Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-12-11
ADDRESSES BEFORE THE AMERICAN
INSTITUTE, AT THE ANNUAL FAIR,
I'M OCT 1RI5. .n ed.

We have received five pamphlets, emanatint
from the American Institute at New York, which
we propose to use, occasion oilers, Tor the oene
fit of our readers-taking the pamphlets in thei
order
First is an address delivered at the opening o.
the Annual Fair of the American Institute, Oct
1S45, by Professor James J. Mapes.
This is matter of fact affair." evidently delivered
off hand, for the purpose of showing what the A.
merican Institute is and what it has done. The adj
dress affords hints for our county agricultural socl
cites to improve upon. The American Institute Is
composed Of Farmers, Mechanics, Manufacturers
and scientific men: now for some Of its fruits
which we present in various extracts:
AGer eighteen years of active industry, it has
established correspondence with every state and
county in this Union. Its services to the agrcul-
turiss are freely admitted by every farmer from
Maine to Georgia. The agricultural department Of
our Institute holds yearly conventions, bringing to-
gether the results of agricultural experiments from
every section of the country, and more queries and
enlgmas have been definitely settled by it, than by
all other sources for disseminating practical knowl-
edge in this important branch of industry Our
Repository is the receptacle of seeds from all parts
of the world, sent there by philanhropc individu-
modes OF culture ascertaned by our friends, are
disseminated for the public benefit
On the first and third Tuesdays of each month
the Farmers Club holds its meetings at the rooms
of the Institute and at these meetings practical
farmers present specimens of products, and de-
scribe modes of culture. Their remarks are eager
ly caught up by the reporters of the various agri-
cultural papers throughout the country and thus
all the improvements Of the experimental farmers
in the neighborhood of New York are published
for the use of the farmer.
1t is well known that many of the fine lands of
Virginia, and other parts of the southern country,
have been thought to be ,corn Out but our Farm
ers Club has clearly established the fact that is
only the surface that has been exhausted; and that
by deep ploughng, and light manuring alone, most
of these lands may be again rendered available
These hints have been put in practice, and many
lands which could have been purchased few years
since for IS or $40 per acre, are worth from
$40 to 500 per acre. This practice of deep
ploughing is now restoring the miscalled WORKOUT
lands of Virginia to luxuriant and profitable farms
Our ploughing matches have also been produc-
tive of benefit The style of plough mode of han
ding, &C., are all important.
The exertions of the Farmers Club added to
our exhibition, have doubled the supply Of grapes
in the vicinity of New York, within the last few
years.
1t cannot be doubted that the improvements in
our agricultural products, from the causes already
stated are at least one per cent. on the whole a.
mount of the crop; and as this amount exclusive
of the tobacco sugar, cotton and rice crops is GER
tanly S700,000,O00our Institute has benefited the
country at large, in the department of agriculture
alone, $7,0O0,O00 per onnum.
The sugar planters of Louisiana have received
still greater ratio of benefit from the exertions of
some of the members Of this institution, and they
freely acknowledge it.
he Tnstitute hnc olco established ConrproofioY
al Meetings., and their well filled rooms on these &C.
casons show the estimation in which they are held
by those who attend them.
At these meetings, a subject of useful charac-
ter is proposed for conversation; each member who
Is present states any facts he may know in relation
TO this subject but he can only occupy fifteen min
utes thus long speeches are prevented and short,
crisp, practical knowledge alone is elected. BY this
method, the reading and experience Of one hun
dred men for twenty years, is made available to all
present in single hour. When the tempering of
steel was our subject, it became evident that on
leaving the room, every person present knew more
of the matter than any one, however practical, at
the commencement of the meeting The public
journals throughout the country have published re-
ports of these meetings, and these reports
tinually referred TO for information.
A Faculty has also been established, and profess
sors appointed to the different departments whose
duties are 10 furnish information gratis to those
whu may apply for it,
During tile winter season we have lectures de-
ivered at the rooms in the Park all subjects of
interest and on such occasions the public gener-
ally are invited to attend without charge.
1t would be an endless task to portray the bene-
fits which have resulted from our yearly fairs the
emulation which has arisen from competition has
produced all the wonderful results which are now
before you What is the character of American
now, as compared with those eXhib.
tied at our first fair? Look at our cloth rcom and
see there cloths which would do honor to any En-
gsh manufacturer Of five years ago. A few years
since, our dyers were unable to compete with the
English and French dyers; now they are surpass-
ed by neither Instead of wearing American cloths
from patriotism, we do it now from choice they
are better than foreign cloths Of the same cost.-
Examine the cotton and other fabrics, and it is with
some difficulty you can believe that they are the
product OF American looms.
Our Improvements in hardware and cutlery are
equally great. What surgeon now thinks of send
ing abroad for his instruments What tailor for
his shears? None; they are better made at home.
Look at the ladies' hats now in this room; what
leghorn can equal them in beauty or quality p
Who now sends TO England for cut glass, and what
but the emulation arising from our fairs has reduc
ed its value to the present low prices? Some of
the best specimens in our exhibition are brought
from beyond the Allegheny Mountains by the man
ufacturers. Look at the girandoes and Candida
bras before you, and reccoect the entire impoSsi-
bility of procuring such goods few years since.
Next is an address delivered Oct s, by II. C..
Westervelt, Esq. This is mainly devoted to the
improvement in steam navigation, and affords moth
ing particularly interesting to the men of the noun
tains of Vermont.
Oct 9th an address was delivered by Henry
Meigs, Esq on Agriculture and Horticulture, from
which we extract the following paragraphs;
Call up from the records of men those names
which cannot die, and you will find them all of one
mind as to the culture of the earth. What is the
rule Of that venerable empire at our antipodes ::
Chinese cmperors have been always bound by a
custom of several thousand years, to appear in the
held at the opening of every spring, and in the
presence Of The first men Of the empire, take hold
OF the plough and run the first furrow
Cato OF Rome always cried aloud to the Romans,
go to your fields and work them with as much en-
ergy as you would meet the enemy in battle The