64 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



renovation may yet be brought about, through the agency 

 of farmers associations, under the various names of Clubs, 

 Societies, Unions, or Granges. 



CLUBS IN PENNSYLVANIA. 



The first society formed in America was &quot; The Philadel 

 phia Society for Promoting Agriculture.&quot; This was estab 

 lished in March, 1785, by a number of citizens who, al 

 though but a small portion of them were actually engaged 

 in farming, were actuated by a sense of the necessity of 

 such an organization as an auxiliary to the development of 

 the resources of the State and the agricultural interests 

 of the country. It flourished for some years, and at its. reg 

 ular meetings much valuable information was elicited from 

 practical men. This was published by the society, and 

 thus disseminated through the country by means of the 

 press. Among the awards made by this society was a 

 gold medal to Mr. Mathewson, in 1790, for the best sam 

 ple and greatest quantity of cheese. 



Like many another benevolent association, it afterward 

 lost much of its vitality; dark days came upon it, and it 

 slumbered for years. In 1804, however, it was resuscita 

 ted through the patriotic exertions of Judge Peters, and 

 thenceforward for a considerable period continued to do 

 much good. It was finally incorporated by the Legislature 

 of Pennsylvania in 1809, but has since died a natural death. 



The example set by the earlier societies in Pennsyl 

 vania has not been lost. Local organizations and Boards 

 of Agriculture, for holding fairs, etc., have sprung up in 

 every part of the United States. These have exercised an 

 immense power for good, not only in the locality where the 

 original societies were organized, but throughout the land. 



