightened mind only can interpret, 
wi'h a force and eloquence true to the original, its mystic charac¬ 
ters, and penetrate the depths of its fountains of wisdom ; the en¬ 
lightened mind only can see, in the greatness, grandeur, and glory 
of the works of nature, its overpowering demonstrations of design 
and skill; its wonderful exhibitions of creative power and wisdom; 
its exuberant, unbounded, and inexhaustible pourings out of bene¬ 
ficence and love. 
But. I must stop. I fearl have already drawn too largely on the 
indulgence of my readers. I have thrown out these very general 
notions of the importance of science and education to farmers, as 
preparatory to some more detailed and practical views, which, at a 
future and convenient season, I may take occasion to lay before the 
readers of the New-York Farmer. There is, I repeat it, as it 
seems to me, no class in the community to whom education, scien¬ 
tific and literary education, is more important than to the farmers. 
There is no business-pursuit or profession, exclusive of the learned 
professions, whose situation is, in most respects, more favorable to 
it, and there is none, which it would more benefit and adorn. Could 
more educated men be induced to enter the profession; or rather, 
could there be all necessary and suitable provision made for edu¬ 
cating those, who are disposed to make agriculture the business of 
life, incalculable benefits would result from it to the community. 
It would place the profession, in the public estimation, where it be¬ 
longs, as among the most innocent, useful, honorable, and happy 
in which men can engage ; it would qualify the agricultural class, 
whose character and influence so essentially concern the honor and 
welfare of the country, for the right performance of their high du¬ 
ties; it would serve vastly to extend the agricultural resources and 
multiply the products of the country, and thus immeasurably in¬ 
crease its wealth and power; it would diffuse, in unimaginable 
amount the means and resources of domestic comfort and enjoy¬ 
ment; and, as in every other case of the advancement of the spi¬ 
ritual and intellectual over the animal and sensual nature, it would 
spread a salutary moral influence through all the circulations, and 
to the utmost limits of the social body. Meadowbanks, Nov. 1835. 
Proceedings of the Agricultural Convention, 
(Continued from our Extra.) 
To advance these interests—to add new stimulus to industry, 
care, skill and economy, in increasing the productiveness of our 
rich soils, and in adding fertility to the poorer; to improve the con¬ 
dition and increase the profits of farm stock of every description; 
to make the various implements of husbandry more perfect, econo¬ 
mical and useful; and generally to adapt the improvements and 
discoveries in science to agricultural pursuits, have occupied the 
anxious attention of your committee, and they regret that their 
time will not allow them to detail and explain the various reasons 
and motives which have influenced them in presenting and recom¬ 
mending the following resolutions for the adoption of the conven¬ 
tion :— 
Resolved, That it is expedient to provide by law, for the esta¬ 
blishment of a school of scientific and practical agriculture, and 
that this convention respectfully solicit the legislature of this state 
to incorporate a company for the above objects, and to endow the 
said school with such sum, and in such manner, as shall be com¬ 
mensurate with the great benefits to be attained thereby. 
Resolved, That an appropriation of public moneys, to excite in¬ 
dustry and emulation in agriculture, to reward those who make im¬ 
portant discoveries in labor-saving machines, or in other depart¬ 
ments of husbandry; or who improve or extend useful methods 
of cultivation, would tend greatly to increase the resources and 
revenue of the state, and to promote the diffusion of useful know¬ 
ledge. 
Resolved, That the extensive and increasing ravages of the wheat 
worm, present a strong claim upon an enlightened legislature, alive 
to all the interests of her people, to offer a competent premium for 
the discovery of a perfect preventive or remedy for the ravages of 
the said worm. 
Resolved, That it be recommended to the friends of agricultural 
improvement, in every county in this state, to co-operate with this 
convention in obtaining legislative aid in furtherance of the objects 
of the above resolutions, and also in the speedy formation of an 
agricultural society in every county where there is not one already. 
Resolved, That the existing laws in relation to common roads 
and bridges, are found, by experience, to be very defective and op¬ 
pressive, inasmuch as the heavy tax which is annually imposed for 
these objects, is expended so lavishly, injudiciously and temporarily, 
as to produce no corresponding benefits to the tax-payers or to the 
community; and in the opinion of this convention, the whole sys¬ 
tem requires alteration and amendment. 
Resolved, That the agricultural publications, entitled the “ Cul¬ 
tivator,” published in Albany; the “Genesee Farmer,” published 
in Rochester, and the “New-York Farmer,” published in New- 
York, are eminently calculated to diffuse agricultural knowledge, to 
make known the various improvements in husbandry, and to excite 
.and call forth new and valuable discoveries, and that they are there¬ 
fore recommended to general attention and patronage, and particu¬ 
larly to that of the farmers. 
Resolved, That as property of every description is continually 
changing hands in a republican government like ours, and real 
property not more productive or valuable than personal, in 
the opinion of this convention, all property, real and personal, 
should be subject to the same general rule of taxation—assessed 
and taxed equally wherever the same may be, and in whatever 
hands it may be found, without regard to ownership or indebtedness. 
The above resolutions having been severally read, were unani¬ 
mously adopted by the convention. 
On motion of Mr. Van Bergen of Greene, 
Resolved, That the paper entitled the “ Silk-Worm,” published 
in this city, be added to the list of those recommended to the pa¬ 
tronage of the community. 
Mr. Allen, from the committee of sixteen, reported a memorial 
to the legislature, w'hich, being read, was adopted, and ordered to 
be signed by the officers of the convention. 
Tuesday Evening, 7 o'clock. 
The convention met pursuant to adjournment. On motion of 
Mr. Shepard of Cayuga, it was 
Resolved, That the thanks of this convention are due to the 
Hon. J. A. Dix, Secretary of State, for his very able and luminous 
report in relation to the geological survey of the state, made to the 
legislature Jan. 6, 1636, in pursuance of a resolution of the assem¬ 
bly, April 6, 1835, and they express the hope that the legislature 
will make the appropriation for the purposes recommended in said 
report. 
On motion of Mr. M’Collum of Niagara, it was 
Resolved, That such provision be made, as the legislature shall 
deem expedient, to encourage the growth and manufacture of silk. 
On motion of Mr. Allen of Erie, 
Resolved, That this convention recommend the introduction of 
elementary works on agriculture and horticulture, as reading books 
in our common schools. 
On motion of Mr. Nash of Monroe, 
. Resolved, That a state, agricultural convention be held at the 
capitol in the city of Albany, on the first Thursday of February 
next, at four o’clock P. M. at which all persons are invited to at¬ 
tend, who take an interest in agricultural pursuits. 
