No. 85.] 393 



a society by the name of " The Massachusetts Society for promoting 

 Agriculture." " 



This act was signed by the Governor, John Hancock, and the per-- 

 son named to call the first meeting was Samuel Adams. 



This was soon called, trustees appointed, and suitable rules and 

 regulations were adopted. (Vol. 5 page 80.) 



By the fifteenth rule, it was provided that the several members 

 should pay into the hands of the treasurer, two dollars annually, 

 until otherwise ordered, to carry into effect the objects had in view ; 

 it further appears that a subscription, liberal for that period, was forth- 

 with made of about four thousand dollars in aid of the important ob- 

 jects thus contemplated. The society by its trustees, then proceeded 

 to place before the public, the several objects as to which informa- 

 tion was needed from the experience of our husbandmen ; suitable 

 premiums were offered for invention and discoveries, as well as in re- 

 lation to the improvement of our race of cattle, sheep, etc., and these 

 were varied from year to year, as seemed most important and desira- 

 ble. The appeal was not made in vain. With a view to the improve- 

 ment of our breed of cattle, several costly and valuable animals were 

 presented by liberal men, and that no means should be untried, some 

 of great promise in successive periods of time have been imported 

 by the society, and placed for the general advantage in different 

 parts of the State. Strenuous efforts were also made to ascertain the 

 race of sheep best suited for our climate, as well as for the general 

 purposes of our manufactures. 



In 1797, the trustees published some agricultural pamphlets, which 

 afterwards became a journal to which they mostly contributed, 

 and by the aid of others, the freedom of discussion and means of in- 

 formation were widely diffused ; this was continued for more than 

 twenty years, and was productive of a good effect. 



The several counties were appealed to for the establishment of 

 County Societies, in aid of the efforts of the State Society, which has 

 been gradually accomplished, and been productive of beneficial effects 

 on the interests of agriculture. From a desire to avail of these ad- 

 vantages, the trustees proposed to have a cattle-show at Brighton, 

 which was kept up for several years ; those distinguished by knowl- 

 edge and experience being invited to address the assembly of congre- 

 gated farmers. Their addresses through the Journal and the press in 

 general, were widely diffused. 



Plowing matches were instituted. A hall was built mostly by 

 the liberal contributions of individuals, for the exhibition of domes- 

 tic and other manufactures, for which premiums were offered, which 

 course, though varied, has been long fcontinued. 



About 1802 the trustees contributed to the establishment of a Pro- 

 fessorship of Natural History at Cambridge college. Wm. D. Peck, 

 was elected Professor; the benefit of his researches, which were highly 

 estimated, were laid before the public through the Agricultural Jour- 

 nal, and the press generally. On the 20th February, 1819, the Le- 

 gislature passed an act by which every society which should raise the 

 sum of one thousand dollars for the improvement of agriculture, 



