25G BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Massachusetts. Society for Promoting Agriculture was 

 incorporated in 1792, but owing to the fact that the mass of 

 farmers were not prepared for any progressive effort, and were 

 prejudiced against what might be called " book farming," they 

 did not hold any public exhibition till 1816. 



The first agricultural exhibition, ever held in this country, 

 was held in Georgetown, D. C, on the 10th of May, 1810. 

 The society was organized in Georgetown, on the 28th of 

 November, 1809. 



The first county exhibitions held in this country, are believed 

 to have been those of the Berkshire County Agricultural 

 Society, whose first " cattle show " consisted of the exhibition 

 of three merino sheep, by a private individual, under the great 

 elm tree in Pittsfield, in the year of 1810. 



The Berkshire Society was incorporated in the winter of 

 1810-11. Although the first exhibition was held in Berkshire 

 County, there had been agricultural societies formed previously. 

 The Kenncbeck Agricultural Society was instituted at Augusta, 

 Maine, which was then a part of Massachusetts, in 1800, and 

 incorporated in 1801. An association was formed in Middlesex 

 County in 1794, and incorporated in 1803. 



From this era agricultural societies and fairs have multiplied 

 throughout the United States. State agricultural societies have 

 been formed in almost every State, and county societies in 

 almost every county in the Union. 



There have been several attempts to establish a National Agri- 

 cultural Society. In 1840 several gentlemen, with Solon Robin- 

 son, Esq., at their head, organized the " United States Agricul- 

 tural Society," but being somewhat disappointed in not 

 securing the donation which was afterwards given to establish 

 the Smithsonian Institution, they never held a meeting after its 

 organization. 



In 1852, a convention was held at the Smithsonian Institute) 

 composed of one hundred and fifty-three delegates, representing 

 the principal agricultural societies in twenty-three of the States 

 and Territories. Annual exhibitions have been held in several 

 of the States, and and there is no doubt but that they have 

 increased the efficiency of the State and local associations, and 

 elevated the standard of excellence of agricultural systems and 

 productions. 



