Rural Economy in New England 343 



The nature of these societies and of the work they proposed to carry 

 on is clearly revealed in the prefaces of their articles of association. 

 They were not intended to be clubs of practical working farmers 

 who might aid each other by the exchange of facts and ideas from 

 experience, but rather groups of men of all professions who were 

 to receive, adapt, and disseminate the knowledge of the progress 

 accomplished in other countries. So the preface to the Laws and 

 Regulations of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture^ 

 reads: "One great object of this Society will be, to obtain and pubhsh 

 an account of the improvements of other countries, and to procure 

 models of the machines in which they excel. It will attend to what- 

 ever relates to rural affairs, and especially to promote an increase of 

 the products of our lands, .... To encourage the utmost 

 attention to these objects, the Society will, from time to time, offer 

 such premiums as their funds will admit. They consider agriculture 

 in all its various branches and connexions as highly interesting to 

 all mankind. The wealth and importance of the community, is 

 so intimately connected with, and dependent on the extent and suc- 

 cess of agriculture;, that every one who is desirous of advancing 

 the happiness, prosperity, and dignity of his country, its commerce, 

 and convenient subsistence of individuals, will lend his aid to this 

 most useful institution."- The appeal of the society organized in 

 Philadelphia in 1785 is equally broad.^ 



These appeals were answered in the spirit in which they were 



references are continually made to the superior agriculture of Europe and to the 

 necessity of adopting and adapting its methods. "As other countries receive 

 the benefits of our labours, in the products supplied to them, .... it is 

 fit that we should profit by their experience in the arts of cultivation . . . ." 

 p. viii. This society acknowledged its indebtedness to prominent European agri- 

 culturists by electing them to honorary membership. Arthur Young, William 

 Bakewell, and Count Castiglioni, of Milan, were so honored. 



' Organized 1792. 



^ Published in Boston, 1793. Agric. Repository, Vol I., pp. iii-iv. 



'Here we read: "THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING 

 AGRICULTURE, was formed . . . . , by some citizens, only a few of 

 whom were actually engaged in husbandry, but who were convinced of its neces- 

 sity; and of the assistance which such an association, properly attended to, would 

 afford to the interests of agriculture. . . . Many citizens have a mistaken 

 idea, that their not being agriculturists, disqualifies them from becoming useful 

 members of our Society .... The interests of Commerce, Arts, and Manu- 

 factures, form, with Agriculture, an indissoluble union; to which citizens of every 

 class and calling, have it amply in their power to contribute." Memoirs, Vol. I. 

 pp. ii, iv (note). 



