Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. CONTENTS. PAGE. BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED..... 237 CHARTER, CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION.. 241 31 By Rear-Admiral Daniel IRRIGATION IN CALIFORNIA. By Alfred L. Kennedy, M. D. 149 ON INCREASING THE FERTILITY OF PASTURES. By J. B. Lawes, LL. D., F. R. S. 67 9 PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY THE SOURCE OF NATIONAL WEALTH. By Dr. Thos. P. 59 THE BOVINE LUNG PLAGUE. By James Law, Prof. Veterinary Science, Cornell 103 THE DAIRY: ITS PROFITS AND PROSPECTS. By Hon. X. A. Willard THE FOREIGN CATTLE TRADE OF THE UNITED STAETS. By Col. Robert Beverley. THE MERINO SHEEP OF THE UNITED STATES. By Albert Chapman..... THE PROBLEM OF AMERICAN LAND-HOLDING. By Hon. George B. Loring.. THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. The American Agricultural Association was started with the belief that a national organization is just as necessary for agriculture as the Federal Government is for the States. The fact that agriculture is the main dependence of the country was recognized, and that great as its development has been and flourishing as its condition is, its resources must be husbanded and greater pains taken for its conservation. It was believed that new methods should be employed, new practices followed, and greater safeguards thrown around the industry. It was felt that larger crops should be grown from the same acreage in order to supply the increasing demands upon us for home and foreign consumption, and as agriculture never has received any proper thought or attention by the General Government, but, on the contrary, legislation has been frequently against the interests of the farmer, it was considered desirable to have a strong national organization of farmers for the protection of their rights and to procure needed legislation. They will not remain in a position that requires them to wait year after year, as in the pleuro-pneumonia matter, for congressional action. That there is room for such an organization admits of no question, for in England the strongest institution is the Royal Agricultural Society, sup ported by the best men in the land, and having a membership of 8,000. France also has a national agricultural society. In neither country is one needed so much as in America. It is asked, How can the organization be of use? Organization is always beneficial. A society comprising within its membership representatives of the agricultural industry of every section of the country will constitute a power for good not equalled by any other body. No other institution can wield so large and useful an influence for individual and public good. Immigration matters may receive proper attention from it. Through a Journal and by conventions the best agricultural thought and experience will be collated and disseminated. Through exhibitions stimulus will be given to the production of the best. To do all this, time is necessary. The organization cannot be built up in a day. No really useful institution ever was. As was said at the convention of 1879, the man who does most to popularize farming will have gone a long way towards solving a question that has agitated the minds of philanthropists of all ages-the lessening of human woe. Make farming as popular with the masses as it has been with the thinking men of all ages, and still is, and there will be less poverty, less crime, and less suffering. The New York Herald said of the organization when starting: "An effort is to be made to organize a National Agricultural Society. There is no country in the world where such an association could be so easily and cheaply managed, or do so much good." The breadth and aim of the organization are as great as the land for which it is named. It will foster every interest of the soil in every section of the land. Protesting against discrimination adverse to the interests of agriculturists, it will seek to encourage every honest industry and to promote the best good of all. It invites not alone the tiller of the soil into its councils, but all who seek the general good are welcome. Natural results are sought to be obtained by practical means. So far as practicable it will perform the work formulated by the Royal Agricultural Society. "1. The general dissemination of knowledge relative to the best methods of agriculture. "2. Systematic testing of competing agricultural implements. "3. Scientific investigations into diseases of animals used on the farm. "4. The technical education of veterinary surgeons, tenants and land owners. “5. Exposure of frauds in the sale of inferior or adulterated manures, feeding stuffs and seeds. "6. Embodiment of such information contained in agricultural publications as may be proved by practical experience to be useful. "7. To encourage men of science in their attention to the improvement of agricultural implements, the construction of farm buildings and cottages, the application of chemistry to the general purposes of agriculture, the |