CONSTITUTION-Adopted 31st August, 1833. Article 1. The society shall be styled, The New London Agricultural Society, and shall hold its meetings in the town of New London, and county of Campbell.

2. The objects of the society shall be to improve the state of agriculture, to encourage domestic household manufactures and implements of husbandry, and to improve the breed of domestic animals.

11. There shall be two regular meetings of the society in each year; one on the first Tuesday in May, at which time the society shall determine the amount and character of the premiums to be offered; the other on the first Tuesday in November, which shall be called the annual meeting; at which time the Agricultural Exhibition and Cattle Show shall take place; and on the following day an exhibition of such domestic manufactures, as may be brought forward, on which day the premiums 3. The officers of the society shall consist of a shall be awarded. At the annual meeting in Nopresident, two vice presidents, a secretary, a trea-vember, in each year, premiums shall be awarded surer, and executive committee of three members; on the following subjects. all of whom shall be elected by ballot, and shall serve until the end of the annual meeting, which shall take place in the month of November, in each year, or until their successors be appointed.

4. The president shall preside at all meetings of the society and of the board: all motions shall be addressed to him; he is to decide all points of order and by him shall all decisions and votes of the society or board be declared; and in the event of an equal division, he shall have the casting vote. He shall deliver an address to the society at the annual meeting in November, or appoint some member to perform that office. In the absence, death or resignation of the president, his duties shall be performed by the 1st vice president, and in his absence by the 2d vice president. When neither of these officers is present, the society may appoint a president, pro tempore.

5. The secretary shall record the transactions of the society in a book to be provided for that purpose; he shall receive in charge all the papers of the society, carefully filing away all letters and communications thereto; and shall cause such communications to be published as the president may direct.

For the best original essay on rural economy, by a member.

For the best cultivated farm, by a member. For the highest product in maize, wheat and oats, on any two contiguous acres, by a momber. For the best stallion, bull, ram and boar, respectively.

For the best piece of fine woollen cloth, of blanketing, of table cloth, of carpeting and of counterpane, each not less than five yards, and to be manufactured in some family in the county of Bedford or Campbell, or in the family of some member.

It shall be the duty of the meeting in May, annually, to specify such other articles, on which premiums may be awarded, as they may deem expedient. No premium shall be awarded, unless the subject exhibited shall be of such a character of excellence, as, in the opinion of a majority of the persons appointed to decide, shall be entitled to a prize.

12. The president, or in his absence one of the vice presidents, and the executive committee, shall compose a board, a majority of whom shall make 6. The treasurer shall keep a correct account of all necessary arrangements for the exhibitions, and all receipts and expenditures of the society in a appoint committees to examine the articles that book to be provided for that purpose, and shall pay may be offered at the annual meeting, to judge no money out of the funds of the society, but by or- between competitors, and award prizes. It shall der of the board, in writing, signed by the secreta- be the duty also of the executive committee to apry; except for books, postage and other small inci-point a skilful auctioneer, to dispose of such artidental expenses, of which an account shall be kept cles as may be exhibited for premiums, if desired by him. It shall be his duty also to keep a correct thereto by the proprietor.

list of the members of the society, and exhibit an- 13. This constitution may be amended at any of nually a statement of the funds. the regular meetings, by the concurrence of two7. Any respectable citizen may become a mem-thirds of the members present; but the society shall ber of the society, who will subscribe his name to have power to pass such by-laws as they may this constitution, and pay to the treasurer the sum judge necessary for promoting the objects of the of two dollars, on or before the 1st Tuesday in society. May, 1834, and the like sum annually thereaf

ter.

8. Each member shall be at liberty to withdraw from the society whenever he may think proper on giving notice to the treasurer in writing, first paying up all arrearages, if any be due.

9. Distinguished citizens of this state and of other states may be elected as honorary members, and it shall be the duty of the secretary to notify them of the election.

10. A quorum to transact business must consist of nine members at least, including such of the officers of the society as may be present. Upon the adoption of this constitution the society shall proceed forthwith to an election of all the officers and of the executive committee, to serve until the annual meeting in November, 1834, when a new election shall take place for the ensuing year.

VOL. II.-37

AMENDMENTS-First Tuesday in May, 1834.

The 7th article of the constitution was amended

unanimously, by adding thereto, "whosoever shall become a member of this society, between the first Tuesday in May and the general meeting in November, in any year, shall pay two dollars to the treasurer, at the time of subscription."

General meeting in November, 1834. The 11th article of the constitution was amended unanimously, as follows: "the premium for the highest product in maize and wheat shall hereafter be confined to not less than three contiguous acres of high land. No premium shall hereafter be given for and all that part of the constitution, coming within the purview of this amendment, is repealed."

*The paper sent was illegible here.

ADDRESS OF WM. RADFORD, ESQ:

Randolph, although he did not live to enjoy the

President of the New London Agricultural Socie- benefit of it, has proved himself to be one of the ty, at its late Anniversary.

The cultivation of tobacco, by withdrawing

greatest benefactors of his native state, and is entitled to the highest gratitude. The system of horiGentlemen of the Society.-Among the various zontal ploughing alone, is of incalculable advanand diversified occupations of man, there is no sub-tage in hilly lands, and owes its introduction to ject of more importance, or which is more necessa- him. Let us then, fellow-citizens, availing ourry to his comfort and welfare, than a judicious sys-selves of the lights which have been held out to us, tem of agriculture. Land is the kind and prolific advance to the good work, with the pleasing assuparent, which furnishes food in all its varieties for rance, that, while we are adding to the value of our the sustenance of our bodies, and the clothing | lands, and to the comforts accruing from their imwhich is necessary to protect us from the inclem-provement, we are increasing the resources of the ency of the weather. How important is it, then, beloved state of which we are members. that every means should be adopted to add to its In the general address which the president of fertility and to increase its product? Yet it is lam- this society is called upon to deliver, it is not exentable to say, that, in the extensive range of sci-pected that he should go into any detail of the vaence embraced in our seminaries of learning, from rious subjects connected with agricultural improvethe laws which govern the motions of the heavenly ments. It will not, however, be amiss to menbodies to the minute study of insects, no place is tion some of the impediments which have retarded found for acquiring the knowledge of that employ- their success in this part of the country. ment, which, of all others, most conduces to our comfort in this life, and which in fact is indispensa-nearly the whole labor of the farm and all the availble to our existence. Well has it been remarked, able means of improvement to one subject, has, "that whoever could make two ears of corn or two more than any other cause, diminished the fertility blades of grass to grow upon a spot of ground, of our soil. where only one grew before, would deserve better A second obstacle to improvement, and nearly of mankind, and do more essential service to his connected with the former, is the habit of giving a country, than the whole race of politicians put to- share of the crop, instead of a fixed salary, to the gether." Yet while each branch of science has its overseer or manager. When a part of the crop is appropriate professor, agriculture has been left to given, it is the interest of the overseer (and we are flounder along, unaided and unassisted. Each cul- all guided by our interest,) to make the highest tivator of the soil follows the murdering process of product on the farm for one year. The improvehis ancestor, until the fields become unable to sup-ment of the farm, the care of stock, and attention port the beasts that work them, and the hapless pro-to the comforts of the slaves, form no part of his prietor abandons his home, to seek, in the recesses wages. He does not know that he will be employof the western forests, other lands, which will fur-ed longer than one year; and the largeness of his nish him a more abundant harvest. We are igno-crop for that year, not only advances his present inrant of the nature of the soils we cultivate; and terest, but is his best recommendation for cmconsequently we cannot know what substances are ployment elsewhere. On the other hand, where proper to restore their lost fertility. How melan- the habit of giving standing wages is general, it incholy is it to see the fine rich vein of red land, run- troduces a salutary emulation among managers; it ning through the counties of Nelson, Amherst and is not the heavy crop of one year that establishes Bedford, reduced by an unskilful system of culti-his reputation, but it is the progressive improvevation, to a point bordering on sterility? Yet amidst the general gloom which pervades our agricultural prospects, it is pleasant to see a gleam of light breaking in upon us. May I not congratulate the members present, upon the formation of this society, and upon a spirit manifested by all in relation to it? It is proof, strong as we can desire, that we are becoming aware of our defective system, and are determined to amend it. It will be the means of interchanging our ideas upon the various branches connected with agriculture, and of introducing a spirit of rivalry, which will be attended with the most beneficial results. Good ploughing, the first step in the improvement of land, is becoming general. The attention of farmers is now directed to the production and application of manares, without which, all other labors are almost vain. The great success of the farmers in the county of Albemarle, in improving and fertilizing their lands, so similar in quality to much of the land in this part of the country, is calculated to make the most favorable impression; and we may with confidence indulge ourselves in the pleasing anticipation, that by a similar system of improve- The cheapest and most convenient medium for ment, our fields may, in like manner, teem with the improvement of the soil, in the district of counexuberant crops, affording abundance to man and try running parallel with the Blue Ridge, and for beast. The great leader of agricultural improve-thirty or forty miles below it, is unquestionably ment in Albemarle, the late Col. Thomas Mann gypsum or plaster of Paris; the free use of this up

ment of land and stock, and of the comforts connected with them. The situation of the manager becomes more permanent, and he becomes better informed and more respectable. When fixed salaries shall become general, that class of persons will not be, at the end of every year, moving about, like figures on a chess board. In fact, the owners of moderate sized farms should be their own managers: it would make them more careful of improving their estates, would greatly diminish the expenses of agriculture, and, by furnishing constant employment to the mind and body, would tend, more than any thing else, to give them health and contentment, the two great sources of happiness in this life.

An injudicious rotation of crops, and the close pasturing of the fields, are heavy drawbacks upon the profits of farming and the improvement of land. To remove these obstacles, and to adopt a more judicious system of cultivation, constitutes the principal object of the formation of this society, for the success of which we must unite our best exertions.

on clover (protected from the hoof) aided by a judi- | neighbors estimated it still higher. I distributed cious rotation of crops, will restore to our lands their long lost fertility.

ears among several gentlemen of my acquaintance, all of whom-at least all that I have seenspeak very highly of it. My own experiment was rendered nearly abortive by a drought which commenced on the 5th day of July, and never ceased until the last day of August. Still I have seen enough to produce a determination that I will plant my whole crop of this variety next year. Before the drought began to act, I counted from

In conclusion, I must congratulate you, gentlemen, upon the interesting show of stock, and upon the handsome products of the soil, the salutary effects of organization of this society, and particularly upon the beautiful specimens of domestic fabrics exhibited by the ladies at this our first meeting. It only requires perseverance to accomplish the great objects for which this society has been form-five to eight good shoots and silks upon many ed.

ADDRESS TO THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
OF FREDERICKSBURG, AT THE ANNUAL
MEETING, ON THE 13th and 14TH OF NO-
VEMBER, 1834.

stalks, all of which promised to make ears of corn; but the intense, parching heat of the sun, without rain for 55 days and nights, blasted my prospects, and left only the proof that more ears on a stalk came to perfection, than of either of the other two varieties which I cultivated, and had long considered of superior value to any that I had previBy JAMES M. GARNETT, President. ously subjected to trial. The grain of this new kind is very white, but not so flinty as the homany Published in the Farmers' Register by request of the Society. or Madaira corn, and makes beautiful meal: the Permit me, gentlemen, once more to welcome cob is also white, and uncommonly small; the ears, you to another anniversary of our society. It of course, are not large. It ripens somewhat has been held every year, I believe, without a sin- earlier than the gourd-seed varieties, and the stalks gle interruption, since our first establishment in throw out an unusual quantity of suckers, upon 1818; which fact may therefore be considered, I several of which, that I suffered to remain, small trust, a sure indication of a still longer continu-ears of corn were found. Enemy as I am to all ance. To commemorate it thus has always afford-kinds of exaggeration, and especially to the praced an opportunity, highly gratifying, to renew our friendly intercourse; and, at the same time, beneficially to interchange such knowledge as each of us may have annually gained in regard to any, or to all of the various branches of husbandry. This knowledge, after all, is, in one sense at least, of more importance, than any other. It is the basis of national wealth; for, without it, none of the various professions, trades, and callings essential to national prosperity-so far as this depends upon wealth-can obtain even the means of subsistence. Well, therefore, has it been said, that "pas-other stock, to be cut from the 10th or 15th of turage and tillage" (upon which husbandry itself, in all its branches, is dependent,) "are the two breasts of the state." But an eulogium on our profession is, I trust, entirely unnecessary before my present audience. Let me, proceed therefore, to state the few agricultural facts which have fallen under my own observation, since our last November meeting, that appear to deserve your at

tention.

The first relates to a variety of Indian corn, which seems to me-as far as I can judge from one imperfect trial-far more productive than any other I have ever noticed. Its history, or rather the circumstances which induced me to try it, are as follow: last winter, in Washington, two or three Maryland farmers of my acquaintance, gave me a very high character of it, and strongly recommended, from their own experience, that I should make an experiment with it. They stated that it was cultivated chiefly on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where it was called "the twin corn;" (I should rather call it the extra prolific,) and that it produced, in every variety of land, considerably more than any other corn they had ever tried. I procured a barrel in the ears from my friend Col. Lloyd, (since dead,) who was an experienced farmer and a gentleman of unquestionable veracity. His present was accompanied by a letter, in which he assured me, that, after a fair trial, he thought the difference in favor of this variety was equal to at least fifteen per cent., and that many of his

tice, so prevalent among our agricultural brethren, of "making all their geese swans," I will venture, notwithstanding, strongly to recommend extensive trials of this extra prolific corn, as I beg leave to call it. If it will add only three or four per cent., instead of fifteen, to a farmer's crop of this most valuable grain, it should be preferred to all other kinds.

While my hand is in, I will take the liberty to make another recommendation. This is-of the guinea-grass as a green food for horses, mules and

June, until the last of October. It will be recollected, perhaps, that much was said and written about it several years ago, in some of our southern papers; and that after a while, both the voice, and the pens which had been so busy.in its praise, entirely ceased their eulogiums. Why this should have happened I cannot imagine, unless the friends to its culture got wearied out by the little success of their recommendations; although it assuredly deserves a place on every farm in our tidewater country, where natural grasses are scarce.

Bryan Edwards, in his history of the West Indies, gives the following interesting account of its great value and its introduction into the island of Jamaica.

"The guinea-grass may be considered as next to the sugar-cane, in point of importance; as most of the grazing and breeding farms, or pens, throughout the island, were originally created, and are still supported, chiefly by means of this invaluable herbage. Hence the plenty of horned cattle, both for the butcher and planter, is such, that few markets in Europe furnish beef at a cheaper rate, or of better quality, than those of Jamaica. Perhaps the settlement of most of the north-side parishes is wholly owing to the introduction of this excellent grass, which happened by accident about* 50 years ago; the seeds having been

*As the 1st edition of Edwards' history of the West Indies, printed in London, appeared in 1798, the intro

brought from the coast of Guinea, as food for some birds which were presented to Mr. Ellis, Chief Justice of the island. Fortunately the birds did not live to consume the whole stock, and the remainder being carelessly thrown into a fence, grew and flourished. It was not long before the eagerness displayed by the cattle to reach the grass, attracted Mr. Ellis' notice, and induced him to collect and propagate the seeds; which now thrive in some of the most rocky parts of the is-upon one bunch that had not been cut at all; and land, bestowing verdure and fertility on lands which otherwise would not be worth cultivation."

most wonderful thing about it is, that it should pumpkins, cabbages, and root-crops cultivated on never, until very lately, have attracted sufficient a scale sufficiently large, at least to help out with notice to be cultivated by any one: especially when other food, in fattening our pork, mutton and beef; good grass for horses and cattle is so great a de- in feeding our milch-cows; and in keeping our sideratum throughout our whole southern country. work oxen through the winter? I cannot believe Still the written accounts in its favor are too flat- there is a single agriculturist in our whole state tering, and derived from sources too respectable to who would not answer these questions in the affirbe disregarded. Let us all, therefore, (as I certain-mative; but alas! our practice in this, as in far more ly will myself) give this agricultural stranger a important matters, is at war with our belief; and fair and full trial;-keeping all the while a good we still continue conscious victims of our own look out in the hope of a favorable result, for that pernicious habitual indolence. To correct it, to favorite proverb of the worthy Sancho Panza shake it off entirely, requires that each man should which admonishes us that, "where we are least become his own physician. All therefore that I aware, there often starts the hare," is as useful in can do, is, most heartily to wish success to every husbandry as it is in hunting. There is indeed no one of our agricultural brethren who will, in downbranch of our profession in regard to which we right earnest, undertake his own cure. have been so negligent as in the culture of the various grasses adapted to our soil and climate: nor any to which the necessity for increased attention is daily becoming more and more urgent. Many of our farmers are incurring considerable expense in purchasing cattle of the improved English breeds, without any previous preparation of good pasturage for them; although all know perfectly well, that this is indispensable to their well-doing. The general dependence is upon the buds of the bushes in spring; and, during summer and fall, on such weeds as our fields produce, with peradventure, a little crab-grass, if hard cropping has not too far exhausted the soil to permit it to grow. Their winter food, in a vast majority of cases, consists solely of the offal from the wheat and corn crops; although the testimony in favor of using also the pumpkin, the cabbage, the potato, the mangel wurtzel, and ruta baga, especially for making good pork, beef and mutton, is as full and satisfactory as testimony can possibly be on any subject whatever. All the last named productions are well adapted to our soil and climate; all may be cultivated at an expense compensated far more than an hundred fold by the profits derived from them; and yet, I believe, it may be truly asserted, that not one farmer in 500 cultivates either of them for stock.

Another fact which I deem worth your notice, is one obtained since we last met, of the capacity of the common black oat to stand even so hard a winter as our last, and make a good crop. An old clover lot had been sown with oats last spring twelve months. They were cut at the usual time, and the ground ploughed up early in August, to try wheat after oats, which I had some where seen highly recommended. The grain however, left on the land, came up so thickly, although in bunches with large naked spaces between them, that I changed my mind, and determined to cultivate the ground in corn during the present year. In the mean time, the oats were closely grazed, until hard frosts, as I had no doubt they would be entirely killed by the winter's cold. To my surprise, however, they put up in the spring, apparently as thick as ever. and I resolved to leave a part of them to ascertain how much they would produce. Had the ground been harrowed immediately after tallowing, so as to secure an equal distribution of the seed, I believe the product would have been doubled, for the naked spaces between the bunches appeared to amount to nearly or quite half the ground. These spaces, in some spots, were at least a yard square. The quantity actually measured was one hundred and fifteen bushels, being at the rate of nearly twenty-two bushels per acre, As for our sheep and hogs, poor devils, although The product of the previous crop had been within some few attempts have been made to improve a fraction of forty-one bushels per acre; but about their breeds also, they are left, in almost all in- three-fourths of an acre of the best part of the lot stances, to become their own forage masters:-the on which the volunteer oats grew, was taken off first to struggle against famine and death, through for corn. What effect the fall grazing of those winter and a part of spring, by browzing upon volunteer oats might have had, I am at a loss to cedar, pine, holly-bushes, and broom-straw; and determine, although the probability, I think, is that the latter to fight the same hard battle, for the the product must have been materially lessened by same vital purpose too, by seeking with their it. There are, however, ascertained facts enough snouts, below the surface of the earth, that scanty in the case to render it of sufficient interest to justisubsistence which they can no where find above fy my making it known to you. One word more, it. Now I think, that most of us might safely venture to turn reformers in all the foregoing particulars; provided only, we would avoid the mischievous precipitancy of that sad radical Jack in Swift's "Tale of the Tub," who tore his coat to tatters, in his haste to strip it of all its gold and silver lace. Might we not, for instance, have a few small lots of clover, orchard grass, and lucerne for spring feeding; guinea-grass, (if it turns out as I am confident it will,) for summer and two months Before I conclude, permit me to invite your atof the fall; and then orchard grass again, or Peru- tention to another topic of considerable interestvian grass, sometimes called the tall meadow-oat, at least to all cultivators of small grain. We for grazing, until hard frosts, which rarely come in have now a great variety of machines for sethe tide-water part of our state, before Christmas. parating it from the straw, and their number is I can see nothing to hinder it, but the want of fix-annually increasing. The inventor of each pub ed determination. Again, might we not have licly claims for his own, a great superiority over all

as to the oat crop. Several very good farmers have told me, that the fall ploughing of land designed for oats in the spring, will increase the product, as they themselves have proved, much more than will pay for the additional labor. Quere, is not this experiment worth making; especially since the wheat crop in our tide-water country, seems every year to become more and more precarious?

1