soil of the Union, and still, under scientific cultivation, it could afford bread to a continent as large as Europe. Such is the fact, for it is estimated on good authority that the harvest of the United States, this season, is sufficient to feed half the people on the globe. With scarcely one exception, every species of grain, fruit, and vegetable, is yielding throughout the country an extraordinary crop. Of beef, pork, butter, cheese, &c., there is the same plenty; and while our population are secure of every comfort and luxury in the way of food, we shall have a surplus sufficient to meet all the famine that may occur in the known world."

Nor has the American Agriculturist, we may safely say, reached the ultimatum of his intellectual destiny, for we are, in fact, but in the duwn of the scientific Agricultural day.

It is but one hundred and seventy-four years since, that the site of the present village of White Plains was the hunting-ground of the Indian Chief, Orawapum, and his warriors.* Now, behold what a change has taken place; how altered is the scene! mighty forests have been swept away-fields have been cultivated—a thriving village takes the place of the rude wigwams of Quaroppas, and the shrill whistle of the locomotive has superseded the Indian warwhoop. Wonderful transformation, who can realize it!

Farmers of Westchester! to you has Providence assigned this portion of the EMPIRE STATE, whose proud motto is "EXCELSIOR." Be it your first and last duty, therefore, to assist in extending, by every means in your power, the bounds of Agricultural science; for should you prove untrue to your profession, depend upon it, the loss of wealth will come upon you; and what is worse, shame will cover your faces when you hear of the success of agriculture in other lands.

It is a remarkable fact, well deserving of notice, that notwithstand ing the rapid strides which agriculture has made, both here and in Europe, within the last fifty years, no science has been slower in its progress towards perfection. The reason of this is, there has been, and there still is, a great want of that practical knowledge by which

Upon the 22d of November, 1683, the inhabitants of Rye purchased of the Indians "all that tract of land commonly called, by the English, the White Plaines, and by the Indians, Quaroppas."History of Westchester County, vol. II. p. 339.

alone we can understand the first principles of the science. Acquirements have been mechanical, books despised, and every new improvement rejected as the delusive schemes of new theorists, even after their value has been well ascertained. Prejudice, too, obstinately rejected things, simply because they were innovations on the practice of our grandfathers.

An uncultivated farmer, who is a mere delver in the sod, has been well compared to a "mere machine that annually produces so many bushels of wheat; a mere pile of nerves, muscles, and bones, that

lives as the father lived,

Dies where the father died, and thinks the moon

That rolls above the head, no larger than

The father's shield.""

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To use the language of one of our best writers on husbandry: * Prudence, therefore dictates the necessity of caution; but ignorance is opposed to every change, from the mere want of judgment to discriminate between that which is purely speculative, and that which rests upon a more solid foundation."

The same author continues: "The prejudices of farmers against all innovation upon their established habits, are as old as agriculture itself. In the dark ages of superstition, a man who, by any improved method, contrived to grow larger crops than his fellows, was supposed to use supernatural means; and if he escaped prosecution as a wizard, was at least shrewdly suspected of dealings with a power whom his more pious neighbors carefully avoided." Pliny mentions a freedman, who made his vineyard produce crops so much larger than those of his neighbors, that they accused him of witchcraft, and accordingly brought him to trial. When he appeared in the forum he produced a stout daughter, and some excellent implements, as iron spades, shears, &c.; and in presenting these, together with his oxen, to the Senate, he uttered those memoriable words: "These, Romans, are my charms." Upon which he was honorably acquitted. Other instances might be adduced, but one shall suffice: "On the introduction of hops into England, the city of London petitioned against their use, lest they should injure the beer." New implements, too, have been opposed, much upon the same principle as the objection made about a century ago, in Scotland, and so humorously as well as truly related by Sir Walter Scott, to the use of the winnowing machine. "Your leddyship and the steward hae been pleased to propose that my son Cuddie suld work in the barn wi' a new-fangled machine for

dighting the corn frae the chaff, thus impiously thwarting the will of Divine Providence, by raising wind for your leddyship's ain particular use, by human airt, instead of soliciting it by prayer, or waiting patiently for whatever dispensation of wind Providence was pleased to send upon the sheeling hill."

And even the most unprejudiced have much to contend with in the management of a farm; unforeseen difficulties will occur that baffle experience and repeated trial, so that it is often difficult to distinguish that which is realy useful from that which is worthless. Much practical knowledge, however, may be obtained by adopting the improvements of others-particularly Bakewell's advice to his friends, "To go and see what others are doing.” "By this he means he will be enabled to compare in the most effectual manner, their fashions with his own."

Farmers of Westchester! the American Institute, in its well-known zeal for the promotion of every agricultural improvement, this day invites you to come and "see what others are doing," and what can be done with the plow and spade, in a style infinitely superior to the old mode. By a close observation of the various competitors you will be able to see for yourselves the improvements which have been effected in that most important implement of husbandry, the plow, in which there has been an entire revolution, both in the kind of material used, and in the general form and construction.

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The Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture is said to have taken the lead in the institution of ploughing matches, and the offering of premiums for the best plows, which gave the first decided impulse to improvements in this direction. Their first plowing match took place at Brighton, in October, 1817.

The offer of premiums for the best plow, by this and other associations, soon followed; and by the competition which was thus in various ways created, improvements were started and pushed on, till at the present time a degree of perfection has been reached in some of the best constructed plows, in which it seems almost impossible to make any further improvement, such is the mechanical invention of man, as applied to one of the noblest implements of husbandry. May we fully appreciate this best gift the ingenuity of man ever invented, and promote its use in every arable spot in this vast country, util millions acknowledge the triumphant success of agriculture.

Before concluding, I am happy to say, that the American Institute has petitioned the Legislature for the endowment of an Agricultural College and Experimental Farm, with a view to a scientific and practical education in this noble art. The well-known disposition of our Legislature for every thing that can improve the character and condition of our people, insures its success.* We cannot express a better wish, or one in which I am sure you will all more heartily join,

than

"GOD SPEED THE PLOUGH."

• While this was in press, Governor Fish, in his Inaugural Address, strongly recommends the establishment of Agricultural Schools in this State.

ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS

Before the American Institute, on the 12th of October, 1848.

By the Rev. STEPHEN H. TYNG, D. D., of New-York.

MR. PRESIDENt and GentleMEN OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE:

My appearance before you in the attitude of a speaker on this occasion, has been most unexpected to myself. I trust my audience may be plainly informed that at the last moment of expectation, your appointed and highly qualified annual orator failed to come. Doubtless his well stored mind would have poured forth before you rich and attractive instructions upon some chosen department of the great subjects which engage your attention and care. Why, in this great community of learned and intelligent men, you should have selected myself as a substitute upon such an occasion, and so earnestly pressed upon me the fulfilment of the task which imperative duty had required him to leave, I know not. Gladly, indeed, would I have shrunk from a duty, for the proper discharge of which, the pressure of unceasing labors, with health by no means robust, completely disqualify me, even had I time allowed for thought. But in such a corner of opportunity as you have placed me, what merit can I have, other than a disinterested sacrifice of comfort, perhaps of reputation, for your pleasure, and an honorable failure, in the attempt to do something to prevent an absolute blank in your expected anniversary. I have felt in reference to your earnest and repeated solicitations for this effort, much like saying with the old patriarch, "if it must be so now, take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels; a little balm and a little honey, and myrrh and spices, and nuts and almonds," and go down, peradventure kindness will receive an offering, however mean, which is the best you have, or in the time are able to obtain.

The great and interesting object of your Institute I understand to be the encouragement of domestic industry, and of the improvements