IQ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



tlie opposition, ingenious in answering objections, and untiring 

 in efforts to stir up the "well-disposed, but uninterested. His 

 hardest opponents, he always declared, were among the farm- 

 ers themselves — a declaration but too true at the present 

 time. After various consultations and modification of plans, 

 the law of 1832 was framed and passed, which Avas as follows: 



"Sect. 1. The treasurer of the state is hereby authorized and 

 directed to pay to the treasurer of any agricultural society, or any 

 agricultural or horticultural society, ■whenever any such treasurer 

 shall apply for the same, a sum equal to that, which said s|^iety may 

 have raised and actually received, by subscription or otherwise, within 

 the next preceding year ; all of which sums shall be appropriated to 

 the purposes, specified in the charter of said society. 



Sect. 2. If there be three such societies in a county, the payment 

 from the state treasury shall not exceed one hundred dollars to each 

 of them; if two, and only two, one hundred and fifty dollars to each of 

 them ; and, if there be only one such society, the payment thereto shall 

 not exceed three hundred dollars. 



Sect. 3. Xone of the aforesaid payments shall be made, till the 

 treasurer of such society shall file, with the state treasurer, a certifi- 

 cate on oath, therein specifying the amount raised and actually paid 

 in, to said society. 



Sect. 4. Every society, availing itself of the benefit of this chapter, 

 shall, at their discretion, annually and publicly, offer premiums for 

 introducing or improving any breed of useful cattle or animals, or any 

 tools or implements of husbandry or manufacture ; introducing, raising 

 or preserving any valuable trees, shrubs or plants ; or, in any way, 

 encouraging or advancing any of the branches or departments of agri- 

 culture, horticulture or manufactures ; and no such society, by their 

 by-laws shall confine such premiums to their o\\n members, but shall 

 bestow them on any person residing within the limits of such society, 

 who shall produce the best specimens." 



From this it will be seen that nothing was attempted except 

 in Kennebec county, up to the above date. Here was the centre 

 of interest and effort prior to 1832. But the efforts to secure 

 legislative action in behalf of this cause, seem to have arrested 

 public attention throughout the entire State, and in some sec- 

 tions, to have awakened interest enough to secure efficient 

 action ; for during the session of the same Legislature which 

 passed this law, three societies, beside the Kennebec, were in- 



