THE CULTIVATOR. 
27 
They award the first premium of $15 to D. W. Weeks 
of Watertown, Jefferson co., for raising 113 1-2 bushels 
on one acre of land. 
They award the second premium of $8 to John S. 
Jones of East Bloomfield,Ontario co., for raising 102 1-2 
bushels on one acre of land. 
A.nd they would recommend the awarding of a pre¬ 
mium of $5 to Amos A. Egleston of Greenwich, Wash¬ 
ington co., for the peculiar excellence of the specimen 
presented by him, weighing 42 lbs. to the bushel, it 
being also a large crop. 
There were no applicants for peas. 
H. D. Grove, Howell Gardner, 
Henry Holmes, T. W. Sanders. 
John A. McNeil. 
REPORT ON ROOT CROPS. 
The committee to whom was referred the duty of ad¬ 
judging premiums on root crops, report: 
That upon the inspection of the various applications 
made by the several individuals, which came within the 
duties of this committee, they found themselves exceed¬ 
ingly embarrassed in the fulfilment of their trust, from 
the want of the formalities required by the rules of the 
Society, as well as by the want of evidence to satisfy the 
committee of the relative merits of the different applica¬ 
tions. 
The committee have unanimously come to the con¬ 
clusion to reject all applications that purport to have 
been harvested, gathered, and estimated by measuring a 
few rods or other small portion of the acre required by 
the rules, and also those which have not the evidence of 
a correct survey. 
Several descriptions of the quality of soil, manure 
used, labor expended, and other expenses incurred in 
producing the results stated, are so imperfect that it was 
impossible to arrive at the comparative merits of the 
crops, as to the economy of expense—all of which de¬ 
fects the committee think can be remedied another year, 
by having examples of blank forms made public through 
the agricultural press, as it is a well settled principle, in 
the minds of this committee, that no man can nor should 
be allowed to compete for premiums, who is not liberal 
and patriotic enough in the great first cause of national 
prosperity, to put himself in that way of procuring the 
necessary information from that source. 
The committee think that several of the rejected crops 
are very meritorious, if the mere dictum of the growers 
was to be taken as proof, and in several cases would 
have taken the first premiums, had these oversights been 
properly avoided. 
The committee think it no more than an act of justice 
to mention the crop of ruta baga turneps of Mr. F. P. 
Root of Sweden, Monroe county, asserted as producing 
1,200 bushels per acre, at 60 lbs. weight per bushel; 
also the crops of Mr. George Shaffer of Wheatland, 
Monroe county, which purports to have produced the 
very large amount of 1,160 bushels of sugar beets and 
603 1-2 bushels of carrots per acre, at 60 lbs. per bushel. 
The committee award the following premiums: 
For potatoes—to Phineas Hardy of Le Ray, Jefferson 
co., first premium, for 472 bushels per acre, $15. To 
H. D. Grove of Hoosick, Rensselaer co., second pre¬ 
mium, for 440 bushels per acre, $8. 
For ruta baga—to W. B. Ludlow of Claverack, Co¬ 
lumbia co., first premium, for 1,025 1-2 bushels per acre, 
$15. To George Shaffer of Wheatland, Monroe co., se¬ 
cond premium, for 552 bushels per acre, $8. 
Sugar beet—to S. B. Vail of Mount Laurel Farm, Co¬ 
lumbia co., first premium, for 559 bushels per acre, at 
60 lbs. per bushel, $15. 
G. V. Sacket, E. P. Prentice, 
L. A. Morrell, L. B. Langworthy, 
Patrick H. Cowen. 
The committe appointed to examine that beautiful pro¬ 
duction of art, called the Amazon Bonnet, exhibited to 
the Society by Messrs. Valentine & Eaton, No. 121 Wa¬ 
ter street, New-York, beg leave most respectfully to 
report: 
That they entered upon the discharge of the duties 
devolving upon them, with some little distrust of their 
ability to do justice to the important subject committed to 
their charge, from the consideration that this almost in¬ 
dispensable article of female apparel had not hitherto 
been the subject of much of their attention. To obviate, 
however, this difficulty, they called to their aid a num¬ 
ber of intelligent ladies, by whose taste and superior 
judgment in these matters, they are bound to acknow¬ 
ledge they were in a great measure controlled. 
This specimen of ingenuity, doubtless from some fair 
hand, commends itself to the American public, from 
various considerations. It combines great elegance and 
beauty with strength and durability. It is manufactured 
(from the finest quality of Manilla grass. Six thousand 
five hundred fibres, woven together, will make about one 
hundred yards of braid, which quantity will make one 
of the finest class of bonnets. This substantial material 
may be twisted into an endless variety of patterns, and 
is susceptible of any color or figure that taste or fancy 
I nay dictate. This bonnet can be taken apart, and wash- 
id or cleansed with ease, and put together again, losing 
hereby none of its original beauty or value. Its tex- 
ure and durability have never been equalled, and for 
teauty,. it surpasses almost any thing of the kind, either 
lomestic or foreign. The raw material from which it 
s manufactured is imported, but is of small value corn¬ 
ered with the labor required in weaving or braiding the 
33ame. If it comes into general use, of which we cannot 
entertain a doubt, it will open a vast field of productive 
industry to the many indigent females and children of 
our large cities and populous towns. If it supplants, as 
we trust it may, the foreign articles used for this indis¬ 
pensable covering, it may become a source not only of 
individual but great national wealth. We commend this 
bonnet to the patronage of the American ladies, and 
hope soon to see many, very many of their heads 
adorned by this evidence of good taste and patriotic 
feeling. Benevolence and charity to a large class of 
their own sex,who are in destitute circumstances, should 
prompt them to encourage the production of an article 
that will afford employment, and consequently comfort 
and happiness, to thousands of indigent but worthy fe¬ 
males. It is a false and anti-American pride which is 
satisfied with nothing but that which is ££ far fetched and 
dear bought.” 
J. J. Viele, T. Goodsell, 
Henry S. Randall. 
(jlf? 3 The report of the committee on discretionary 
premiums has not been handed to the recording secre¬ 
tary. — 
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY. 
The annual meeting of the New-York State Agricul¬ 
tural Society was held at the Lecture Room of the Young 
Men’s Association, in the Exchange, Albany, on the 19th 
of January, 1842. At 11 o’clock, A. M., the president 
of the Society, Joel B. Nott, Esq., took the chair, and 
T. R. Courtney was appointed secretary pro tern. 
On motion of Judge Sacket of Seneca, a committee 
of three, consisting of Messrs. Sacket, Bement, and 
Grove, was appointed to collect the annual dues of mem¬ 
bers, and to receive the subscriptions of new members. 
This committee afterwards reported that the sum of $117 
had been received during the meeting. 
The report of the treasurer, E. P. Prentice, Esq., 
was received, read, and accepted. The receipts of the 
Society the last year, were as follows: 
Balance in treasury at last meeting,.$46 87 
From eight life members, $50 each,. 400 00 
Seven subscriptions, $25 each,. 175 00 
Two ££ $20 each,. 40 00 
Eleven ££ $10 each,. 110 00 
Twenty-three ££ $5 each,. 115 00 
From members, and other sources,. 442 82 
From Comptroller of the State,. 700 00 
$2,029 69 
Paid premiums, expenses, &c.,. 1,065 46 
$964 23 
From which is to be deducted about $200 for premi¬ 
ums awarded, but not paid. 
The treasurer also reported that a quarter of one of 
Mr. Rust’s fat oxen, which was presented to the Soci¬ 
ety by Mr. Rust, had been sold for $64 67, which, 
added to the above sum, would leave a balance in the 
treasury of about $800, after the payment of all demands 
against the Society. 
On motion of Dr. J. P, Beekman of Columbia, 
Resolved, I hat the thanks of the Society be presented 
to the Executive Committee, for their successful exer¬ 
tions in raising funds for the treasury. 
On motion of B. P. Johnson, Esq., of Oneida, 
Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be presented 
to P. N. Rust, Esq., of Syracuse, for the splendid quar¬ 
ter of beef presented by him to the Society, the avails 
of which have been applied in aid of its funds. 
The report of the corresponding secretary, H. S. Ran¬ 
dall, Esq., was then read and accepted, and the thanks 
of the Society voted to him for the able manner in which 
he had performed the duties devolving upon him. 
On motion of H. S. Randall, Esq., 
Resolved, That a committee, to consist of all the presi¬ 
dents of the county societies present, and a delegate 
from each county society not represented by its presi¬ 
dent, be appointed to nominate officers of the Society for 
the ensuing year. 
On motion of J. J. Viele, Esq., of Rensselaer, the 
same committee were instructed to fix a time and place 
for holding the ne'xt Fair of the Society. 
On motion of J. S. Gould of Columbia, 
Resolved, That the Executive Committee be requested 
to procure a dynamometer of superior workmanship, for 
the use of the State Society, and that it be recommended 
to the several county societies to procure one for the use 
of their respective societies. 
On motion of Gen. Clark of Washington, 
Resolved, That the Executive Committee be instructed 
to offer gold medals or pieces of plate, or their equiva¬ 
lent in money, to the authors of the best essays upon 
such subjects as the committee shall deem best calculated 
to promote the cause of agriculture—the successful es¬ 
says to be the property of the Society. The list of pre¬ 
miums for essays to be issued eight months previous to 
the next annual meeting. 
Mr. McIntyre, from the committe to nominate offi¬ 
cers for the ensuing year, reported the following, who 
were unanimously elected: 
JAMES S. WADSWORTH, Geneseo, President. 
Vice Presidents. 
1st district, Jeremiah Johnson, Brooklyn. 
2d ££ Robert Deniston, Salisbury Mills. 
3d ££ Anthony Van Bergen, Coxsackie. 
4th ££ John Savage, Salem. 
5th ££ Orville Hungereord, Watertown. 
6th ££ George I. Pumpelly, Owego. 
7th ££ John M. Sherwood, Auburn. 
8th ££ L. B. Langworthy, Rochester. 
Henry S. Randall, Cortland Village, Cor. Sec’y. 
Ezra P. Prentice, Albany, Treasurer. 
Luther Tucker, Albany, Recording Secretary. 
Additional Members of the Executive Committee. 
Alexander Walsh, Lansingburgh. 
George Vail, Troy. 
Henry D. Grove, Buskirk’s Bridge. 
J. McDonald McIntyre, Albany. 
James L’Amoreux, Albany. 
On the report of the same committee, it was 
Resolved, That we recommend to the Executive Com¬ 
mittee to hold the next Fair of the Society on the 28th 
and 29th days of September next, in Albany or its vici¬ 
nity, and that we farther recommend that the Fair of 
1843 be held at Rochester. 
On motion of L. A. Morrell, Esq., of Tompkins, 
Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be presented 
to the Young Men’s Association of Albany, for the use 
of their Lecture Room, and for their polite invitation to 
the members to visit their Reading Room and Library. 
On motion, the Society then adjourned, to meet at the 
Capitol at 7 o’clock, P. M. 
EVENING MEETING. 
The Society convened at the Capitol, pursuant to ad¬ 
journment, at 7 o’clock, P. M., when the Annual Ad 
dress was delivered by the president, J. B. Nott, Esq. 
On motion of J. J. Viele, Esq., it was 
Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be presented 
to Joel B. Nott, Esq., for his able and eloquent Ad¬ 
dress, delivered on this occasion; and that a committee 
of three be appointed to solicit a copy of the same for 
publication. [Committee—Messrs. Veile, Grove, and 
Walsh.] 
On motion of Dr. Goodsell of Utica, 
Resolved, That this Society recommend to the county 
agricultural societies to use their exertions to establish 
town societies. 
On motion of J. B. Nott, Esq., 
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to 
report at the next meeting on the propriety of establish¬ 
ing an Agricultural Board for this State. [Committee— 
Messrs. Nott, Van Bergen, Beekman, Ludlow, and 
Viele.] 
Amendments to the Constitution. 
On motion of J. B. Nott, Esq. 
Resolved, That no article of the Constitution can here¬ 
after be altered or amended, without a notice thereof 
being given one year before such alteration. 
Mr. Fuller gave notice that at the next annual meet¬ 
ing of the Society, a motion will be made to amend the 
Constitution, so that presidents of county agricultural so¬ 
cieties shall be ex-officio members of the Executive 
Committee of the said Society. 
The Society then adjourned, sine die. 
Koikes uf 2Cciu ^publications. 
FOURTH REPORT OF THE MASS. AG. SURVEY. 
We have received from Mr. Colman his Fourth Re¬ 
port, in the form of a beautiful, well bound volume, of 
more than 500 pages. We have been so much interested 
in these Reports, and they have contributed so much to 
the stock of agricultural knowledge, that we regret to 
learn from the preface to this volume, that this Report 
is to be the last, “the Legislature of that State having 
seen fit to repeal the act authorizing the survey, before 
its completion.” In our opinion, had the survey done 
nothing more than produced the volume before us, it 
would have repaid the State a thousand fold the trifling- 
expense incurred. It is in fact the most complete his¬ 
tory of the present state of New England agriculture, 
(and, with some slight modifications, that of all the 
northern States,) that has yet been given to the public. 
The marks of great labor and patient research and toil, 
are visible on every page, and form a source of the most 
valuable information on almost every practical point of 
our agriculture. The reader may differ from some of 
the expressed opinions of the writer, but he will not 
fail of feeling that these opinions have not been hastily 
formed or lightly expressed. Although in its title, this 
Report embraces but the counties of Franklin and Mid¬ 
dlesex, (the first Report embraced the county of Essex, 
the second that of Berkshire, and the third Report was 
on the subjects of Wheat and Silk,) the Commissioner 
has extended his remarks so as to include the most im¬ 
portant subjects of agriculture, and their present condi¬ 
tion throughout the State. It includes a mass of practi¬ 
cal facts and illustrations, to be found in no other form. 
We shall have frequent occasion to refer to it, here¬ 
after. 
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES. 
We are indebted to the publishers, Messrs. Dayton & 
Saxton of New-York, for a copy of H. W. Bradford’s 
new work, entitled ££ American Antiquities, and Re¬ 
searches into the Origin and History of the Red Race.” 
To those who feel an interest in the great questions con¬ 
nected with the settlement and peopling of the American 
continent; the race of orientals from which those first 
settlers were derived; the history of those ancient mon¬ 
uments so abundant in both North and South America; 
the manner in which this continent was first peopled, 
with the collateral questions of philology, customs, &c. 
that naturally spring from the subject, this work cannot 
fail to be abundantly fascinating. The fact that it does 
not properly come within the objects contemplated in 
our journal, only prevents a more extended notice. The 
