Page:A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury.pdf/91

Rh practical importance." (See Journal of fourth meeting of the U. S. Agricultural Society.)

Nearly three years afterwards, Maury says, in an address before the North Ala. Mechanical and Agricultural Society at Decatur, Alabama:—"Several years ago I proposed, you recollect, a system of agricultural meteorology for farmers, and of daily weather reports by telegraph from all parts of the country for the benefit of the farmers. Take notice now, that this plan of crop and weather reports is 'my thunder'; and if you see someone in Washington running away with it, then recollect, if you please, where the lightning came from."

The following letters to B. F. Minor of Albemarle, on the subject of Agricultural Meteorology, show how much Maury's mind was occupied with this most useful scheme:—

Your long, long letter of the 17th is just to hand, and it as "rich as the ooze and bottom of the sea."[This is a reference to what Maury found on the sea floor two miles below the sea, that proved to him the trans-atlantic cable could be safely laid on his "telegraphic plateau"]

We shall keep dinner waiting for you Friday, and be merry when you come. We are going to have lettuce and green peas out of the garden on Friday (open air). Doesn't that sound like an agricultural professor?

You ask about the plan météorologique: why, it goes on swimmingly! I have almost volunteers enough now with offers of service and friendly aid, and signs of encouragement are pouring in every day. I send you the latest. There came by this morning's mail the two newspaper slips, and a letter from a gentleman in Missouri, informing me that the legislature of that State has authorized the establishment of five meteorological observatories, and voted the money for them. They are under his charge, and at my service for co-operation, and will fill up with observations any blanks I choose to send, &c. The enterprise looks well, and I begin to think I have hit the nail on the head. The Secretary asked me the other day to send him a paragraph or two for his Reports. I did so, offering to put in his mouth a recommendation of Agricultural Meteorology to