ACTUAL IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGLISH AGRICULTURE. 161 



This was established about 1837, and embraces a large array of 

 the highest rank and talent in the kingdom, and a vast body of 

 farmers, landlords, and others interested in agriculture. Its funds 

 are large, arising from donations and an annual subscription of 

 a guinea from each of its members ; but it has received no 

 endowment from the government. Its objects comprehend every 

 branch of husbandry and rural economy. It has a central office, 

 or building, in Hanover Square, London, where the secretary of 

 the society resides, and where the council of the society and 

 other members hold weekly and monthly meetings, for the man 

 agement of the business of the society, and the discussion of 

 agricultural subjects, and the reception of agricultural infor 

 mation. This conduces very much to the interest felt in the 

 projects and operations of the society, and is the means of 

 diffusing a great amount of valuable information. 



It has begun here the establishment of an agricultural library 

 and museum, which presently must assume a considerable im 

 portance, and become curious and useful. The object of the 

 library is to collect the most useful and valuable publications on 

 subjects connected with agriculture, in all its various and kindred 

 branches, including likewise geology, botany, agricultural chem 

 istry, engineering, and manufacturing, as far as they are con 

 nected with the making of agricultural implements, and the 

 great agricultural operations of draining, embanking, irrigation, and 

 other important farming processes. The object of its museum is to 

 exhibit specimens of agricultural productions, which are capable 

 of preservation, seeds, plants, grasses, samples of wool, mineral 

 manures, models and drawings of agricultural implements, and 

 whatever, in any way, may conduce to the advancement of the 

 science or practice of agriculture. It is obvious how very im 

 portant such an establishment must prove, by giving practical 

 men an opportunity of inspecting, at their leisure, the most 

 improved subjects of cultivation, the best grains, and the best 

 grasses and vegetables, and, at the same time, the best tools and 

 machines, with which to cultivate them. I have often urged the 

 establishment of agricultural museums upon my countrymen, 

 especially in the capitals of the states and of the United States 

 where the members of the different legislatures assemble. Com 

 ing, as they do, from different and distant parts of the country, 

 they will be enabled to cany home information of the utmost 

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