14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the debt of gratitude, their due, will some day be fully ackno^r^ 

 ed^rcd and paid. 



The farmers of Maine are indebted to the late Benjamiu 

 Yaughan, LL. D., and to his brother Charles Taughan of Hal- 

 lovrell, for the earlest associated impulse given to agricultural 

 improvement in the state. '^ They were Englishmen by birth, 

 possessed of ample fortune, and took great pleasure in agricul- 

 ture and horticulture, particularly tlie latter. To these pur- 

 suits Dr. Yaughan gave his entire attention ; and it is not too 

 much to say that the people of Kennebec county are mor^e largely 

 indebted to these gentlemen for the high reputation which they 

 enjoy as farmers, for the superiority of their farm stock, and 

 for their horticulture, than to any others. 



In 17 87, a number of individuals on the Kennebec river, asso- 

 ciated themselves together, under the name of the "Kennebec 

 Agricultural Society," the objects of which were, mutual im- 

 provement in agricultural knowledge, and mutual aid. by the 

 importation of trees, seeds, tools, books, etc. The leading and 

 animating spirits in this movement were the Messrs. Yaughan. 



In 1791-2, the Messrs. Yaughan — Charles taking the lead, 

 made their first importation of cattle, seeds, trees, tools, etc. 

 Their cattle were selected in the Smithfield market, by a friend 

 and agent, who was directed to select such a combination of 

 points as would insure size, strength, availability for work, and 

 good milking properties. Bakeweirs breed was then in the 

 ascendant in England, and these imported cattle were of that 

 stock, with a touch of what was then, and indeed, is still known 

 as the " Long Horns." It was an excellent thing for j\Iaine. 

 They succeeded admirably. And notwithstanding all the mix- 

 tures that have been made among Kennebec cattle since, evi- 

 dences are often apparent of this blood, at the present time, 

 among the best cattle of that countv. 



In 1807, the above named society was incorporated by the 

 Massachusetts Legislature. They held no exhibitions ; but had 

 frequent meetings for the reading of papers contributed by 

 members, and for consultation and discussion. ''The Massa- 

 chusetts Agricultural licpository," has many papers from this 



* See Appendix A. 



