Reasons for the Establishment of an Agricultural School and Experimental Farm, near the city of New-York.

First-Because agriculture is the most important and extensive employment of the people of this country, employing as it does fourfifths of the whole population, sustaining all other occupations, and forming the basis of public and private wealth and prosperity.

Second-Because it is for the greatest interest of the country to bring agriculture to the highest possible state of perfection.

Third-Because the cultivation of the earth, and all the processes of agriculture, involve the use of natural laws, and, therefore, to render it most successful, requires a knowledge of natural science in all its departments.

Fourth-Because attempts to cultivate the soil, without the aid of such knowledge, lead to a waste and loss of much time and labor, by counteracting natural laws instead of co-operating with them.

Fifth-Because improvements in the art of agriculture, have, heretofore, been much neglected, and have not received that public and private attention which its importance demands, and which has been bestowed upon other arts and branches of industry.

Sixth-Because improvements in agriculture require, not only a knowledge of the sciences, but also a practical application of their principles, to all the various modes of working and treating soils; and because, in consequence of the constant advance and disclosures of science, numerous, difficult, and time-consuming experiments therein, have become necessary, and which can be satisfactorily tried, only when ample preparation is made for them.

Seventh-Because farmers, generally, have neither time, means, nor qualification sufficient to conduct such experiments, and that the same, if made at all, must be by a combined effort, and can be more successfully carried out by the institution proposed than in any other way.

Eighth-Because in an institution, like the one proposed, might be taught, to the best advantage, everything calculated to render the business of farming more flourishing, prosperous and productive; such as enriching and draining soils, preserving and restoring their fertility, what manures are best adapted to the different kinds of soil,

how they take effect upon them, how they leach and become exhausted, and under what circumstances and conditions they should be applied; also, chemistry, botany, mineralogy, geology, grafting, budding, mensuration, surveying, zoology, and all other sciences. having any connection with agriculture and their application thereto. Also the use of all new inventions, improvements and machinery, also a knowledge of all kinds of stock, their breeding, uses, diseases, and the remedies therefor, and the best modes of keeping them in good health, also a knowledge of all insects, their uses and injuries, and the best means of preventing the latter.

Ninth-Because the institution proposed is a new enterprise, and every new thing requires the most favorable circumstances, at first, to show fairly what it really is, and can do, and to secure for it the confidence and favor of the people; and because this Institution is intended as a pioneer enterprise, to show the importance and benefit of such instruction, and to finally produce other institutions like it in different parts of the State and country, and it ought therefore to be where most will see its works.

Tenth-Because the vicinity of the city of New-York is a more favorable location for the first institution of this kind, and would combine more advantages to assure its success, than any other place in the State. There, suitable land, in every variety, can be obtained as cheap, considering its contiguity to the great markets of the metropolis, as in any other part of the State; there the farm and school would be visited by more people than anywhere else, and for that reason among others, the number of students and the amount of donations obtained would be much greater there than in any other place; there it could have the voluntary aid and services of many experienced professors of science, connected with the colleges and other institutions of the city; there could be obtained the use of extensive libraries and all kinds of apparatus, and particularly those of the American Institute; there, with the greatest possible facility, it could be furnished with all kinds of plants, seeds and specimens from all parts of the world, and with equal facility distribute them among the farmers of this State; there it could be conveniently supplied with materials and all varieties of manures for making experiments; there it would be accessible to the multitudes who visit the Great Fairs of the American Institute from all parts of the country, and there greater publicity through the numerous public journals of the city, would be given to the experiments and operations of the institution than could be secured in any other place.

Therefore, considering the aid which the American Institute can afford, both in money and knowledge, the large number of farmers belonging to it, and the deep interest it takes in agriculture, we do not hesitate to give our opinion, that the location prayed for presents advantages paramount to all others."

The advantages of proximity to New-York for learning which are the best machines and implements applicable to various purposes on the farm, are evident. No inconsiderable portion of its profits depends upon the use of the best kind. The farmer is continually exposed to deception and loss from highly recommended machines, which on trial prove defective and are abandoned.

At the Great Fair the collection of machines, tools and implements is immense, with all the conveniences for testing, in high perfection, provided. The expense incurred the last year for steam power alone, the accounts state to have been $654.61. Our intelligent committee say that there were exhibited more than 140 new inventions or improvements on old ones: more than was ever brought together in this country before. What an opportunity for the student to learn with his professors and the ingenious originators to explain their exact uses and merits, and to discriminate between the different constructions for the same purpose. The best is what he seeks for. These again may be tested on the farm without risking purchase until their defects or merits are ascertained. The daily exhibition. room of the Institute, when sufficient space shall be furnished, may be resorted to every day, and every new invention taken to the experimental farm and tested at once.

The paramount difficulty is in obtaining the means for commencing the establishment. The failure of individual efforts confirms this. The establishment of such an institution by this state was thirty years. ago recommended by some of our wisest statesmen, and repeated applications to the legislature have since been made. The state has an immense educational fund, a small portion of which, a mere fraction, with the contributions of public spirited individuals-and there are many such, impressed with the value of the proposed institution-we could add to these contributions a portion of the accumulations of the Institute already made, amounting to $12,000, that could be spared, which would in our opinion insure the undertaking. Once under way, it could hardly fail for want cf income. The farm might be made a source of continued profit, if 30 acres for one year from the Bloomingdale Asylum, and also the farm of R. & J. Cooper,

as stated within, show the result of good cultivation, near our city. markets. The raising of the best seeds in large quantities would be a public benefit, and as shown within, is in other countries attended with great success and profit. A large nursery might also be a source of profit. A portion of the future annual nett gains which could be spared, in justice to the arts-the whole of which amounted last year to five thousand dollars-would no doubt be cheerfully applied for this purpose, if the endowment of the state authorises commencing. The accounts for a series of years show that the annual income is more likely to increase than diminish. The tuition of students might, without extravagance, be estimated sufficient to cover the salaries of professors as soon as it is fairly in progress. If required, aid by voluntary contributions from wealthy individuals in our great city might, we think, always be relied on. So desirable an institution near our great city would not be suffered to languish for want of means.

We respectfully ask every friend of improvement to reflect on the benefits,

1st. Of a daily extensive exhibition of all the useful fabrications of invention, skill, and labor, in one spacious room in our great emporium, open every day to our enterprising citizens free from expense; and,

2dly. In its vicinity, an institute of instruction, for our youths, scientifically and practically, in the most healthy and useful of all occupations, and if they approve, we solicit their co-operation in obtaining a comparatively small endowment from the state, which, with the means that may be obtained from public spirited individuals, united with those of this Institute, will not fail, in our opinion, to accomplish all which has been proposed.

Respectfully submittted.

SHEPHERD KNAPP, President, pro tem.

H. MEIGS, Recording Secretary.

T. B. WAKEMAN, Corresponding Secretary.

New-York, March 1, 1848.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.

OF THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL FAIR.

The Board of Managers commenced their labor preparatory to the 20th exhibition in the early part of June. Their organization and division into subcommittees was first completed, and from that time to the present the gentlemen composing the board have devoted their time with zeal and attention. When the immense amount of labor necessary to be performed in a very short period of time is taken into view, exemption from errors can hardly be expected; we indulge a hope, however, that the results will meet the approbation of the Institute.

The fair was opened to the public at Castle Garden on the 6th day of October, and closed on the 23d. The exhibition consisted of productions from 2,194 contributors in almost every department of manufactures, the mechanic arts and horticultural production. The whole consisting of more than 20,000 articles, were arranged by the labor and under the directions of the members of the Board in the best possible manner that the time would permit, which, from the daily demonstration of visitors, we are encouraged to believe met the public approbation. The horticultural department was entirely under the management of Thomas Bridgman, Esq., who merits our warmest thanks for his assiduity and taste. For a particular and interesting account of this department we refer with pleasure to his report hereto appended.

It is gratifying to be able to say, that in various branches of important manufactures, and also in the production of the mechanic arts, improvements and delicacy of finish, beyond the exhibition of last year, were strikingly visible.

It would be a curious and instructive spectacle could we arrange the fair of 1828 by the fair of 1847, as illustrative of the great