STATE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS.

HISTORY, IMPORTANCE, AND ADVANTAGES, AND

SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE

NECESSITY OF AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

BY BENJAMIN P. JOHNSON, Corresponding Secretary New York State Agricultural Society-Corresponding Member of the National and Agricultural Society of France.

THE organization of state agricultural associations in this country is of comparatively recent date, with but few exceptions. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and South Carolina, formed associations at an early day, and from most or all of these valuable articles relating to agriculture were published under the auspices of the societies, which at this day will be found full of instruction and deserving the careful examination of every progressive agriculturist.

Some of the leading men of our revolutionary history were deeply interested in the subject of agricultural improvement, and among them none was more conspicuous than the Father of his country, whose letters to Sir John Sinclair will ever be read by the American farmer with that interest which is justly due to whatever fell from the pen of that distinguished statesman, soldier, and farmer.

In his last message to congress, 5th December, 1796, the following suggestions in relation to agriculture will be found :—

"It will not be doubted that with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance in population and other circumstances of maturity, this truth becomes more apparent and renders the cultivation of the soil more and more an object of public patronage. Institutions for promoting it grow up, supported by the public purse, and to what object can it be dedicated with greater propriety. Among the means which have been employed to this end none have been attended with greater success than the establishment of boards, composed of proper characters, charged with collecting and diffusing proper information, and enabled by premiums and small pecuniary aid, to encourage and assist a spirit of discovery and improvement. This species of establishment contrib utes doubly to the increase of improvement, by stimulating to enterprise and experiment and by drawing to a common center the results everywhere of individual skill and observation and spreading them thence over the whole nation. Experience accordingly has shown that they are very cheap instruments of immense national benefits."

And as an evidence of the interest which he felt in this subject we annex a copy of his letter to Sir John Sinclair, after congress had adjourned without having carried out his suggestions in relation to a board of agriculture. He was then about to return to Mt. Vernon's peaceful shades, to assume those rural pursuits so congenial to his wishes and for which he was so admirably adapted:

"PHILADELPHIA, 6th March, 1797.

Sir:-On the 11th of December I wrote you a long letter, and intended before the close of the last session of congress (which ended on the 3d inst., conformably to the constitution,) to have addressed you again, but oppressed as I was with the various occurrences incident thereto, especially in the latter part of it, it has not been in my power to do so, during its continuance; and now the arrangements necessary to my departure from this city for a more tranquil theatre, and for the indulgence of rural pursuits, will oblige me to suspend my purpose till I am fixed at Mt. Vernon, where I expect soon to behaving resigned the chair of government to Mr. John Adams, on Friday lastthe day on which I completed my second four years' administration.

Under the circumstances here mentioned, I should not have troubled you at this time with so short a letter, but for the purpose of accompanying it with two or three pamphlets on the subject of agriculture, one of which treats more extensively on gypsum as a manure than any I have ever seen before. The other two will only serve to show that essays of a similar kind are making in this infant country.

"I am sorry to add that nothing final in congress has been decided respecting the institution of a national board of agriculture, recommended by me at the opening of the session. But this did not, I believe, proceed from any disinclination to the measure, but from their limited sitting, and a pressure of what they conceived more pressing business.

"I think it highly probable that next session will bring this matter to maturity.

"With the highest esteem and respect, I have the honor to be,

Sir, your most obedient servant,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

SIR JOHN SINCLAIR, BART."

While it is much to be regretted that this subject, so important to the great agricultural interests of our country, has not to this day received any adequate attention from our general governnmet, it is a matter of just pride and congratulation to refer to the favorable action of so many of our state governments, which have cordially co-operated with the agricultural interest, in encouraging and sustaining organizations for the improvement of agriculture.

PENNSYLVANIA.

"The Philadelphia Society " for the promotion of agriculture “was formed in 1785, by some citizens, only a few of whom were actually engaged in husbandry, but who were convinced of its necessity and the assistance which such an association, properly attended to, would afford to the interests of agriculture. The society continued to meet regularly for several years, and published numerous communications from practical men on various interesting subjects, and thereby contributed to diffuse the knowledge of many improvements in agriculture, the general adoption whereof has visibly tended to increase the product and improve the qualities of the soil of Pennsylvania." After several years of active exertions the society neglected to hold its meetings, and in 1804 they were revived and the society has continued to the present time, holding annual fairs for a series of past years, and has continued to do great good to the cause of agriculture. Five volumes of memoirs of the society were published in 1820, containing a large number of valuable articles. Among the names of contributors are those of Richard Peters, Joseph Cooper, Timothy Pickering, Thomas Jefferson, H. S. Dearborn, Thomas Say, Dr. Benjamin Rush.

The society still publish occasional papers which are interesting and useful. In 1823 the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society was incorporated, comprising the counties of Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery and Delaware. This society held two or more fairs, which were very successful, and published one volume of its proceedings. Much a tention was given to improved stock. John Hare Powell, of Philadelphia, imported the improved short lerus, and they were extensively disseminated through the country. Mr. Powell furnished several very valuable communications for their proceedings, on imported cattle, on sheep, swine, root crops, &c. This society ceased its operations after a few years.

The Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society was organized at Harrisburg, 1851, and a charter was granted in March of that year. $2,000 were appropriated, annually, for the use of the society, payable on the raising of an equal amount by the society. The society makes annual reports to the legislature. One volume has been published by the legislature, and 2,000 copies were published by the society for distribution. The society has held four annual fairs, and the benefits resulting from the society's labors are beginning to be appreciated, and the last fair of the society, held at Philadelphia, was a most successful one.

Measures have been adopted for the establishment of an Agricultural College, and an act was passed in 1853, on the subject. It is hoped that it will ere long be organized and placed in operation.

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MASSACHUSETTS.

THE Massachusetts Society for the promotion of agriculture was estal shed in 1792 Several volumes of its proceedings have been published, emb ying very many highly useful papers. For several years public exhibitions were held at Brighton. There has been paid to the board at various times, from public funds, about $18,000. Improved stock has been imported and disseminated through the state-mostly of the Devon, Ayrshire and Alderney breeds. An agricultural journal was instituted in 1797, and continued for more than thirty years, and in various ways the society has exerted an important influence on the subject of agriculture and its improvement.

It is remarked in one of the reports of the secretary of state that "It cannot be questioned that to the efforts of the agricultural societies is to le attributed in a great measure the general advancement of practical agriculture. They have encouraged by premiums and stimulated by honorable competition. They have excited greater interest in the objects of agricultural labor, diffused information respecting it among the people, and elevated the standard of husbandry."

In 1852 a board of agriculture was established, and the duties relating to agriculture which had been performed by the secretary of state were devolved upon the secretary of the board One volume has been published under this new arrangement, containing the proceedings of the board and of county societies, and is a very valuable work.

The Massachusetts Agricultural Society was organized some years since, but we are not advised particularly as to its operations.

NEW YORK.

THE society for the promotion of agriculture, arts, and manufactures, was instituted 26th February, 1791, and incorporated March, 1793, and among its founders were some of the most distinguished men in the state. This society was authorized by acts of the legislature to award premiums on manufactures, and $2.000, annually, for several years, were appropriated for that purpose. Four volumes of Transactions were published by this society, and a second edition was republished by the legislature. Many of the papers were of great importance, and at this day are read with much interest, by those desirous of ascertaining the progress which has been made in our country.

In 1819, an act to improve the agriculture of the state was passed, appropriating $10,000 a year, for two years, to be distributed among the several counties of the state, in sums directed by the act-the county societies to raise an amount equal to the appropriation to each. A board of agriculture was created, to which was appropriated $1,000, for the distribution of seeds,

and to defray the expenses of the board. The board was organized in 1820, and continued until 1826. County societies were organized in many of the counties, and for a time were well sustained, and some have continued their organization to the present time. The board published three volumes of Transactions, which were distributed to towns in the state. This was a valuable collection, and was the means of calling the attention of the farmers to the subject of agricultural improvement.

In July, 1832, the present state agricultural society was organized, and a charter granted for twenty years, which was renewed in 1852, for another like term. The society was not furnished with any funds from the state, but continued to meet annually-disseminated information extensively-and the Cultivator, now one of the leading agricultural journals of the country, was established by the society-Jesse Buell being its editor. The papers which were presented before the society will be found in the early volumes of the Cultivator. After publishing the Cultivator for a few years in this manner, Judge Buell took the paper into his own hands, and continued its publication until his decease.

In 1841, the society adopted a revised constitution, in which it was provided that "An annual cattle show and fair should be held." The society had held one or two fairs previously, but owing mainly to a want of funds for premiums they were not kept up. The legislature, in 1841, passed an act for the encouragement of agriculture, appropriating $8,000, to be divided among the state and county associations which were provided for in the act. The terms of this grant were that the societies should raise an amount equal to the sum appropriated by the state and should award premiums "on such articles, productions and improvements as they might deem best calculated to improve the agricultural and household manufacturing interests of the state, having especial reference to the net profits which accrue or are likely to accrue from the mode of raising the crop or stock or fabrication of the article offered, with the intention that the reward should be given for the most economical or profitable mode of competition."

County societies have been organized in nearly all the counties in the state and continue in successful operation, diffusing throughout the entire state the benefits resulting from the combined efforts.

The county societies are required to make an annual report to the state society, and the executive committee of the state society embody these reports, or abstracts of them, and with their own proceedings, report annually to the legislature. Thirteen volumes have been published by the legislature, embodying, it is believed, as much valuable, practical matter, useful to the agriculturists of the state and country, as can be found in any other single work. Of these Transactions there have been furnished by the legislature, annually, from 500 to 1,000 copies for the state society and from 20 to 40 volumes to each county society in the state. These are distributed as premiums, and thus are brought to the farmers' fire side the results of the operations of all the societies in the state. A more judicious expenditure of money it is