NOTICE.

In presenting the seventeenth volume of the Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural Society, it is believed a volume worthy of the farmers of New-York is given. There are in this volume many articles of very great value to the practical farmers of our State, from which they cannot fail to derive great advantage, in their operations upon the farm.

The Address, by Hon. Edward Everett, which was listened to at the time of its delivery with so much interest, will, on perusal, be found to contain matters worthy of the closest attention' and well calculated to encourage the farmer, to improve his condition, elevate his profession, and place his pursuit upon an equality with any other profession in our country. We are confident this will be secured-and the address of Mr. Everett will aid very materially in accomplishing this desirable object.

The farm reports are of unusual interest. The grain farm of Mr. R. J. Swan, a detailed report of which is given, affords a most instructive lesson to the farmers of our State. A farm of more than three hundred acres, reclaimed by more than sixty miles of drain tile laid, affords an example of perseverance and good judg ment, too rarely seen among our farmers. The paying results, however, of the operations on this farm, show the value of the improvements made, and will undoubtedly lead many a farmer to undertake a similar work on his own farm. The report of the dairy farm of Hon. Zadock Pratt, lying upon the slopes of the Catskill mountains, is a valuable one, showing how these hitherto almost neglected lands can be made productive, and add largely to the wealth of the State.

Dairy Stock, by Sandford Howard, is a well considered article, on cattle best adapted to the dairy interests of our country. Every dairyman who feels a desire to improve his stock, will not fail to give this article a careful perusal, and it cannot be

doubted that great and permanent advantage will be secured to the dairy interests of our State, by giving attention to the valuable suggestions in this article.

A very interesting account of the Agriculture and Agricultural Schools of Europe, by Prof. W. H. Brewer, will be read with interest and profit.

A most valuable and instructive article on the growth of barley by different manures, on the same land, for six years in succession, by Prof. Lawes and Gilbert, should receive the careful attention of every farmer.

The Mechanical Mode of Deepening Soils, by Peter Love, is a most instructive article, giving the experience of a first-rate English farmer, on a subject which deserves attention.

A very useful article is given on the breeds of sheep in Great Britain, by Prof. John Wilson, F. R. S., &c., of Edinburgh University. An account of the agricultural department, of the French National Exhibition in 1855, by the same gentleman, will be found valuable, as evidencing the state of agriculture, as illustrated in that great exhibition.

The county reports and addresses are many of them of great practical value.

Dr. Fitch's Fourth Report on the Insects of New-York, sustains the high character of his previous reports, and will be sought after by every one interested in the subject of entomology.

A description of new species of Heteropterous, Hemiptera Insects of North America, by Thomas Say, is given. The work published many years since, and being out of print, it was deemed desirable to publish it, and we have no doubt it will be considered very valuable to entomologists and all others engaged in the investigation of the insects of our country.

A very interesting letter from Mr. Say, describing a new insect that destroys the cotton plant, published some years since, is also given.

For the many encouraging notices of our previous volumes, from the editors of our agricultural journals and gentlemen interested in agriculture in this country and in Europe, we would return our most grateful thanks. We trust the volume now

presented will be found to sustain the character of those which have preceded it.

We would most cordially tender our thanks to the many friends and correspendents who have aided us in the preparation of this volume. We have endeavored to make it one really useful to the farmer, and by their assistance we indulge the hope that our object has been secured.

STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS, 1858.

B. P. JOHNSON.