The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-08-07

lily AnueAugence.
OcEAs STEAM NAvIaArIoS.--The second bed plate
for the steamer United States will be cast to-day
day. Messrs T. F. secor Co.'s foundry, between II
and II O'Clock A. Nj.
FARMERS CLuB-ExcuRssoN TO GRgENronr AND SAG
Hanson 1t may not be known to the people of this
city that Long Island in the Immediate vicinity of
this great metropolis and connected with it by one of
the best railroads in the country there is an immense
of land possessing for the most part excellent
SOIL which has remained since the discovery of the
American continent in wild state, iod of it
having been opened by plough. When the Island
first peoped the settlers from other sup
posed that this portion of the island barren and un
fit for cultivation and instead of practically testing
truth their copecturcs by experiment. they by
and settled other portions which they considered
to be better adapted for agriculture. The opinion
which the early settlers formed of this part Of Long
Island descended from father to and from
ton to generation and is strongly maintained
as 1t was first Notwithstanding that of science
have repeatedly asserted that the SOIL with little labor
and expense might be rendered fertile any other
part of the State.
A short time sinceSan invitation was given to the
Farmers Cuba branch of the American Institute Of
this cityto visit this portion Of the island examine Its
SOIL and pronounce opinion its value for agricu
tura purposes. The invitation was accepted and the
members Of that body, and several invited guests,
in oil numbering nearly two hundred persons
among whom we may mention Chin-Chin and Kee-
sing of the Chinese junk left Brooklyn Wednesday
morning last excursion through Long Island, in
train which was politely rendered to them by Mr..
Meeks President Of the railroad The company started
at about nine O'clock and reached Greenport about six
In the evening.
The first place stopped at was Jamaica Plains where
soil. Here far as the eye reach every sde is
immense tract of land almost perfectly level and the
wonder is that it is not cultivated. The soil pro-
nounced to be excellent and admirably suited for farm
ing purposes. Instead Of it's being barren q vege-
table mould Of nearly foot In depth shown At this
place our Chinese guests attracted much attention. and
were the observed OF all observes.
The next place the train stopped at Farmngdae,
of the methodists in camp meeting The soil too
was examined and pronounced good. Every member Of
the club expressed his astonshment that should have
remained long in unproductive state. After
pairing notes and opinions the party again embarked
and to Deer Park called because of the
Der Of deer which to be there An hours ride
brought to Suffolk station the center of the large
tact Of uncultivsted land, forty-three miles dis
tant from New York. The party got in the shade and
char, If the top of lumber wagon be termed
Gen: PECK being called upon to make few remarks,
as It was within three or FOUR niles Of
the best cultivated and most productive farms Long
Island The soil here, he said, was excellent, the
heavy growth of scrub oak and pine proved The place
where the meeting then being held was burned
eighteen months ago. and the luxurant growth of
brush which evident before them had taken place
since that time In to several questions he Id
not account for this portion Of Long Island remain
ing SO long uncultivated. On being asked by the
chairman il any attempt had been made to cultivate
any portion OF it, and whether such attempts, if
any, successful he replied that attempts have been
made small scale, and that they successful
Good of potatoes and rye have been raised in the
ordinary way OF cultivation and vegetables which
took the premium at the agricultural exhibition, were
raised on this very land Notwithstanding these facts
general belief prevails that this soil is suitable
farming purposes and this belief is almost impossible
TO eradicate There is tract of this land extern
which lies in the same condition that part which
In Suffolk alone there are upwards of four
this land has ranged for five years past from dollar
to five and ten, according to the quantity of tim
to s Se sS
so is the water, which be obtained of the
purest kind, in never failing quantities. The
Tho ownership of these great tracts is held by
Smithtown lsip and other towns but it originally
vested in the Nicolls under patent called the Nicol
patent.
The meeting then broke up, the company embarked
and proceeded to Yapank they accepted invita-
ton view the grounds Of Mr. Meeks, which under
from the adjoining waste They got of the and
path through the woods for quarter of mile at the
end Of which Mr. Meeks mansion Here the
Club remarked fine orchards, grass lands &c. and had
proof of what this hitherto called barren land
was capable OF by judio0us husbandry After taking
party pursued the middle Island road to point where
1t connects with the railroad where the train wait
Having embarked the shri whistle of the locomotive
was exercised call in stragglers and in few
the train was under Meh Tor so which place
and opinions expressed on 1t. Dr. Underhil care
fully looking at it, said that it much better adapted
cultivation than great portion Of his farm at Croton
Point and that he had hesitation in saying that he
would plant grape vines in 1t with every hope OF
the unanimous opinion OF the club that there
obsale to cultivation every remarked the
mally that tract of land like that which they
passing over within such easy to New York.
remains as wild as the interior of Wisconsin.
Riverhead the next place the party stopped at,
and here the members of the club much pleased
with what they Beautiful fields of and vege
tables seen on every side Having again embark
ed party proceeded to Greenport where it init
mated proprietor ofho Peconic House would have
good dinner ready for them This good to the
members for we heard many of them that certain
unmistakable growlngs In the abdominal regions ad-
monshed them that the inner man required some nu-
triment
Thinking of the havoc they would commit on the
edibles when they reached the Peconic, the men,
beers of the club got board the cars and reached
Greenport about six clock and put up the Peconic
House. kept by Mr.. Fairchild. In few minutes after
wards the dinner bell rang, and in few minutes
the club emerged In body from the dining saloon each
member thereof having eaten excellent dinner and
in capital spirits It was arranged that meeting be
held in the evening, but the difficulty in the way was
the procuring Of place large enough to hold the party
and the farmers of Greenport This obviated by
the trustees of the Presbyterian Church. who in very
handsome manner, rendered the of their and
handsome place Of worship for the purpose. Accord
ngy the club met there at eight o'clock and proceeded
to business Mr.. Philip Schuyler was nominated as
President. The following named gentlemen Vice
Presidents
Francis Barretto, westchester; John L. Lawrence, N
York; Major VIM. Jones, Queens; Willets, do; James
Walters Kings; VIM. Sidney Smith, Suffolk DR.. Os-
borne, do.
Secretaries-Henry Meies New York; Albert G. Carll
Queens; T. b. Waterman New York
The PRESIDENT explained the objects of the Mocha
MICS Institute and the various departments into which
it is divided, and said, that he chairman OF the
mittee agriculture Finding said he, that this por-
ton of State is in great need OF Improvement was
deemed expedent by the club To visit it, for the purpose
of obtaining information the best way of H. proving
it, The United States, he said is now supporting a
large portion of the world with its productions and to
increase agricultural by bringing into cul
tivaton immense tract of valuable land in the mme
neighoorhood of the best markets. is the object of
this visit.
Preseason MEIes then epoke He said that he had al
ways taken great interest In Long Island ant that 1t
had its origin in his acquaintance with DR. Mitchell
who had truly its welfare at heart. In regard to the