by the thousands and thousands who attended the State Fair at Cincinnati, was enough to teach us that if we would keep pace with the people, and meet their just expectations, we must not long hesitate in the adoption of any or all these measures.

J. G. GEST, Esq., fully concurred in the resolution appointing a Corresponding Secretary, and State Chemist, and believed that the Board of Agriculture of Ohio could not do a better office to the State, than by carrying out the spirit of Mr. Trimble's motion. The State of New York pays the Secretary of their State Agricultural Society $1,200 per annum, independent of contingent expenses; and the Legislature of the State of Maryland has a State Chemist employed at a permanent annual salary of $1,500, and he could see no reason why Ohio, the first Agricultural State in the Union, should not have an efficient officer, through whom its enterprising farmers could obtain any information they might require, that would be calculated to further the cause of improvement.

Mr. Mather, although possessing a wide range of scientific acquirements, of a character peculiarly adapted to enable him to perform with credit, the duties that will devolve upon him in the office proposed by Mr. Trimble, is a practical farmer, and has, by experience, made himself acquainted with the difficulties that surround the pioneer of a new country.

He does not come among us a stranger to our wants, but he brings with him a knowledge of the physical condition of Ohio, that but few can boast of; and his thorough acquaintance with our resources, and the constituent properties of the soils of the State, will at once enable him to give reliable opinions, in regard to any appropriate matter that may devolve upon him, if appointed to this new office. It is pretty generally known that Mr. M. was at the head of the Geological corps, and a few years ago, was employed by the Legislature to make a survey of Ohio, and the published Geological Reports, found in the principal libraries in this State and the Union, are among the strongest evidences that could be required, to prove his ability to do credit at least to the scientific portion of the duties that he will be required to perform. In traversing the country, he has made himself acquainted. with its geological and topographical features, and no man in Ohio better understands the composition and character of our various soils.

Besides this, he brings with him an extensive library, laboratory, and a geological and mineral cabi et, that will truly be invaluable to him and the State in his new field of operations.

After Col. Mather resigned his position in the Military Academy at West Point, and had taken charge of the State Geological survey of Ohio, some of the Faculty o that Institution complimed the citi zens this State in having obtained the services of one of the most efficient and reliable men they could boast of in the Empire State.

When the motion was fir made in the afternoon session of this important Electoral Agricultural College, to appoint a State Chemist, the impression it appeared generally prevailed, that upon the payment of the small salary of 1,000 per annum, any former could have & specimen of his soil analyzed. This, however, is not the fact. The salary is to be paid for services rendered in the capacity of Corresponding Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, and as a matter of course, a small fee will be required from each party who may desire their soils or other substances analyzed. He considered it proper that this statement should be made, or else a false impression would go before the public, that those services would be given free of charge, which could not possibly be done, as it would require a dozen chemists to analyze all the specimens that would be sent from various portions of the State, if done gratuitously.

The resolution was ado

Mr. Trimble offered the following:

Resolved by the Delegates of the County Agricultural Societies of the State of Ohio, That the Board of Agriculture be requested to memorialize the Legislature in favor of making it the duty of Assessors, at the time of listing the taxable property of the State each year, to list also the agricultural products of the State.

Adopted.

L. H. Hitchcock offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Legislature be requested to enact a law at its present session, taxing dogs throughout the State, and appropriating the money thereby raised, to the County Agricultural Societies; each County Society to receive the tax paid for said purpose in the county where raised.

Judge Myers offered an amendment:

And that said Societies be authorized to appropriate such tax, or such portion thereof as they may deem proper, for the payment of

sheep killed by dogs; whereupon the resolution and amendment were adopted.

Mr. Peacock offered the following:

Resolved, That the State Board be requested to regulate the rules governing County Societies in such manner that County Societies may admit competitors from surrounding counties.

Judge Myers offered to amend, so as to exten the competition to other States, upon which a discussion took place by Messrs. Waddle, Peacock, Bateham and Springer, and both the amendment and reso. lution were adopted.

Mr. Bateham offered the following resolutions :

Resolved, That the State Board of Agriculture request the Legislature to adopt a rule granting to the President of each County Agricultural Society a sufficient number of copies of the Annual Reports of the Board, to allow a copy for each member of said Societies. Adopted.

Resolved, That the State Board be requested to procure a design and engraving for a handsome Diploma, for the use of the County Societies, and furnish printed impressions thereof to the several societies, as they may desire them, on the payment of a reasonable share of the cost.

Adopted.

Mr. Kinney offered the following:

Resolved, That the members of the State Board, through their Secretary, request our Representatives in Congress to forward the Report of the Patent Office to the officers of the county and town societies of our State.

Lost.

On motion of Judge Myers, the proceedings of this Convention be reported to the State Board of Agriculture.

On motion, the meeting of the Convention adjourned sine die.

(Signed)

JOHN BOYD, Secretary.

ALEX. WADDLE, Chairman.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, AT THEIR ANNUAL SESSION ON THE 6TH OF DECEMRER, 1850.

DECEMBER 6, 1850.

Present-M. L. Sullivant, Samuel Medary, J. T. Pugsley, F. R. Elliott, Arthur Watts, J. G. Gest, Cornelius Springer, J. M. Edwards, Smith Holloway. Absent-Allen Trimble.

On motion, the Board proceeded to elect, by ballot, officers for the term of one year, which resulted in the election of M. L. Sullivant ̧ President; Samuel Medary, Treasurer, and J. G. Gest, Secretary.

On motion, it was

Ordered, That the 5th general rule governing county societies, be amended by adding the following thereto: Provided, That the county societies shall have the power, at their discretion, to award premiums for articles without regard to the locality in which they may have been produced; but no premiums shall be awarded for any such articles to any person who is not a member of an Agricultural Society in the county in which he resides.

Ordered, That the duties of the office of Secretary be divided, and that they hereafter be performed by a Recording Secretary, and a Corresponding Secretary; and that the duties of the present Secretary be confined to those of the Recording Secretary.

That it shall be the duty of the Recording Secretary to keep the minutes of the Board; and to prepare and have in charge the badges and tickets for the Annual Fairs.

That it shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretary to carry on a correspondence with the several County Societies auxiliary to the Board, and the Agricultural, Horticultural, Mechanical, and Scientific Associations of other States and countries, and with individuals, so far as the same may contribute to the advancement of the interests the Board have in charge. Also, to encourage the introduction into the State of new varieties of stock, seeds and implements; to visit the several counties of the State, from time to time, and lecture on the subject of Agriculture; and prepare papers on the agricultural and mineral resources of the State. He shall take charge

of, and preserve or distribute, as the Board may direct, all seeds, plants, books, models, &c., that may be transmitted to the Board; and shall also have charge of all communications designed for publication; and shall arrange the same for the Annual Report to the Legislature, under the direction of the Executive Committee.

He shall have charge of the office in Columbus, and shall reside in said town, in order that the whole of his time shall be given to the duties of his office.

No person shall be eligible to the office who is not of scientific attainments, particularly in the department of Agricultural Chemistry. The said Secretary shall also be known as the "State Agricultural Chemist;" and shall arrange to analyze soils at a moderate rate therefor.

The said Secretary shall be elected for the term of one year, and shall receive a salary of $1,000 per annum.

That there shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of three persons, one of whom shall be the President of the Board, and two members appointed by him, which Committee shall be charged with the general interests of the Board, supervision over the Corresponding Secretary, and shall also have charge of the preparation for and management of the Annual Fairs under the orders of the Board. The Committee shall have a contingent fund, subject to its control, of such an amount as the Board may, from time to time, vote; and shall report to the annual meeting of the Board, a full and succinct account of the proceedings, and of the expenses incurred by it, with proper

vouchers therefor.

That the Treasurer shall keep the funds of the Board, and disburse them on the order of the President, countersigned by the Recording Secretary; and shall make a report of the receipts and expenses for the year at the annual meeting. He shall also give bond in the sum of ten thousand dollars, with such securities as shall be approved of by the President and Recording Secretary.

Ordered, That the Executive Committee cause to be engraved or lithographed, a diploma for the county societies, and that copies of the same be furnished said societies at cost.

Ordered, That the sum of one thousand dollars be appropriated to the Executive Committee as a contingent fund to be accounted for by it at the next meeting of the Board.

Ordered, That F. R. Elliott be allowed $20, for preparing the proceedings of the Pomological Congress for publication.

Ordered, That the design for a medal, prepared by Joseph Sullivant, Esq., be approved of and adopted; and the thanks of the Board be tendered him for the same.

Ordered, That applications for premiums on crops be referred to a committee of three. Committee under order-Edwards, Watts and Pugsley.

Ordered, That the essays offered in ecmpetition for the premiums heretofore offered by the Board, be referred to a committee of three, 4-AG. REP.