portance to the agriculture of their country, to carry into execution the views of Washington, as expressed in one of his last messages to Congress, relative to the establishment by government of a Department for Agriculture. And we here beg leave to repeat his words:

દ It will not be doubted that with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance in population, and other circumstances of maturity, this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the cultivation of the soil more and more an object of public patronage. Institutions for promoting it grow up, supported by the public purse, and to what object can it be dedicated with greater propriety? Among the means which have been employed to this end, none have been attended with greater success than the establishment of boards, composed of proper characters, charged with collecting and diffusing information, and enabled by premiums and small pecuniary aid, to encourage and assist a spirit of discovery and improvement, by stimulating to enterprise and experiment, and by drawing to a common centre the results every where, of individual skill and observation, and by spreading them thence over the whole nation. Experience has accordingly shown that they are very cheap instruments of immense national benefits."

Such was the language of Washington, when at the summit of his wisdom. Yet, strange to say, fifty years have passed away since these words were uttered, and nothing has yet been done.

Is it because farming is a low occupation, unworthy the notice of government? Is it because they are mere operatives, whose interests are below the notice of the government? Such were not the views of the greatest men of ancient Rome. Cincinnatus, like our Washington, was a farmer, and held up to glory the cultivation of the soil! Cincinnatus, by his own example, ennobled the farmer, and Washington precisely imitated him.

We most earnestly ask Congress to look at the practical effect of the establishment of Washington's Department for Agriculture.

The public purse would then be employed in obtaining all the seeds, all the plants, all the animals, for use and for pleasure, from every part of the globe. The department would have the means, already in existence, of doing all this, through the multitude of agents employed by government, consisting of officers of our army and navy-of consuls, charges, ministers-and would also obtain the aid [Assembly, No. 151.]

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of every captain of our vast mercantile marine, and the agents of our immense commerce in every land. And it would have the power not only to concentrate at Washington all these good things, but all manner of accurate information relative to their origin, qualities, and modes of raising and utility; and diffusing all this in the most authentic manner among our farmers. And by establishing appropriate premiums for excellence, in every branch of the farming and gardening pursuits, the highest spirit of emulation would be produced. Such a department would attract the eye of every cultivator, and cause him to feel that noble pride which of right belongs to his inestimable labors. Such a department would employ clerks acquainted with foreign languages-a constant correspondence would ensue between it and all important agricultural societies, and with all the governments of the earth. Its questions would be promptly and authentically answered from China to Great Britain, and from Russia to New-Holland; every facility would be given to the transportation of plants and animals to our country, from all foreign lands.

The sovereigns of Europe would cheerfully lend their aid in all this; for they all feel now, more than has been felt by their predecessors for the last fifteen centuries, the surpassing importance of the agriculture of the world. They all feel that the glory of nations, their virtue, and their high agriculture, are three inseparable facts! HENRY MEIGS, of New-York,

Chairman of the committee. (Signed)-H. A. S. DEARBORN, Roxbury, Mass.

Dr. Underhill (on the call of the 4th subject in the order of business) said, "The subject, though perhaps new to many, has engaged my mind for six years, during which time I have studiously sought for a remedy. My attention was first called to the subject by a ġentleman who observed, that after a light shower all his vineyard appeared to be in a sickly condition, an effect just the reverse from what might be anticipated from rain. He thought possibly that the vines had been injured by electric fluid running along the wire which supported them. This reason was not satisfactory, and after some observation I was satisfied that the injury was done by the gases from a neighboring brick kiln. Subsequent observations confirmed this opinion. The effects upon the leaves of trees and plants are much like those of a severe fire; the tender and pendulous portions of the leaves are turned to a redish-brown color, and curl up as if seared by extreme heat. In some instances, spots are, as it were, burned through, as if strong acid had dropped upon them. The cause of this appears to me to arise from the anthracite coal used in making brick. This is used to facilitate their burning; in those nearest the fire only three pecks is put into a thousand bricks, while those on the outside contain twelve bushels per thousand. This is the case in one brick yard, according to the statement made to me by the owner himself. The quantity of coal may vary in different localities, but something near this proportion probably exists in all cases. When the burning is nearly done, the coal on the outside bricks is on fire, and large quantities of carbonic acid gas, sulphuretted hydrogen, carburetted hydrogen, and perhaps a little phosphorated hydrogen, are evolved. These gases, (particularly the last,) are the most active and injurious to vegetation. When the atmosphere is moist, and in foggy weather with a light breeze, their effects are traceable for miles. In some instances you will find the track of a stream from 100 yards to a half a mile in width and several miles in length. If a heavy rain happens at the same time, the effect is less serious; it seems to wash off the injurious gas.

"These injuries occur not only in vineyards, but are observed in forest trees, shrubbery, fruit trees and vegetables. The Newtown pippin is a great sufferer; sometimes its blossoms are destroyed, or if these escape, perhaps so many leaves are ruined that not enough are left to furnish sap for the proper maturity of the fruit, and the apple is small and of poor flavor. I know one very large and fine orchard in Westchester county which has been ruined in this manner. Nor is this a solitary case; hundreds of orchards along the North River have been more or less injured.

"I am aware that I shall raise something of a storm in places where brick making is a business. But after so long studying upon the evil, I do not speak at random, and further, I have something here to corroborate my statements. [Dr. Underhill exhibited several branches of forest and fruit trees which had been touched by these gases, corresponding in appearance to his description.] After this injury by the noxious gases, the plant louse and other insects are more than usually active, and often complete the destruction of the foliage. Where the gas falls upon the leaves of the hickory, it sometimes cuts a hole through the leaf. Pine is quickly destroyed by it, the whole tree being effectually killed. In fact, this deleterious gas injures almost every thing in the vegetable kingdom, and an efficient and immediate remedy is most anxiously desired."

The subject was, on motion, committed to Messrs. Ellsworth, Underhill, Brink, Haight, and Darrach, who will report to the Farmers' Club.

The next business (diseases of potatoes) was taken up, and after some brief remarks from Mr. Ellsworth, of Conn., it was laid on the table for want of time to treat it at length.

The culture of silk then came up, and on motion, Messrs. Van Epps, Hyde, Summy and Byram, were appointed a committee to repcrt at the next meeting.

Some conversation on silk, and in regard to the place for the next meeting was held, and it was

Resolved, That when we adjourn, we adjourn to meet at the Repository of the American Institute in the Park, on Friday, at 10 o'clock, A. M.

The 7th subject (culture of native grapes) then came up, and,

On motion, it was referred to Messrs. Underhill, Meigs and Hall, to report at the next meeting.

The president then read a letter from S. B. Parsons, of Flushing, L. I., recommending the establishment of a botanical garden in Florida, for the acclimation of tropical trees and plants, domesticating of valuable exotics, &c.

Gen. Dearborn gave a brief history of the experiment of a botanic garden made by Dr. Perrine in Florida, during the Seminole

war; spoke briefly of the duty the government owes to the people to advance with all reasonable means such philanthropic objects; of intelligence as the surest basis of freedom; complimented the Parsons family on their stability and intelligence, &c., &c.

The subject was finally referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs. S. B. Parsons, H. A. S. Dearborn, R. L. Pell, Rev. R. R. Gurley, and William Valk, to report at next meeting.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That the American Institute be requested to renew their application to the Legislature of this State for a grant to establish an agricultural college and experimental farm somewhere in the vicinity of New-York.

After considerable desultory conversation, Messrs. Wakeman, Darrach and Chandler, were appointed a committee to carry into effect the foregoing resolution.

There being no further business offered,

On motion, the Convention adjourned, to meet at the Repository of the American Institute on Friday, at 10 o'clock, A. M.

Third Day.

Friday, October 16, 1846.

The Convention met at the Repository of the Institute in the Park, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 o'clock, A. M.

H. A. S. Dearborn, President, called the meeting to order, and D. J. Browne, Secretary, read the minutes of the previous session, which were adopted.

Reports of committees being in order,

Gen. Dearborn, from the committee to whom was referred the subject of a "botanic garden in Florida," read the following report:

Report of the Committee on the establishment of a Botanic Garden in Florida.

The committee to whom was referred the communication of S. B.. Parsons, of Flushing, on the " establishment of a botanic garden in Florida, for the acclimation of foreign trees and plants valuable for