ANNUAL REPORT OF TIIE TRANSACTIONS OF THfi QUEENS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, * CONTAINING DELIVERED AT THE EXHIBITION OF THE SOCIETY, At Hempstead, October 17th, 1813, BY D. S. DICKINSON: THE REPORTS OF COMMITTEES, THE PREMIUMS AWARD- ED, AND A LIST OF THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1843. PRINTED BY CHARLES W1LLETS, HEMPSTEAD, L. I. 1844. lEx IGtfartB SEYMOUR DURST Jericho, November 21th, 1843. To Lieut. Gov. Dickinson, My Dear Sir, Immediately after the delivery of your Address be- fore our Agricultural Society, the following resolution was adopted : ''Resolved, — That we present our sincere thanks to the Hon. Dan- iel S. Dickinson, for the able and interesting Address with which he has just favoured us, and that he be respectfully requested to fur- nish a copy for publication.'' Indulging the hope that you will be pleased to comply with the wish of the Society, I have the honor to be, Sir, Very Eespectfully, Your Obedient Servant, ALBERT G. CARLL, Corresponding Secretary. Binghampton, Dec. bth, 1843. My Dear Sir, Pursuant to the request of the Queens County Agri- cultural Society, as contained in the kind and complimentary resolu- tion, conveyed in your favor of the 27th ult. : I transmit a copy of my Address, delivered at their fair in October, for publication. It was the work of haste, and did not receive that attention from me which the importance of the subject demands. Be pleased to accept for yourself and in behalf of the Society re- newed assurances of high consideration and regard. D. S. DICKINSON. To Albert G. Carll, Esq., Corresponding Secretary, &c. ADDRESS. The earth was by Divine appointment, to furnish man's subsis- tence. When, as sacred history informs us, the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them, and there was not a man to till the ground, man was created and placed in the garden ; not to vegetate in passive luxuriance, like the herbs and plants which adorned his paradise, but to dress and keep it : and though by rea- son of his defection he was driven from its enjoyments ; his state of calm and happy innocence was changed to one of solicitude, toil and endurance — the ground was cursed for his sake with thorns also and thistles, and it was ordained that in the sweat of his face he should eat his bread : — it is evident, that in the economy of his creation, as well as in the appointment of his lot after the fall, he was destined for active employment. Practical agriculture is coeval with the history of man. One of the sons of our common progenitor was a tiller of the ground, and the other was a keeper of sheep. Noah and his descendants after the flood, planted and cultivated vineyards, as well as reared cities and established kingdoms. Many of the laws of Moses have for their object the regulation of flocks and herds, and the cultiva- tion and enjoyment of fields. The children of Israel, on coming to the possession of the fair land of Canaan, after wandering in the wilderness a period of forty years, addressed themselves to its cul- tivation. When the prophet Elijah passed by and cast his mantle upon Elisha, he found him ploughing in the field with twelve yoke of oxen before him, himself with the twelfth; and, the servants and oxen of the affluent Idumean were engaged in the same pur- suit, when they fell a prey to the rapacity of the Sabeans. Many of the most interesting and poetic incidents of scripture are touch- ing the harvesting and gleaning of fields, and other rural occupa- tions, and its pages are replete with descriptions of the man- agement of flocks and herds, sheep shearings, thrashing floors and other evidences of husbandry. The ancient Egyptians tilled the ground with so much success, that they were enabled to withstand the consuming influences of a famine of seven years duration, and to supply their neighbors who were destitute and in want, with corn from the royal granaries. And although in their blind spirit of idolatrous devotion they at- tributed the invention of an art so useful to their god Osiris, they applied their energies to aid the profuse liberality of nature, or, as they believed, the munificence of their deity, and rendered the fer- 4 tile banks of the Nile still more productive by irrigation, drains and embankments. The aboriginal inhabitants of Greece were strangers to this primeval art, and subsisted upon the spontaneous productions of the earth, until they were led by the Egyptians, to whom they were indebted for the science which has rendered classic Greece immor- tal, to its successful cultivation. But they too, true to their idola- trous instincts, attributed the productions of the soil — the rewards of their own industry, to the kindly care and keeping of their tute- lar goddess, Ceres. In the glowing and poetic age of Homer, La- ertes laid aside the kingly robes of office for the peaceful pursuits of agriculture. Hesiod sung of the labors of the field ; Xenophon and Aristotle and other Greek writers of eminence furnish numer- ous and interesting notices of rural affairs : and the Carthaginians, by agriculture, prepared Sicily to be the granary of Rome. The ancient inhabitants of all-conquering Rome, divided their time and energies between war and husbandly. Cincinnatus came from the plough to discharge the duties of the office of dictator, and sought the earliest opportunity consistent With his country's honor, to lay aside the power and dignity of station and return to the employ- ment from whence he was called : and Regulus, a Roman senator, in a spirit worthy of imitation by modern legislators, sought retire- mentffrom the senate for a season, that he might preserve his little farm from dilapidation and ruin. Whether the hardy Roman pitched his tent or ploughed his field — whether he wielded the weapons of war, or the implements of husbandry — the sword or the ploughshare — the spear or the pruning hook, his action was characterized by the same unyielding, irrepressible energy and vig- or. The laudable pursuit of agriculture was not neglected by the patricians until the seductive influences of wealth introduced lux- ury and artificial manners with their corrupting consequences, and even then, many, cherishing the early virtues of their nation, con- tinued to give the subject their personal attention ; — while others, like political farmers of modern times, preferred to farm by proxy, and performed it by their slaves. The attachment of this people to the pursuits of agriculture may be found in the writings of Pliny, Cato and Virgil, all of which abound with practical suggestions on the various duties of the husbandman. The ox was scarcely less esteemed by them than by the ancient Egyptians, by whom he was worshipped, and their books contain numerous suggestions for breeding, breaking, feeding and working of this, their favorite ani- mal. They drove their plough, a rude implement, scarcely an apol- ogy for the utensil of this day, with and without wheels, with and without coultres, and with shares of various kinds ; and they tried, but with what success is perhaps uncertain, the experiment of reap- ing with machines. Hay making was performed by them after the manner of the present day, and the practice of fallowing their land, and of weeding and watering their crops, was universal. Wc have then, the high authority of history, sacred arid profane, for declaring that agriculture is a dignified and time honored call- ing — ordained and favored of heaven, and sanctioned by experi- ence ; and we aro invited to its pursuit by the rewards of the past and the present, and the rich promises of the future. While tho fierce spirit of war, with its embattled legions, has, in its proud tri- umphs, "whelmed nations in blood, and wrapped cities in fire," and filled the land with lamentation and mourning, it has not brought peace or happiness to a single hearth — dried the tears of the wid- ows, or hushed the cries of the orphans it has made — bound up or soothed one crushed or broken spirit — nor heightened the joys of domestic or social life in a single bosom. But how many dark recesses of the earth has agriculture illumined with its blessings! How many firesides has it lighted up with radiant gladness ! How many hearts has it made buoyant with domestic hope ! How of- ten, like the good Samaritan,. has it alleviated want and misery, while the priest and Levite of power have passed by on the oth- er side ! How many family altars, and gathering places of affec- tion, has it erected ! How many desolate homes has it cheered by its consolations ! How have its peaceful and gentle influences filled the land with plenteousness and riches, and made it vocal with praise and thanksgiving ! It has pleased the benevolent author * of our existence, to set in boundless profusion before us, the necessary elements foi a high state of cultivation and enjoyment., Blessings clus- ter around us like fruits of the land of promise, and scienco unfolds her treasures and invites us to partake, literally without money and without price. The propensities of our nature as well as the philosophy of our being, serve to remind us that man was formed for care and labor — for the acquisition and en- joyment of property — for society and govcrment — to wrestle with the elements around him ; and, that by an active exercise of his powers and faculties alone, can he answer the ends of his crea- tion, or exhibit his exalted attributes. His daily wants, in all con- ditions of life, prompt him to exertion ; and the spirit of acquisition so deeply implanted in the human breast, that "ruling passion strong in death," so universally diffused through the whole family ot man, is the parent of that laudable enterprise which has caused the wilderness to bud and blossom like the rose — planted domestic enjoyments in the lair of the beast of prey, and transformed the earth from an uncultivated wild into one vast store house of sub- sistence and enjoyment. What can be more acceptable to the pa- triot or the philanthropist, than to behold the great mass of man- kind raised above the degrading influences of tyranny and indolence to the rational enjoyment of the bounties of their Creator ? To see, in the productions of man's magic powers, tho cultivated country — the fragrant meadow — the waving harvest — the smiling garden, and the tasteful dwelling, and himself chastened by the precepts of religion, and elevated by the refinements of science, par- taking of the fruits of his own industry, with the proud conscious- ness that he eats not the bread of idleness or fraud : that his gains are not wet with the tears of misfortune nor wrung from his fellow. 5 by the devices of avarice or extortion : his joys heightened, his sorrows alleviated, and his heart rectified by the cheering voice and heaven born influences of woman. Well mav he sit down under his own vine and fig tree without fear of molestation, and his nightly repose be more quiet than that of the stately monarch of the east upon his down of cygnets, or the voluptuous Sybarite upon his bed of roses. The present occasion will scarcely be deemed suitable for spec- ulations, by him who addresses you, upon.the detailed processes of husbandry — the relative strength of soils — utility of grains and gras- ses, and the proper period for seed time and harvest. These should be taught by other lips, where the science is inculcated, rather than where we have met together to celebrate its tri- umphs. The prosperity of those engaged in agricultural pursuits, de- pends not alone upon the successful cultivation of the field, and the judicious management of the farm. These, to be sure, are of pri- mary importance, and indispensable to the success of the underta- king ; but there are other subjects which deeply concern their in- terests and well being, without a knowledge of which they must fail to enjoy the high station they were destined to occupy in the scale of social and political being. The farmer cannot gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles ; nor can he reap the fruits of knowledge without its care and culti- vation. The vast numerical majority of those engaged in this pursuit, over all others, shows that our moral, social, and political condition, is in their keeping. It proves the high privileges they enjoy, as well as the responsibility which rests upon them. Priv- ileges which they cannot duly estimate, and responsibilities which they cannot properly discharge without the acqui- sition of general knowledge, and a high cultivation of the moral powers and faculties. With these they may raise and maintain their own standard of intelligence, and control, for good or for evil, the destinies of government. The mind of the professional man is engaged with his particu- lar calling, striving to become cniment and useful, struggling per- chance, with rivalry on cither hand, realizing " how hard it is to climb the steep where fame's proud temple shines from far." His mental vision is fixed upon a single object. His mind is accustomed to run in grooves fashioned by his pursuit — all else palls upon the sense, and he too often lives and dies the mere creature of his profession. The merchant is buried in com- merce, and the mechanic absorbed with inventions and improve- ments. But to the fanner, devoted to no theories, and wedded to no system, with the ample volume of nature constantly before him unfolding her mysteries and spreading out her allurements ; the deep fountains of Knowledge stand open, and all combines to inspire him with a love for the sublime and beautiful. The glory of the morning sunbeam, emblem of hope and gladness — the pearly dew which glitters in his pathway — the (lowers which 7 smile around him and the rejoicing of animated nature, tend to fill him with sentiments of love and adoration, and to elevate and re- fine his heart. It is a fallacy no less mischievous than idle, to suppose that there is no learning but the learning of the schools, or that in the phrase of the day, "getting an education" neccsarily requires the individu- al to abandon, for the time being, all other employments, and de- vote himself alternately to study and indolence. The pursuits of the farmer, with proper economy and a judicious division of time, are consistent with the prosecution of science and the acqui- sition of knowledge; and of that knowledge, too, which will ena- ble him to discharge all the relations of life with as much prudence, understanding, and fidelity, as him whose only pursuit is study, and which mingling its streams with the mighty current of human af- fairs, will teach industry, temperance, and frugality, and carry re- finement and intelligence to the lowliest cabin of the plains, and the remotest cottage of the mountain. The moral sublimity of the scene is equalled only by the magni- tude of our country, the diversity of her interests and the vastness of her population. When the mind's eye tires with contempla- ting the untold productions and resources of the Empire State, with her fertile soil — her broad rivers and inland seas — her exten- sive territory — her magnificent improvements — her boundless commerce, and her institutions of religion, charity, and learning ; let it glance for a moment, for a more extended view, at the infant giant of the west. The wild horse of the prairie now draws the plough over soil where erst he was wont to gambol — the bark which bears the hardy emigrant to his distant home, returns deep freighted with the productions of his toil — the shrill war whoop has died away in the hum of busy industry — and shall I add, painful and melancholy as is the reflection, rum, the white man's tomahawk, is fast doing its work of death upon the Pawnee and the Sioux of the border. Stricken and persecuted red man ! How few are the hearts that will bleed at the recital of your woes or the tears that will fall around your lowly death bed 1 Look for the last time upon the little hillocks where repose the remains of those you loved, and upon the banks of the stream where you sported in childhood, or listened to the shadowy traditions of the past ! The mighty warriors of your nation are driven from their rustic firesides — they are hurried to and fro like withered forest leaves before the blasts of autumn, and the few who yet linger will soon cease to tremble ! May the deep wrongs which have been visited upon your people, and the wild revenge with which they have been repaid, alike find mercy and forgiveness at the great council fire of eternity, and the red man be ushered into his hap- py hunting ground, in a forest of fadeless and never-dying beauty. It is the high prerogative of the farmer to say who shall ad- minister the various departments of our government, and to in- dicate its policy. To determine whether the noble ship of state, in which we are all embarked in common, shall ride proudly on- s ward to her port of destination — to her anchorage in tho harbor of happiness and peace; or whether she shall be torn by the angry and conflicting elements of strife, tossed upon the waves of folly, or wrecked upon the shoals of ambition. The farmer is the first to en- joy the benefits of a wise and just, and to taste the bitter consequen- ces which inevitably flow from an erroneous, administration of pub- lic affairs. If government is judiciously and economically admin- istered ; if industry is not burthened by debt and taxation ; if all are protected and none especially favored; its blessings, "like the dews of heaven, will descend upon all, unseen and unfelt, save in the richness and fullness they contribute to produce." But if government, like tho monarchies of the old world, is placed be- yond, or elevated above the influence or condition of the mass ; if it seeks to entrench itself about with office and patronage, and relies for its strength upon its parasites and placemen, and not upon the affections of the people ; it cannot win by its justice, though, for a time, it may terrify by its power. Our benign form of government — founded as it is in the mild authority of opinion, and upheld, like the broad fabric of social or- der, only by virtue and intelligence, is emphatically a govern- menf of the People — a government of benevolence, humanity and peace. The mighty pulsations of its heart-strings vibrate re- sponsive to the ebbs and flows of popular action and feeling ; and so lively is tho sympathy, and so indissoluble is the union, that the errors of the government must necessarily bo the errors of the people. It therefore becomes the farmer, next to the cultiva- tion of the field, and the discharge of his domestic and social rela- tions to possess himself of a thorough knowledge of the economy of human government and of political science. By this, it is not in- tended to invite to the study of party scrambles — the science of political rewards and punishments — of clamorous partisans for the honors of office or the emoluments of place and station — tho patriotic shouts of tho latest victors, or the desponding tone of those who have just ceased to draw their sustenance from the pub- lic treasury ; but that true political science, in which the broad and deep foundations of our government arc established ; which in- culcates the pure and elevated sentiments of justice, virtue, equal- ity and the rights of man: Which teaches that the success of a peo- ple walks hand in hand with their industry and frugality; that all wealth is the production of human labor ; that it is the legitimate province of government to protect its citizens in tho enjoyment of their industry, but not to attempt tho vain and idle experiment of accumulating for them ; that all power or advantago conferred by legislation upon one, is taken from another, or from the mass, and is productive of inequality and injustice; and that any system of gov- ernment which in a time of peace, appropriates the industry' of its people to any purpose oxcept to ensure its own enlightoncd, humane and economical administration, is unwise, and pernicious, and is conducted upon mistaken and erroneous principles. It cannot, nor ought it to be concealed, that a false and vitiated taste hat for the last few vears extensively prevailed, though we 9 have now the gratifying evidences of a more healthy feeling. That commercial cholera which swept over the land, infecting all clas- ses with its poisonous influences, and causing the productive indus- try of the country to be abandoned or neglected, for the inordinate but ideal gains of unhealthy traffic, while our bread and clothing were imported from abroad, cannot be too highly censured, nor too well remembered. At the time when our affairs, public and private, were at the nadir of depression, and cargoes of wheat were brought to our fertile land from the shores of the Baltic, an eminent banker of the house of Rothschild was solicited to make an investment in our public stocks, which he declined, by declaring with bitter em- phasis, that he thought but little of a country which imported its bread. This period of delusion, to be sure, has passed. The fear- ful density of the storm which lowered over us has abated, and we descry the radiant bow of beauty and of promise. The belief that man cannot violate the injunctions of the Almighty with impu- nity, again finds support and countenance, and the subtle device of indolence and fraud, that production from the soil could be disre- garded and neglected by a people — that one could borrow the promises of another, pass them to a third, and thus enrich the whole, has had its rise, progress, decline and fall. And yet, during all this period, agriculture, in point of theory, was elevated to the very pinnacle of fame. The unbending integrity, sterling worth and superior intelligence of the "laboring classes," formed a stan- dard text for commentaries for festive orators. The same senti- ments were echoed from the bar, the desk and the legislative fo- rum, and the press lent its giant power to swell the volume of in- cense and adulation. Politicians descanted upon the inbred vir- tues of the " bone and muscle" of the land, until we might well have supposed that to the farmer, like the ancient Pharisees, was accorded the uppermost rooms at feasts, and greetings in the mar- kets. These flights of affection and regard, however, came peri- odically, like migratory birds, with the kindly influences of the sea- son, and returned again at the approach of the chilling frosts which succeeded them, and fields were cultivated only in imagina- tion and harvested in eulogy. Many erroneous conceits and idle inventions of these times have already found their corrective in an enlightened public sentiment ; but many of the errors of the past remain the errors of the pres- ent. While agriculture has been rescued from this dishonorable depression, and is receiving practical attention from so many of our most worthy citizens, whose efforts cannot be too highly ap- preciated, there are yet too many, especially of our youth, who seem to regard labor as a menial office, and worship at the shrine of agriculture after the manner of the publican — in the distance. They have turned their backs upon this, the noblest of human em- ployments, to herd together in cities and villages — begin without means where they should leave off' with — swell the hungry column of non-producers, already large enough to cat out the productive industry of the country, and without any useful calling, ruch heed- 10 lessly into debt, marvel at the scarcity of money, and await, the workings of that miraculous legislation which is to usher in the ad- vent of "better times." It is not the intention to institute invidious comparisons between the various pursuits and occupations of life, but to assert the belief that the undue proportion engaged in professional and commercial pursuits, and particularly those having no pursuit whatever, tends to the prejudice of both business and morals. By it, the profes- sions are crowded and depressed, and rendered a burthen rather than a blessing — over trading is stimulated and bankruptcy'indu- ced ; and last, though not least, so many competitors in idleness are introduced, that this patriotic calling must inevitably fall into more than its wonted disrepute. It is time to correct, with une- quivocal emphasis, the false and mistaken sentiment which permits men to starve in a profession, or subsist upon the wreck of fraud- ulent bankruptcy in experimental merchandize, rather than to earn an honest livelihood by the labor of their hands, and discharge with fidelity all their duties in the varied relations of life. These errors, are the errors of the society which fails to condemn and dis- countenance their existence, rather than the errors of individuals, who have neglected to learn that "Honor and shame from no condition rise." And is it not lamentably true, that the extreme doctrines of po- litical rewards and punishments, which have practically obtained, by general consent, for the last few years, and have been upheld and justified by all parties who have had the dispensing of patron- age, have done much, very much, to withdraw men from the sober pursuits of industry, and induce them to embark their little all up- on a sea of political troubles — to forego the cultivation of the little farm where peace and plenty are the sure rewards of industrious and frugal habits, to gain a precarious subsistence by hanging upon the skirts of a party, politicans by trade, and office seekers from principle ! That, in the administration of government, the views of those charged with the various leading departments, should correspond with the views of him that presides over the whole, that harmony and efficiency may unite their influences, is not denied. But that individuals who light the lamps of a city, sweep its streets, or cleanse its gutters, should be given to understand that the tenure of their place depends, not upon their industry or fidelity, but up- on the success of a political party, is fraught with ruinous and de- moralizing tendencies, and bodes no good to the integrity of the elective franchise. But a sentiment so erroneous, and yet so universal, will finally be corrected by the unrestricted operations of public opinion, a tribunal to which all are amenable, and from which there is no appeal. And when the votaries of error and delusion have ex- hausted themselves in mistaken efforts, agriculture will receive and reward them still. Mother earth, like the father of the Prodigal Son, (lollies and feeds her children who return to her acknowlcd- 11 ging their wanderings, though they have wasted t heir substance in riotous living. Many have already returned, and yet there is room. Agriculture is the only pursuit which cannot be overdone. Com- merce may be depressed, and languish by its own efforts — the professions become crowded, and skill and learning go unemploy- ed and unrewarded — the mechanic may glut the market with his wares, until he cannot even barter them for the necessaries of life — but the earth was never over cultivated, nor does it, like the chil- dren of men, refuse employment and reward. And the reward, too, is liberal in proportion as the application or importunity is earnest. The agriculturist can do more to diffuse general intelligence a- mong his fellow men, than those of any other pursuit of lite ; and having the ability, he should exert it to guard against and arrest the numerous impositions of the age. There have always been and we have reason to believe always will be, those who subsist upon the darkness of the human intellect, and traffic in the cre- dulity of mankind. No sooner is one delusion exhausted, or an imposture exposed, than another, if possible, more impudent and shameless, is substituted in its stead, and ignorance and supersti- tion vie with each other in swelling the train of its votaries. In the old world, the genuine clippings from the toe nails of St. Peter, which have been sold for enormous prices to the devout at various times would probably load a camel ; and the wood which is pre- served and cherished as sacred relics, and exhibited for gain, as fragments of the true cross, in every country of Europe, would build a ship of the line. In the new, it finds amusement in exhu- ming the fossil remains of a golden revelation, whose cabalistic works are more occult and mysterious than the Sybilline leaves of mythology ; and anon it finds indemnity for the omissions of the past in a supplementary revelation which, in view of the subject is most appropriately on brass. It penetrates the future at its own convenience, and calculates the final confla- gration as an astronomer calculates an eclipse, and animal mag- netism, fixing her mental eye upon physical objects, sets credulity agape, and snores the last sad requiem. In medicine it seeks relief in vermifuges, pain extractors, and elixirs of life, which, if applied in proper quantities, and at appropriate periods, would not only enable man to clothe himself with perpetual youth, and laugh at the infirmities of age, but to conquer his last great enemy, and cheat the grave of its victim. It robs political economy of its simplicity and truth, and invests it with the recondite mysteries which envelop- ed heathen philosophy and benevolently discovers panaceas and re- storatives which are to correct all the imperfections of our nature, and avert the complicated ills to which poor frail humanity is heir. All impostures have one feature in common — that of first pro- viding for themselves, in pretending to care for others, in heralding their own purity and benevolence, and in recommending to the world, in the true language of the craft, to submit to the prescrip- tion, and "beware of counterfeits." Ignorance is the meat upon 12 which imposture feeds, and it is deprived of aliment in proportion as knowledge is increased. And the same standard of intelligence mm • • ^3 which renders labor attractive — which teaches that it is honora- ble, and inculcates lessons of virtue and economy in domestic and social life, will dispel the remnants of superstition and bigotry which the dark ages have left behind them, unmask and expose the charlatan and the impostor, and inspire sentiments of virtuous patriotism, the most elevated and enduring. But this standard whether designed to govern public or private morals — the social or political relations — the economy of the fireside or the economy of the legislative hall, must be raised and maintained by the author- ity of opinion alone, and not by sumptuary laws, or restrictive en- actments. It must be enforced by the moral, and not the penal code — by the school master, and not by the government offi- cial. It must be engraved upon the tablet of the heart, and not written upon the pages of the statute. The British statesman, hugging his peevish conceits, and cher- ishing that most impious of dogmas, the "divine right of kings," is unable to conceive how personal safety or the well-being of so- ciety can be preserved by opinion, or how a government can con- tain the elements of strength and duration which rests alone upon popular intelligence, and thrills with every fibre of its frame, and hence his belief in the necessity of placing the government beyond the reach of the "lawless multitude." But a purer and sublimcr creed has established the welcome truth, that there is both strength and duration in a government of opinion, and that it is wise to reject the principles of a physical for those of an intellectual age. Liberty is the price and the reward of eternal vigilance, and its lamp burns with a brighter and purer glow when surrounded by intelligence and freedom, than when nursed by a restrictive policy of artificial morals, which lights its farthing candle to aid the meridian splen- dor. Our government is our people— -our people our government. Our institutions, domestic, social and political, arc founded in free- dom, and he who aids in forming the first code of restrictions, however specious the pretence, or by whatever name it may be dignified, will have aided in forging one link in the great chain of despotism, which, if riveted upon us, will load down the energies of our people like the limbs of a Trcnck in the dungeons of Galtz and Magdeburg. Xcrscs cast fetters into the sea to restrain the. dashing of the waves, and Canute stretched out his puny sceptre to proscribe its limits; but the mighty waters rolled on in mockery of their power. And he who essays to restrict the moral elements within the boundaries established by his own conceits, will see his power derided and his impotence laughed to scorn. They may at limes 1)0 lashed by the fury of the tempest, the waves run moun- tains high, and threaten danger and destruction: but anon, they will be purified by their own agitations, and repose again in the se- rene nnd beautiful. If our republic endures, as it must and w ill, its elements of strength must be freedom a nd intelligence. So Jong as men in public or private life are virtuous for virtue's sake — 13 for the rewards it bestows — there will be an earnest of safely and abiding hope ; — but when they shall become virtuous from neces- sity, honest upon compulsion, and frugal pursuant to statute, \v<^ may listen for the knell of departing liberty and glory. We arc now struggling with the mighty experiment, whether perfect free- dom will ensure duration, and endeavoring to establish as truth, that the whole are as virtuous as a part. The agricultural popu- lation form the sheet anchor of the republic — the Christian's con- solation — the patriot's hope. It is for them to foster and preserve that pure and elevated standard of morals and intelligence with the mass, which will enable us to outride the storm that has over- whelmed and blotted from existence the governments of the old world. The grandeur and beauty of Egypt, mistress of the arts, has vanished from the earth like the foot prints of the traveller in the desert. She is illustrious only in her lofty pyramids: and, apt emblem of herself, her gloomy repositories for the dead. Hum- bled and despairing, she lies manacled at the foot of the barbarian, and hugs her chains in silence. Greece, once the light of science and learning, marred and despoiled, is struggling to prolong a de- graded existence, with the foot of the conqueror upon her neck„ And Rome, whose victorious banner waved triumphantly over a vanquished world, has degenerated to a land of fiddlers and dan- cers. They fell, too, in the moment of their haughtiness and pride. The faded monuments of their existence and greatness stand as beacons to mankind to warn them of the dangers of war, luxury and ambition. In pleasing contrast the moral grandeur of our republic rises up, blooming with perennial beauty and smiling above the ruin, like flow- ers of spring succeeding the desolations of winter : The land of the free — the home of the brave — the asylum of the oppressed : Its foundation freedom — its structure virtue and intelligence, and its strength, equality : Proclaiming to the world the gratifying truth, that man is capable of self-government ; and that the path of vir- tue for governments, as well as individuals, is the path of happi- ness and peace. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. Report on Cattle, Committee. — Hewlett Townsend, David S. Mills, Warren Mitchell, Increase G. Carpenter. The Committee appointed to award premiums on Cattle at the Se- cond Annual Fair of the Queens County Agricultural Society, report that the display was such as to afford them much gratification, and to reflect much credit on the County. The Committee awarded the premiums as follows : — ON THOROUGH BRED CATTLE. Bulls, three years old and over. The first to Silas Carll, of North Hempstead, The second to David W. Jones, of Oyster Bay, The third to David S. Gould, of Oyster Bay, Cows, three years old and over. The first to Maj. Wm. Jones, of Oyster Bay, The second to Thomas Bell, of Flushing, The third to Benjamin Hegeman, of Flushing, Heifers, one year old and under three. The first to George Douglass, of Flushing, The second to Samuel Judd, of Jamaica, The third to George Douglass, of Flushing, OTHER THAN THOROUGH BRED Bulls, one year old and under three. The first to William Layton, of North Hempstead, The second to Samuel T. Jackson, of Hempstead, The third to George Weeks, of Hempstead, Cows, three years old and over. The first to William Layton, of North Hempstead, The second to Samuel Judd, of Jamaica, The third to William Layton, of North Hempstead, Heifers, one year old and under three. The first to Peter P. Larrimer, of Jamaica, The second to Isaac E. Haviland, of North Hempstead, $8 00 4. 00 A Diploma. $8 00 4 00 A Diploma. $8 00 4 00 A Diploma. $6 00 4 00 A Diploma. $S 00 4 00 A Diploma. The third to Samuel T. Jackson, of Hempstead, CALVES, OF ANY BREED. Bull Calves. The first to Daniel K. Youngs, of Oyster Bay, The second to Alfred Conover, Heifer Calves. The first tO Major William Jones, of Oyster Bay, The second to Effingham Lawrence, of Flushing, $G 00 3 00 Diploma. $5 00 Diploma. $5 00 Diploma 15 Report on Working Oxen. Committee. — Conklin Gould, Skidmore Hcndrickson, John J. Hewlett, Anson Conklin, Benjamin C. Jackson. The Committee report that they have awarded the premiums as follows : — Working Oxen, four years old and over. The first to William Layton, of North Hempstead, $6 00 The second to Sidney Allen, of North Hempstead, A Diploma. Steers, two years old and under four. The first to John Henderson, of — $5 00 The second to Benjamin R. Smith, of Hempstead, A Diploma. The Committee take much pleasure in noticing a pair of fine Ox- en belonging to Geo. Douglass, of Douglass' Farm. — They were ex- ceedingly well trained, and would work alone as well as together. They also beg to notice a pair of twin Calves, 7 months old, ex- hibited by Willet U. Layton, of North Hempstead, which were well trained and very handsome. As no premium was offered for such Calves, it is recommended that a discretionary premium be given for them and Mr. Douglass' Oxen. Report on Horses. Committee. — Whitehead Mitchell, Thomas Baldwin, Stephen Robbins, John R. Schenck, Silvenus S. Smith. The Committee appointed to award premiums on Horses at the Fair of the Queens County Agricultural Society, regret to report that but few horses were offered for exhibition, and those not of such a character as to sustain the high reputation that our County has acquired for this noble animal. The Committee fear that suffi- cient attention is not paid at present to the breeding of horses, and that Studs are preferred rather because they happen to possess some little trotting power, than because they are fine Horses, possessing those points necessary to make either farm or carriage horses. The Committee suppose the Society desire to encourage the horse which is able to work upon the farm or go upon the road, and not those whose only merit is that of trotting. The horse of all work is doubtless the most profitable one for our County. Studs, three years old and over. But two were offered, and they awarded the first premium to Samuel Mott, of Jamaica, for his Sorrel Horse, "Rising Sun," $8 00" The second to George Tappen, for his Bay Horse "Almack," 4 00 Studs, one year old and under three. The display in this class was quite large, and several of them very handsome. The first premium wa&awar- ded to Anthony Davidson, of Hempstead, $5 00 The second to Edward Losee, of North Hempstead, 3 00 Breeding Mares and Colts. The first premium was awarded to William Smith, of Hempstead, for his grey mare with her colt, $8 00 The second to Benjamin C. Jackson, of Hempstead, for his sorrel mare and colt. 4< 00 Matched Horses. The rule of the Society permitting only horses bred and o\vncd in- the County to be entered in this class, prevented much of a display of matched horses. It is suggested whether in future it will not be sufficient to require that matched horses shall have been owned in the County for a certain length of time. The first premium was awarded to Jacob S. J. Jones, of Hempstead, $6 Ofr The second to Piatt Willets, of Hempstead, A Diploma. Geldings and Fillies, three years old and over. The first premium was awarded to Thomas B. Jackson, of Newtown, for his bay gelding, $5 00 The second to Edward H. Seaman, of Hempstead, for his bay gelding, A Diploma* Geldings and Fillies, under three years old. The first premium was awarded to William Willis, of North Hempstead, $1 00 The second to Benjamin C. Jackson, of Hempstead, for his bay filley, A Diploma. Report on Sheep. Committee. — Joseph L. Townsend, Samuel L. Hewlett, John H. Cornell, Effingham Lawrence, Jun. The Committee to award premiums on Sheep, report as follows. Long Wooled Bucks. The first premium was awarded to Alexander Johnson, of Flushing, $1 00 The second to John H. Cornell, of Flushing, 2 00 The third to Wm. Ketcham, of Oyster Bay, A Diploma. Best three Ewes. The first premium was awarded to John H. Cornell of Flushing, $4 00 The second to William Ketcham, of Oyster Bay, 2 00 The third to Isaac E. Haviland, of North Hempstead, A Diploma. Middle wooled Bucks. The first premium was awarded to David J. Youngs, of Oysterbay, $4< 00 The second to Isaac E. Haviland, of North Hempstead, 2 00 The third to Effingham Lawrence, of Flushing, A Diploma. Best three Ewes. The first premium was awarded to Alexander Johnson, of Flushing, $4 00 The second to Isaac E. Haviland of North Hempstead 2 00 Fine Wooled Bucks. The first premium was awarded to Effingham Lawrence, of Flushing, $1< 00 The second to David W. Jones, of Oyster Bay, 2 00 Best three Ewes. The first premium to David W. Jones, of Oyster Bay, if>'l< 00 The second to David J. Youngs, of Oyster Bay, 2 00 17 Report on Swine. Committee. — James H. Skidmore, Jacob S. J. Jones, Stephen 0. Underbill, Cornelius Rhodes, Henry Story. The Committee on Swine report that they have awarded premi- ums as follows : Boars. The first premium was awarded to Daniel K. Youngs, of Oyster Bay, $5 00 There was no competitors with this hog, and accordingly no sec- ond premium. Breeding Sows. The first premium was awarded to Joseph L. Townsend, of North Hempstead, $5 00 The second, to Henry W. Piatt, of North Hempstead, 3 00 Report on Butter and Cheese. Committee. — James Rider, Peter Luyster, James Herriman, Har- ry H. Marvin, John R. Schenck. The Committee awarded premiums on Butter, as follows : The first premium was awarded to Mrs. Peter C. Bell, of Hempstead, $3 00 The second, to Mrs. Stephen Robbins, of Oyster Bay, 2 00 The third " " " " A Diploma. No Cheese was offered for exhibition. The Committee would here remark that the numerous samples of Butter exhibited were nearly all very good, and such as to render it difficult to determine which only were entitled to premiums. Mr. BelVs statement of the mode of Making Butter. In compliance with your request, I give you a statement of the mode in which the Butter which received the first premium at the late Fair was made. It was made one week previous to the fair, from the milk of four cows. In the summer season, immediately after the milk is taken from the cows, the pail is placed in a tub of water. When the milk is cool, it is placed in a cellar, where there is a free circulation of air — when it is thick, the cream is taken off, placed in a stone vessel, and churned in an oak churn. We churn each alter- nate day in the Summer. In Winter our practice is the same, except not cooling the milk nor churning as often. The Butter is taken from the churn, put in water, and worked till free from milk. To six pounds of Butter put half a pint of common fine salt— -no salt-petre or any other substance used — the best time for churning in summer is in the morning — the best mode of preser- ving butter through the summer and winter is in a stone vessel, air- tight if possible. Hempstead, Nov. 23d, 1843. Mr. Robbins 1 statement of making the Butter which received the second and third premiums. It was made of the milk from ten cows, strained in tin pans, kept two days, churned and worked with blown salt, Woodbury, Nov. 10th, 1843. 18 Report on Field Crops. Committee, — James W. Mott, Jacob B. Willis, David J. Youngs, Asa James. The Committee to award premiums on Field Crops, report that they have agreed upon the following : Corn. ■ The first to John I. Lott, of Hempstead, for a crop of over 103 bushels to the acre, $<5 00 The second to Abraham Bergen, of Jamaica, for a crop of over 100 bushels per acre, $3 00 The third to John A. King, of Jamaica, for a crop of over 88 bushels per acre, A vol. Transactions of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society. Oats. The first premium to Thomas F. Youngs, of Oyster Bay, for a crop of 61? bushels per acre, $6 00 There were no claimants for the premiums on Wheat and Rye, and no others on Oats. Samples. To James Weeden, of Newtown, for the best half bushel of seed Wheat, weighing 63 lbs. per bush., $2 00 To David W. Jones, of Oyster Bay, for the second, A Diploma. To Tallmadge Robins, of Hempstead, for the best half bushel of seed Oats, weighing 40 lbs. per bush., $2 00 To JohnHarrold, of Hempstead, for the second best, weigh- ing 36 pounds per bushel, A Diploma. To David W. Jones, of Oyster Bay, for the best 20 ears of Corn, $2 00 To David S. Gould, of Oyster Bay, for the second, A Diploma. The Oats exhibited by Messrs. Robins & Harrold were of the Scotch potatoe kind, and it was understood that the seed sown was of the same importation : showing that the difference in weight was owing to the cultivation. The Committee beg leave to call the attention of the Society to the very loose manner in which the corn was measured by the claim- ants for the premiums. One person measured the corn from only twenty hills, another forty, and a third from one row, and then calculated that the whole field is like that measured. So negligent a mode of measurement is not deserving the encour- agement of an Agricultural Society. Besides being unworthy of reliance, it is calculated to make jeal- ousies among the claimants, for should one happen to measure a few more hills than another, he would think the other unfair; and should one happen to make an "actual measurement," he would insist on be- ing entitled to the premium, although another "calculates" he has much the largest crop. The Committee therefore suggests, that the premiums aro not award- ed until the month of December, and it may be supposed that the corn intended to be offered for the premium will be husked by that time, that the claimants be informed that the entire crop must be measured 19 by the ordinary standard. The rules of the Society now require "the amount of the crop to be determined by actual measurement," but the claimants have all defined "actual measurement" to mean meas- uring that on a few hills and guessing at the remainder. It is not essential that it should be shelled, but may be measured in the ear, or what is more fair misrht be weighed. JOHN I. LOTT'S CORN CROP. I do hereby certify that I measured an acre of corn ground for John I. Lott, it being ten rods from east to west, and sixteen rods from north to south: having fifty-nine rows from north to south: — and having gathered one of the average rows found it to contain one bushel, three pecks, and one half pint; being at the rate of one hun- dred and three bushels, two pecks, six quarts, one pint, and one half pint to the acre. SILVANUS TITUS. Subscribed and sworn before me, the 2nd day of November, 1843. JAMES JACKSON, Justice of the Peace. We, the undersigned, certify that we assisted in measuring an acre of corn ground of John L Lott, it being ten rods from east to west, and sixteen rods from north to south. Having gathered one of the average rows, found it to contain one bushel, three pecks and one half pint, making one hundred three bushels, two pecks, six quarts, one and a half pints on said acre. The rows on the above measured ground were thirty eight one way, and fifty nine the other. We gathered one row that contained thirty eight hills, that being the fifty ninth part of the hills on said ground. JOHN I. LOTT. SAMUEL C. DOTY. DANIEL BEDELL. Sworn and subscribed this 17th day of November, 1843. BENJ.T. SMITH, Justice of the Peace. Statement. The land upon which the corn grew is of a sandy soil, and was used for pasture for three years past. Green sedge hay has been spread on it each fall, and remained until dried, then all removed. — It was ploughed about the middle of April, and planted about the first of May. About five wagon loads of yard manure were put in the hills per acre, planted about four feet apart each way, four and five grains in each hill, ploughed each way twice in the row, from the hill, hoed, ploughed three times in the row each way to the hill, hoed again, nothing more done. There were about nine acres in the field j and the whole expense would not exceed fifteen dollars per acre. JOHN L LOTT. Hicks' Neck, November, 1843. ABRAHAM BERGEN'S CORN CROP. I, JohnN. BrinckerhofT of the town of Jamaica, in the County of Queens, declare and certify, that on the 14th day of October inst., I surveyed one acre of land Irom one side of a field of corn, be- longing to Abraham Bergen of the said town, the acre being in two rectangles as follows: the smallest being 1.135 chains in width on the north and south lines, and 1.34 chains in length on the east and 20 west lines. The other in width on north and 30uth lines 2.5 chains and in length on east and west sides 3,39g chains. The first parcel has 16 rows on north and south, and 20 rows on east and west sides. The second parcel has 50 rows on east and west sides, and 35 rows oeh north and south, the south end extending one seventh of the width of another row, which will make 5 hills to be added. In the calcu-* lation no deduction is made for missing hills. And I saw gathered, shelled and measured, twenty hills in succession of the said corn, yielding .970313 bushel, and which by an accurate computation made by me will yield 100,66 bushel of corn on the said acre of land,, thus surveyed: calculating the corn to stand half the width of a row within the measured lines. JOHN N. brinckerhoff: Jamaica, Oct. 14th, 1S43. Queens County, ss. Subscribed and sworn before me, this 17th day of October, 1843". THOMAS BRADLEE, Justice of the Peace. We, the undersigned, were present and assisted, when the within named land was measured, and the corn gathered, shelled and meas- ured, and believe the same to be correct in all its details. Jamaica, Oct. 14th 1843. ABR'M BERGEN. JAMES DITMARS. Queens County, ss. Subscribed and sworn before me, this 17th day of October, 1S43. THOMAS BRADLEE, Justice of the Peace. Statement. The land was mowed four years in succession. It was last fall a timothy and spear grass sod. In the month of January I ploughed a- bout one half of the field, and the remainder early in April, as deepas it would turn well. About the middle of April I harrowed and mark- ed out, and planted about the first of May. Manure used, was five or six loads from hog pen, five loads from cow stables, cost $5, and seven and a half loads from horse stable, mixed together. It was ploughed twice in a row each way from the hill, and twice in a row each way to the hill. Then it was hoed very lightly, and finally it was plough- ed 3 times in a row each way, and hilled up properly. Of the above , mentioned manure, about a load and a half was left unused. ABRAHAM BERGEN. JOHN A. KING'S CORN CROP. I, John N. BrinckerhofF, of the Town of Jamaica, in the County of Queens, declare and certify, that on the 16th day of October in St., 1 surveyed and staked out one acre from one side of a field of corn, belonging to John A. King, of the said town, being 6.685 chains in length on the east and west lines, and 1.495 chains in length on tho north and south lines, and containing ninety-seven rows of corn in length, and twenty-two in breadth, and 1 saw gathered, shelled and measured, forty hills in succession of said corn, yielding 1.65597 bushels, and which by an accurate computation made by me, will yield 88.056 bushels of corn on the said acre of land thus sur- veyed and staked out — there being seven hills deducted from said acre of corn in consequence of tho outside row extending one fourteenth of the width of tho row beyond an acre of land, calcula- •21 tinor the corn to stand half the width of a row within the measured land Jamaica, Oct. 16th, 1S4-3. JOHN N. BRINCKERHOFF, Mathematical Teacher, Union Hall Academy . Sworn before me, 16th of October, 184-3. THOMAS BRADLEE, Justice of Peace. We, the undersigned, were present and assisted when the land was measured and staked, and the corn gathered, shelled and measured, of the within named acre of land, and believe the same to be correct in all its details. JOHN A. KING, GEORGE NOSTRAND, Jamaica, Oct. 16th, 1843. ABR'M BERGEN. Sworn and subscribed before me, this sixteenth day of October, 1843. THOMAS BRADLEE, Justice of the Peace. Statement. The field was an old timothy and clover sward, on a good sandy loam, and had not been broken up for 7 or S years. It was in part ploughed late last Fall, and finished during the mild weather of January. In the early part of May it was well harrowed and about 25 loads of stable and compost manure per acre, ploughed under. It was then marked -i feet 10 inches apart, and as much well rotted manure put into each hill as would make from four to five loads more of manure per acre. It was not planted until the 25th of May; when 5 grains of the eight rowed white flint corn was put in each hill. It came up well and evenly, and the ground being entirely free from weeds and grass, it was hoed lightly, then ploughed both ways and harrowed ; and after a suitable interval again ploughed both ways — thoroughly hoed and moderately hilled — after which it was left to make its way, nor did it apparently suffer much from the long and severe drought until within a few days of its termination. It had just begun to show the sets about the time the heavy rains come on, and from that time continued to grow stout and healthy. There were very lew missing hills in the field of 4- acres ; and considering the extremes of the season, it as even and uniform a field of corn as can be found in the neighborhood. JOHN A. KING. THOMAS F. YOUNGS' OATS CROP. I certify that 1 surveyed and marked the bounds of an acre of Oats for Thomas F. Youngs, and that it contained no more than one acre* WM. J. YOUNGS. Sworn and subscribed before me, the 22nd of Nov., 1S43. ALLEN HAWXHUfiST, Justice of the Peace. Statement. The Oats were sown about the middle of April on a corn stubble: in preparing the ground for corn, about 15 loads of horse manure were spread on the acre : the field being then in grass sward, was ploughed over, and the corn planted in the ordinary manner. The past spring the corn stubs were harrowed out, and the ground ploughed once. The oats were sown broadcast ; 2 bushels being sown to the acre — were harvested about the middle of July, yielding- 611 bushels to the acre. HENRY TAFF. Sworn and subscribed before me, the 16th of October, 1S43. ALLEN HAWXHURST, Justice of the Peace, 22 Report on Roots. Committee. — Elbert Arthur, Benjamin Seaman, William Skidmore, William Ketchum, Peter Lott. The Committee on Roots report that they have awarded premi- ums as follows : — Potatoes. To Thomas Willis, for the best crop of Potatoes raised on not less than a quarter of an acre, being 49 bushels from 49 rods, $6 00 There was but this one claim made for this premium, and although the product is not large, yet from the unfavorableness of the season they deem it above mediocrity, and award accordingly. Turnips. To William Ketchum, for the best crop of Turnips, being one hun- dred and twenty six bushels from forty square rods, $6 00 Carrots. To Daniel K. Youngs, for the best crop of Carrots, being two hundred and five bushels from one quarter of an acre, $6 00 There was one claimant for the premium on Beets, but as the crop was deemed below mediocrity, the rules of the Society prevent a premium being awarded. The Committee awarded also the following premiums — Potatoes for table. To David W. Jones, for the best peck of Potatoes, $2 00 To Thomas F. Youngs, for the second best, A Diploma. To Wm. H. Brown, for the best six blood Beets, Do. To Singleton Mitchell, for the best twelve Carrots for table, Do. To Samuel Youngs, for the best twelve Carrots for cattle, Do. The Committee recommend that a Diploma be awarded to John B. Luyster, for three very large Beets. THOMAS WILLIS' CROP OF POTATOES. I do hereby certify that I measured carefully and accurately, a patch of potatoes for Thomas Willis, and found it to contain forty nine rods. ISAAC S. KETCHUM. Affirmed and subscribed this 22nd of November, 1843, before me, EDMUND TITUS, Justice. I hereby certify that I measured the crop from said patch of pota- toes, and that there were forty nine bushels. CHARLES BRISTLE. Affirmed and subscribed this 22nd of November, 1843. EDMUND TITUS, Justice. STATE3IENT, Of the crop of Potatoes raised by Thomas Willis. The soil was not in a high state of cultivation ; the previous crop was corn, manured in the hill with about a gill of Poudrctte to each hill. The ground for the potatoc crop was ploughed about the 10th of April, planted in drills 3J feet apart, manured witli 'A loads of a mix- ture of horse and cow manure, placed on the potatoes after they were dropped in \\w. drills, they were ploughed once and hoed once. They were of the Mercer kind. S3 Expense. .{ day ploughing $0 50 2 " planting 87 1 " ploughing and hoeing 87 4 " harvesting 2 50 3 loads of manure 3 00 $7 74* 49 bushels, at 3 shillings ' 18 38 Profit from the 49 rods $10 64 WILLIAM KETCHAM'S CROP OF TURNIPS. 1 do hereby certify that I measured carefully and correctly, a tur- nip patch for William Ketcham, and found it to contain 40 square rods. ISAAC S. KETCHAM. Affirmed and subscribed this 22nd day of November, 1843. EDMUND TITUS, Justice of the Peace. I do hereby certify that I assisted in measuring the crop of Turnip? of William Ketcham and from the 40 rods there were ono hundred and twenty six bushels. his EPHRAIM X LOUIS, mark. Affirmed and subscribed this 22nd day of November, 1843. EDMUND TITUS, Justice of the Peace. Statement. The soil is a sandy loam, was planted the previous year with corn, which was manured in the hill only ; the manure then used was horse dung, at the rate of one shovel full to 4 hills. The ground for turnips was ploughed the first time about the mid- dle of May, — about the middle of July 6 loads of manure was spread on and ploughed under, — ploughed again the 22nd, and sown imme- diately on every furrow with a drill barrow — hoed and thinned once. 4 day's ploughing, $0 50 4 " spreading manure, 1 00 1 " ploughing and sowing, 75 10 " hoeing, 3 75 2 " harvesting, 75 6 loads of manure, 12 00 Expense, $18 75 Product of 40 rods, 126 bushels at 3 shillings, $47 25 Tops worth 2 00 $49 2& Profit $30 50 WILLIAM KETCHAM. Affirmed and subscribed, this 24th day of November, EDMUND TITUS, Justice of the Peace. DANIEL K. YOUNGS' CROP OF TURNIPS. I certify that I measured a patch of Carrots for Daniel K. Youngs, and that there was no more than one quarter of an acre in it. MICAH W. LUDLAM. Sworn and subscribed the 20th day of November, 1843, before me ALLEN HAWXHURST, Justice of the Peace- 24 I certify that 1 assisted in measuring the Carrots of Daniel K; Youngs, and that there were two hundred and five bushels on the quarter of an acre. THOMAS YOUNGS. Sworn and subscribed the 20th of November, 1843, before me. ALLEN HAWXHURST, Justice of the Peace. Statement. Condition of the soil. — Previous to the Spring of 1842, the field had lain without ploughing several years, and used as a sheep pas- ture. It was then ploughed and manured with twenty loads of New York street manure to the acre, and planted with corn, which pro- duced about forty bushels to the acre. Manure and Cultivation. — The present season 24 small loads (a- bout a quarter of a cord each,) of what is bought for and known by the appellation of New York horse manure, but what in reality is nearer the truth — a compost of shavings, saw-dust, tan bark, su- mach, butchers' offal, plenty of straw, a very small quantity of real horse manure, and every variety of weed seed that a farmer need de- sire, were spread to the acre and ploughed in. Planted about the 20th May with an ordinary drill barrow, in rows about fifteen inches apart. Hoed twice and the plants left standing thick, say not more than two or three inches apart in the rows. Gathered the last of October. Before pulling a deep furrow was thrown out with the plough as near the roots as possible, after which they could be easily pulled without the aid of spade or mattock. The carrots after tops were measured in a three bushel measure, which was tes- ted in the first place with apples, and found to hold six half bushels well rounded, or about as long as they would lay on by shoveling. The product was 205 bushels, all of which were actually grown within the bounds of one quarter of an acre as marked by the surveyor. DANIEL K. YOUNGS. Report on Fruits and Honey. Committee. — S. Woodbridge, Junr., Isaac E. Haviland, William R. Prince, James Jackson, Howard Pearsall. The Committee report that they have awarded the premiums as follows — To Henry W. Piatt, of North Hempstead, for the best and great- est variety of Apples, $2 00 To Jacob Williams, of North Hempstead, for the second, A Diploma. To William R. Prince, of Flushing, for the best and greatest va- riety of Pears, $2 00 To Nathaniel Seaman, of Hempstead, for the best and greatest va- riety of Grapes, $2 00 To James Fleet, of Oyster Bay, for the second best, A Diploma. To William B. Robbins, of North Hempstead, for the best sample of Honey, $2 00 To Sylvanus Bedell, of Hempstead, for the second, A Diploma. The Committee regret to state that Mr. William R. Prince did not arrive with his apples, of which he had fifty varieties, and G rapes, until after the Committee had decided on those articles. 25 Eh H Q O t/2 H *-> „ O ,03 3 -2 t> O *2 5 ©J) WJ VU HN hfrr" ni * — 1 CO 03 CO Q H CO GO to c o CO S3 S U r: i— i » 3 ^rt es _ CO •SO £pH o 2 ^ CO CO CO S « H, Q CO O0 H C3 Ph Ph O w ■+-> ^ CD a< L 1 5 +j <§ H o C3 O S 03 CD ^+-1 H b£> to w EH s d co O 3 .5 O O •-< 03 § pq 00 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o t*-o o o o m h m W H H Ci O"} Q i-H €6- GO 00 cr> CO o n=$ Hi 3 63 CO s 3 • — £ CD Hi & bo - s CD i^ ^ CO t>» a> w ^> CD to-Sc CD r CO Hi --h CD O 4~> O £ CD ■<-> eS CD 3 CO C3 CD H cO 00 03 J2 C£5oo 03 a bjO RJ H 1^ bo o vn 8 2 *3 03 s £ o H -a CO 3 N* V» CD H a • « CO CD s CS to i 3 -a a 3 tT H 03 -a o 3 O > a 3 O o CD 3 03 > O 3 O +■» 03 Hi 3 £ o CD a 3 -3 03 a S 3 03 03 Hi 3 CD 03 3 03 -a s J-l 03 w ^ a w ■*-> j-> Hi S-. © CD cj O g ^ 03 72 a 3 o CD s CO Hi 03 »- 3 CO 3 CD Hi H 03 o a CD 03 03 QPh a 26 OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY worn President, EFFINGHAM LAWRENCE, Flushing. Thomas Floyd Jones, Singleton Mitchell, George Douglass, David W. Jones, KOBERT W. MOTT, John L. Denton. Vice Presidents, Thomas B. Jackson, George Nostrand, John Bedell. Managers, James Weedin, John L. Spader, Jacob S. J. Jones. Corresponding Secretary, Albert G. Carll, Jericho. Recording Secretary, Edward H. Seaman. Treasurer, Daniel K. Youngs. LIFE MEMBERS, Who have paid ten dollars each. Samuel Leggett, Flushing, George M. Woolsey, Newtown, William H. Carter, Gardiner G. Howland, Jehiel Jogger, (i D. F. Manice, Hempstead, Wm. H. Brown, " Isaac E. Haviland. N. Hempstead. William Jones, Conklin Gould, Thomas F. Youngs, I >aniel K. Youngs, Peter Luyster, John J. Hewlett, Valentine Hicks, 1 Icnry F. Jones, Stephen C. Underbill, David S. ( J ould, J )avid W. Jonos, Charles H. Jones, James E. I )e Kny, George Tappen, LIST OF MEMBERS FOR 1843. OYSTER BAY. John B. Coles, Samuel Youngs, David J. Youngs. William Harrold, Jnr., Jaeob B. Willis, Stephen Kobbins, Thomas F. Jones, Elbert F. Jones, William Kctchum, Samuel M. Titus, John H. Jones, . James Fleet. $ Thomas Wulijj Robert T. Hijfs, 27 William T. McCoun, James M. Ludlam, Willet Weeks, Elwood Valentine, Jacob Ellison, James Meinell, John B. Luyster, Divine Hewlett, Benjamin T. ? Underbill, Andris Bogart, Jdtmzs W. Underhill, * Henry I. Youngs, Lawrence Proudfoot, Albert G. Carll. William S. McCoun, Elbert H. Jones, James C. Townsend,,. ^ James Mason!- David S. Jones, Thomas Jones, Walter R. Jones, Brewster Conklin, Samuel Denton, James Velsor, Charles P. Stewart, George W. Townsend, William H. Jones, NORTH HEMPSTEAD. Singleton Mitchell, Robert W. Mott, Oliver S. Lawrence, Augustus W. Leggett, James W. Mott, Whitehead Mitchell, Joel Davis, Warren Mitchell, William Skidmore, William L. Baxter, William Dodge, Thomas H. Townsend, Sidney Allen, Jacob Covert, James H. Skidmore, Silvanus S. Smith, George H. Horsefleld, Lewis S. Hewlett, Andrew J. Hegeman, Richard S. Williams, Lorenzo Henderson, James Weedin, Ansel H. Conklin, Silvanus S. Riker, Thomas B. Jackson, Robert M. Blackwell. Nathaniel Seaman, John Bedell, Hiram A. Whitaker, Robert G. Anderson, James Wood, James Jackson, Samuel T. Jackson, Whitehead H. Hewlett, Joseph Hegeman, Francis Skilman, Elbert Bogart, Cornelius Smith, Joseph L.Hewlett, Joseph L. Hewlett, Jnr., George Duryea, Jacob Williams, William Layton, Joseph L. Townsend, Elbert Arthur, Charles Post, William B. Robbins, John R. Schenck, Daniel Kissam, Jnr., Silas Carle, Thomas Williams, Jnr., Samuel L. Hewlett, James S. Sell, Edward Losee, Henry W. Piatt. NEWTOWN. Benjamin R. Stevens, Stephen A. Halsey, John Cutting, David S. Mills, HEMPSTEAD. Benjamin Rushmore, George M. Hewlett, Oliver T. Hewlett, James H. Murray, Brewster Valentine, Peter T. Hewlett, William P. Wright, Stephen Bedell, 28 William Smith, Oliver S. Denton, Charles M. Pine, George G. Carman, Tallmadge Robins, Thomas Combs, George Weeks, Jacob S. J. Jones, Peter C. Bell, S. C. Snedeker, Benjamin C. Jackson, William L. Laing, Thomas Treadwell, Samuel L. Seaman, Samuel Dorian, David T. Jennings, Alexander Davidson, Edward H. Seaman. Effingham Lawrence, Cornelius Rhodes, John L. Denton, Cornelius Nostrand, William R. Prince, John H. Cornell, Henry I. Hagner, John A. King, John S. Lott, DowS. Lott, Peter Lott, Increase G. Carpenter, Abraham Bergen, Pierpont Potter, Henry Conklin, Alfred Conover, Richard Brush, John H. Boyles, Duryea Rempson } James Rider, Samuel Mott, James Burt is, Robert Mott, D. F. Clark, Silvanus Bedell, Joseph Hewlett, Isaac Willets, Piatt Willets, Valent ine Smith, S. Woodbridge, Jnr T John Harrold, Thomas C. Bell, Charles Denton, Benjamin H. Smith, James Anson, Thomas Valentine, Benjamin Griffin, Cornelius Smith, FLUSHING. • Benjamin T. Kissam, Jnr., William M. Smith, George Douglass, Effingham Lawrence, Jnr, } Skidmore Henderson. JAMAICA. Daniel Higbie, Abraham D. Snedeker, Howard Pearsall, Martin I. Johnson, Bernardus Henderson, George Nostrand, Henry Story, James Herriman, John Spader, Wessel S. Smith, John L. Spader, Peter P. Larrimer, Martin G. Johnson, John Raynor, Benjamin Hegeman,