TRIAL OF PLOUGHS.

On the morning of the 22d, we were met by a large number of those interested in the manufacture of ploughs, and proceeded to the trial with the dynamometer. Each plough was drawn by a windlass through a stiff sward the distance of five rods, and required to cut a furrow twelve inches wide by six deep.

The following ploughs were tried, and the average of their resistance taken as indicated by the dynamometer :

We ought here to observe, that some of these ploughs were of a larger size than others, and their surface draft of course greater, as the Livingston County, Ontario County, and some others. Some of them were highly polished, while others were nearly as rough as they came from the molds. Some were provided with very sharp coulters, while others had merely a cutter upon the shin, which made a very manifest differrence. Many of them came unprovided with a guage wheel, and the difference of draft was so great, with or without a wheel, that those who had not a wheel, borrowed one before they would go through with a trial. Your committee think this point settled in the minds of every one who saw this trial, that a wheel is an indispensable accompaniment to a good plow in sward land, or indeed in almost any other. There was also a difference in the dynamometer, as Mr. Chase's, which

was injured after the trial of four or five ploughs, indicated every ten pounds, while the scale-beam, afterwards used, indicated only every thirty pounds.

After we had gone through with a very thorough and laborious trial with the windlass and the dynamometer, we proceeded to try them with a strong pair of horses. Each competitor was allowed to hold his own. plough until it run to suit him, and then it was held by one of the committee. We gave them a thorough trial in this way, and proceeded to compare their relative merits as to construction and workmanship, and heard explanations of their peculiar merits from their proprietors.

Having thus obtained what information we could as to their traction, and compared their relative merits as to structure and durability, your committee came to the unanimous conclusion that we could not award premiums as published by the society. We are not prepared to say, neither do we believe any judicious man would say, that either of these ploughs were so superior to the others as to entitle it to the large premium of fifty dollars. They were all superior ploughs; and the more we examined them, the more we were convinced that such a collection was never before seen in this or any other land.

We therefore proceed to divide the highest premium among the largest sized ploughs, giving the

Wyoming," Hicks & Bayley, Perry, Wyoming county,.... "Williamsport," S. W. Hall,

15 00

10 00

The remaining premiums are divided among ploughs of the second size, as follows:

"American," M. D. & M. H. Codding, of Bristol, Ontario,.. $15 00

"Geneva," T. D. Burrell, of Geneva,..

12 00

"Montgomery County," S. W. Chase of Amsterdam,...

10 00

"Oneida Chief," E. Wilson, Vernon, Oneida county,

8 00

5 00

"Veto," I. Waite, Albion, Orleans,..

We also recommend that diplomas be given to the "Iron Beam" and "Peekskill," and volumes of the Transactions to the "Livingston County," the "Cayuga County," and "Diamond" ploughs.

Your committee also witnessed, with great satisfaction, the trial of a proughing machine or gang of ploughs, constructed by Thomas Wiard, of Avon, and have no hesitation in recommending it as an article of much importance to the farmer. The facility and great rapidity with which it prepares fallow grounds, ploughs in wheat, covers peas and other spring grain requiring a deeper covering than the harrow gives

render it a very desirable article to the farmer. We had not only ocular demonstration of its performances, but were shown very high commendations from some of the best farmers in Livingston county. We therefore recommend the awarding of a diploma to Thomas Wiard, of Avon, for his gang of ploughs.

Of sub-soil ploughs, only two were presented, both of which were thoroughly tested and highly approved by the committee. We believe the sub-soil plough worthy of a trial by our farmers, and an instrument which will do great service in heavy clay lands, and such as have impervious sub-soils. We feel that we could not do justice to either of these ploughs, by giving them the whole premium. We therefore have awarded to B. F. Smyth, of Syracuse, (Ruggles & Co., Mass.) $12.00, considering his plough superior in workmanship, and that it will do the best work in light clay soils. We award to S. McLean, of Royalton, Niagara county, $8.00 for his sub-soil slough, the construction of which is very simple, is so cheap as to be within reach of every farmer, and will work its way through the heaviest soils.

In closing their report, your committee would beg leave to suggest that a suitable premium be offered for the best dynamometer. The instruments now in use are very imperfect, and no certain test of the power required in the draft of a plough. Such is the continually varying resistance given by the inequality of the earth's surface, and the obstacles under it, that the index of the dynamometer revolves as rapidly as a weathercock in a storm. We want an instrument not so easily affected, or farther removed from continual fluctuations, which will note in single pounds the average power required in a given number of feet. Yankee ingenuity has evidently not been sufficiently employed in the construction of this instrument; and we are persuaded it needs but little encouragement from your Society, to stimulate it to the pruduction of an instrument which will render the power required in the draft of a plough, as easily determined as the power of a locomotive.

The ANNUAL ADDRESS, delivered by John P. Beekman, of Columbia county, together with the remarks of Ex-President Van Buren, ExGovernor Seward, Mr. Webster and Mr. Granger, (referred to in the foregoing statements,) are hereto annexed :

ADDRESS OF JOHN P. BEEKMAN,

Before the State Agricultural Society, at the Fair in Rochester,

ON ANNOUNCING THE PREMIUMS AWARDEd.

FELLOW-CITIZENS-The place that I now occupy, and the Address to be made, I did hope would have been confided to some other and abler man. Individuals have been named for it, whose reputation for talent and eloquence would have done more justice to the cause and better suited the occasion. But as we could not control their action, and this duty was to be discharged, it has fallen to iny lot to address you. This notice, on my part, at the starting point, is the more necessary, as on the two preceding anniversaries of this Society we had the pleasure on one occasion to listen to that veteran of eloquence, the President of Union College, and on the other to the pertinent and glowing delineations of our then Governor. The yearly exhibition of American skill in the products of the farm and the workshop is completed. What remains to be done is for us to commune together for a few moments, on the great theme on which it is our delight to dwell, and then to bestow the civic prizes that have been so honorably and nobly won. I trust, however, that we shall not soon lose the impressions created by the satisfactory display we have just witnessed: Those impressions are to be taken home to occupy our evening thoughts, and to be hereafter a subject of fruitful remark and amicable discussion. What can be more natural, and what more gratifying?

The exhibition is the evidence of our skill. To think and talk about it, will as necessarily follow, as the desire to outstrip hereafter all that has gone before us, is inherent in the heart of man. Our object then is accomplished. You see the position which we now occupy as an agricultural community, and we ask you to lend your aid to the farther advancement of the great cause in which we are engaged. In this vast assemblage, who is there that would not rejoice in a prize this day as the testimonial of his industry and skill? who would not wish to stand before his neighbors and friends, and receive from the judges the civic crown that well-directed exertion is sure to win? Is that man present? If so, point him out to me, and I will show you a man not fit to associate with American freemen, nor hold converse with the farmers of my country. He has no business here. If you find him, go to his home, and you will soon perceive he has left the foot-prints of

his husbandry behind him, in his broken fences, dilapidated buildings, and all else that constitutes him a bad farmer and a worse neighbor.

But we will turn from this subject, and take a hasty view of the operations of the Society since we have had an organization. It has been in existence since 1832. A short time previous to that period, a circular was issued by a few friends of agriculture, and a meeting proposed to be held in the city of Albany in February of that year. A few individuals met for that purpose; and although the farmers generally did not attend, yet it was gratifying to see that the spirit was there, for we had gentlemen at that meeting from different parts of the State, who had travelled from two hundred to three hundred miles in the depth of winter, and thus gave evidence of their zeal and of the benefits which they expected would result to the farming interest from associated action.

Some of the first men of the State were there, and mixed with others who had more intelligence than fame. The Society was formed, and Mr. Le Ray de Chaumont chosen its first president. The public mind had not been sufficiently prepared to give it a hearty and a welcome reception. The objects of the Society were not generally known, and few persons offered their names as members. To overcome this difficulty and enlighten the public as to our objects, we came to a determination to establish a paper devoted solely to the advancement of Agriculture. This gave birth to the Cultivator, a paper started in Albany in March, 1834, as the organ of the Society and its medium of communication with the public. How far it has sustained the cause for which it was established, most of you, I trust, have been able to judge, as it soon gained a circulation of many thousands. True, it was chiefly edited by a man of uncommon intelligence, and with whom farming was a favorite pursuit, and who has left behind him a name unspotted, and a fame as enduring as the pursuit of Agriculture will be beneficial and lasting. Yet its effect in increasing the members of the Society did not meet the expectations of its friends, and for many years we struggled through discouragements that would have disheartened less determined men. We knew we deserved success, and were determined to accomplish it. We had confidence in the good sense of our farming community, believing that when they fully appreciated our object and efforts, they would give us the encouragement we deserved. Our first fair was held in Albany in 1834. It was an exhibition creditable to us as a first essay, but not such as we had a right to expect from a State as wealthy, intelligent, and populous as ours. These [Assembly, No. 110.]

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