It is ignorance, too limited knowledge of the mutual dependence we have to each other, which tends to generate suspicion and to weaken the bonds of a common welfare, that every year ought to draw closer and stronger into uninterrupted action. The bare fact that there are such peculiarities of climate, such varieties of product, and diversities of business-pursuits embraced within one wide domain and beneath one republican sway, should teach us to search out and gather up and distribute as extensively as possible all the materials which may bring the remotest extremes, and every intervening section, into thorough acquaintance with each other. The public press can indeed do much, but its influence in this respect must be local; there is no one journal, however large its circulation, that is known even by name. in every part of our land; and far less can the vast amount of items which are now and then chronicled but to be lost, in the course of the year, produce the impression, even were they more universal than they are, that will be made by a compacted array of facts and figures meeting the public eye at a single view.

Besides the internal trade of the country and the price of the various products of all descriptions, it would be useful to draw together tables of the amounts of statę assessments of the different industrial pursuits, the force of labor and its distribution, the multiplied channels where enterprize may take its way, and the outlets abroad by which we may enter into competition with other nations for the trade of the world. It might be well if the representatives of our nation abroad, with observant eye marking every product unknown to our land, that could perhaps become acclimated among us, would transmit to be tried, seeds, roots, and scions, and record, or gather for incorporation in a report, the many valuable particulars relating to foreign industry and discovery which are now as it were hidden from our knowledge. In a short time we should thus understand, no doubt, not only our own resources far more fully, but possess a better acquaintance with those of the nations with which we do or would interchange our commodities, and be enabled to consult our interest and welfare in the relations we hold to them. More, in such an enterprize, depends on arrangement and order than expense, and a comparatively small appropriation of means might accomplish much.

The effect on our agricultural prosperity it is believed would be extensively felt. Some happy discovery of products adapted to portions of our country, might change the whole face of the industrial economy of a state, and results as marvellous as those which have been sprung from the small beginnings of cotton, rice or sugar, or of turnips in England, or of beets in France, might be realized.

There is probably no people on the face of the globe that would sooner be aroused by such incentives to effort, and the success of any truly promising undertaking would not long be undecided.

We have not been able to present so full and condensed a view of our resources, and the domestic and foreign trade of our country, as we hoped to have done. Something, however, has been accomplished in carrying out our design, and it is believed that the information on various topics which we have embodied in Appendix, Nos. 19 and 20, will not be without interest to many of our fellow-citizens. If not characterized by all the precision in many respects which we could wish, yet it is believed that the various tables and deductions possess a more near approach to accuracy than the mere conjectural estimates which are often thrown out in relation to our resources and interchanging traffic. Much time and labor have

been spent in collecting and preparing them, and, brought as they now are, within the compass of some few pages, they will no doubt afford much ground for reflection and gratulation to every friend of his country; while at the same time they will better enable nations abroad to estimate the amplitude of our country and her means of reciprocal commerce.

What then is there to forbid the hopeful augury of our success as an agricultural people. If portions of our country are becoming exhausted of the natural richness of the soil, yet every where within our reach there are a thousand means to supply the deficiency. A truer method of applying the enriching materials, a greater care in the selection of seed, and a more thorough cultivation may enhance its value beyond even its native opulence of the elements of production.

If the mighty host of our agriculturists out-numbering those engaged in any other branch of pursuits are true to themselves, understand their real position, provide themselves with all the requisite knowledge and use it as they may, this great commanding interest will sway public opinion and under the influence of an ennobling patriotism, attended by firm and undeviating attachment to morality and virtue, may cause the wilderness to bud and blossom, and every desert and solitary place in our land to be glad.

Marching on with giant strides in the career of discovery and improvement, combining and distributing on every side the elements of national prosperity, opening pathways of thought for those from whom knowledge has been hid, and leaving behind her for a world to gather from, examples of industry, perseverance and success, fostering every good enterprize and rebuking every ill directed aim, our country may thus become the protectress of the arts and sciences, and her ample resources the granary of nations, that can no longer feed their overburdening population.

APPENDIX.

No. 1.

Result of observations made during a visit to Germany, in 1844-245, by Charles L. Fleischmann, Esq., formerly draughtsman in the Patent Office, and furnished by him at the request of the Commissioner of Patents for the Agricultural Report of 1847.

I wrote a journal of my whole journey, through England, the north of France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Lombardy, Switzerland and the south of France. The following account of the meeting at Breslau is a part of that journal, and contains various subjects connected with agriculture, and incidents of travel, which may be found of interest:

I.-Account of the meeting of German Agriculturists at Breslau in Prussian Silesia.

The Jesuits were remarkable for their superior taste in architecture; all the buildings of their numerous institutions which are scattered over the whole continent are exceedingly imposing and well finished. Breslau is indebted to that order for its fine university, which was formerly a Jesuit institution. In this building the meeting of the German Agriculturists was held, at the lecture room called aula, formerly the church of the Jesuits. It is exceedingly spacious, and highly ornamented with fresco paintings, representing the saints surrounding the throne of God. At one end was a platform for the officiating members, at each side of which stood a pyramid, decorated with festoons of ears of grain, fruits and various agricultural implements; the other had wreaths of leaves from the oak and other forest trees, with all the implements used in forest culture and the chase. The other rooms were set apart for the use of the committees, and for the exhibition of different specimens of seeds, implements, &c., and the largest room in the lower story was used for the exhibition of wool in fleeces. Every one of the members had to pay about four dollars, for which he was entitled to take a part in the meetings, all the exhibitions, pleasure excursions, &c., and to have a copy of the Transactions.

On the 8th of September, 1845, about ten o'clock, A. M., the meeting was convened in the aula, and largely attended by as respectable, orderly and distinguished an audience as can be brought together any where, for such a purpose. Several sovereigns sent deputies; all the leading agricultural societies were represented by their ablest men; professors of the most eminent agricultural schools, noblemen, large property holders from Russia, Hungary, Bohemia, Austria, &c., with the farmers of the neighborhood, filled the list to nearly one thousand.

The president, Count Burghaus, opened the meeting with an appropriate address, giving a sketch of Silesian agriculture; and mentioned in it a fact. which could not but please those interested in the noble cause of temperance. Prussian Silesia, he said, has heretofore had, to its population of

3,000,000, no less than the enormous number of 2,384 distilleries; and they have usually yielded to the government a yearly revenue of 998,000 thalers; but since the rise of temperance societies, during the first four months of the year 1845, the product of this tax had fallen off to 150,582 thalers; a dimunition, as compared with the same period in 1844, of no less than onesixth. From this decrease of tax and drink, he of course argued a proportionate decrease of drunkards; of the grain consumed by distilleries, and of the total grain for which a market can be found; and hence he argued that some agricultural labor must be diverted to other pursuits.

The officers were then elected, and six committees appointed to report the different sections or divisions of subjects, as agriculture proper; upon raising live stock; the culture of the forest; technical branches; vine and fruit culture; and wool growing.

On Thursday, the 9th of September, the committee commenced their meetings, and at eleven o'clock, the general meeting took place, when the president of the society of directors of estates made his report upon the last examination of the pupils educated by the directors, &c. I found the examination highly interesting, as it coincided exactly with my views in regard to the importance of practical knowledge in the economy of farming. I give here the whole proceeding of that examination, as it will show that the European educated agriculturist does not run wild with some of the new fangled notions, and that he follows the approved and sure road of labor and manure.

Silesian baronial estates can be compared with any in the world; and in sheep breeding, they have not yet found their equal. I hope I shall not be misunderstood. It is not my object to underrate the important services which science has rendered to agriculture; no, but I do not wish to propagate and add to that existing notion of the present day, that the science in general, and especially that of agricultural chemistry, is the principal and only study by which a farmer is to increase his profits. Let him first pay attention to the different parts which constitute the whole, and he will discover many a fault, which causes the diminished profit, and which yet no science nor arcanum in the world can remedy, except correct practical knowledge. The estates of noblemen, and the rich throughout the continent of Europe, are generally superintended by a person who has the necessary qualifications, namely a thorough knowledge of agriculture; who is a good accountant, and acquainted with the usual technical branches; as brewing, distilleries, mills, &c. He lives at the estate, and receives for his services, besides a salary, a certain quantity of produce, and sometimes a certain per centage on the nett profit. Most of them have been educated for their business, either at schools or under the care of an able director of such baronial estates. As the number of estates is very considerable, there is a constant demand for such superintendents; and it is become a regular profession. It is obvious that the latter mode of education is not always the best, and many an estate holder has obtained from these sources persons unfit to superintend large estates. Repeated complaints therefore, determined the directors to have their pupils examined by a board of examiners before they obtain their certificate as being able to conduct business themselves. In 1842, these directors or inspectors, as they are called, formed a society, which has for its object, to promote and finish the education of those young entrusted to their care; but principally with the above mentioned object of examining them after the time of their studies is finished; and they bound themselves, that none of the members of that society shall take a young man to instruct him

except he is willing to undergo an examination before a board of examiners of this society, at the end of his term. The society numbers above one hundred members. In 1845, while I was at Breslau, they held their yearly examination which was the third; the first was held in 1843. The society likewise extended the opportunity of examination even to such as have not been educated by members belonging to that association. It is a rule that no member who has a pupil among those who are to be examined can himself be an examiner.

The examination came off on the 6th of September, 1845. The number of pupils to be examined was sixteen. After their names, birth place, age, schools where they studied, &c., &c., were taken down, it was found that the oldest of the pupils was twenty-three, and the youngest sixteen years of age; the rest between seventeen and nineteen years. Five had finished their education at the Gymnasia; three of them left off at the Secunda; two at the Tertia, and three at the Real School; the rest were educated at some inferior schools.

After the necessary preliminaries, the pupils were required to answer a number of questions in writing; after which they were taken to an estate called Rosenthal (Rosendale) near Breslau. In the yard, the pupils were shown a wagon, which was marked on thirty-six parts; a plough, on thirtyfive parts; a hacken (a kind of plough or cultivator,) in five; a harrow on six parts, making eighty-two separate parts. Each pupil had to put down on paper the name of each part, as they were marked, to show whether he was acquinted with all the parts of the implements. After that, they had to show their skill in taking apart and putting together implements, and in case of breakage, to mention the most efficient way of repairing, &c. A sheep was then brought forward, and they were required to set down on paper the answers to the following questions:

1. Is this sheep healthy, and why?

2. How old is this sheep?

3. How is this age called in the shepherd language?

Each one was next required to catch a sheep himself and examine it, whether it had the foot rot, and describe what are the signs of the foot rot. They had also to point out upon a sheep the places where the worst wool grows and on which place the best: To point out the places where the faults of wool are most liable to be inherited.

Several head of cattle were now brought before them and the following questions propounded:

1. How much milk can a cow of this breed give, when fed with grass or other green fodder, how long since she had a calf?

2. How many pounds of fodder does a cow of this breed require per dav, during the summer?

3. How much during winter, and the cost?

4. How many calves has this cow had?

5. How old is this cow?

6. What kind of breed, and why do you say so?

7. How much will she weigh?

They were then called upon to estimate the probable amount of meat and fat, by examining the animal in the customary way of butchers. After that they were examined upon horses: the horses were first examined by the pupils, and the following questions required to be answered:

1. What are the peculiar qualities of this horse as a plough horse?