AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. 15 



its favor, to leave no doubt of its being the best system. 

 But the time had come for trying the experiment. 



A number of prominent men in Pennsylvania had been 

 thinking upon the necessity of Agricultural Education 

 for several years. An Agricultural Institution of learn- 

 ing, adapted to the wants of the farmer, had been a favor- 

 ite idea with the present worthy President of the Board 

 of Trustees of the Agricultural College of Pennsylva- 

 nia for twenty years before this Institution was founded; 

 but the pressing duties of public life prevented him from 

 devoting time to the advocacy of these views till, in 1853, 

 the subject was brought before the Pennsylvania State 

 Agricultural Society. 



ORIGIN OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This Society originated in a call, dated May 15, 1850, 

 for an Agricultural Convention to be held at Harrisburg, 

 on the 21st of January, 1851. It was signed by James 

 Growen, Dr. Elwyn, Samuel C. Ford, Algernon S. Roberts 

 and J. P. Wetherill. 



This Convention was attended by delegates from 55 

 counties of the State; after having organized, a committee 

 was appointed to memorialize the Legislature for a charter. 

 The Hon. Fred. Watts was appointed Chairman, and 

 Dr. A. Elwyn, Secretary for the year. 



Upon the last three days of the following October, the 

 first annual fair of the Society was held at Harrisburg: 

 About 20,000 persons are supposed to have been present, 

 and the first annual meeting of the Society was held at 

 the same place, on the 20th of the following January, 

 (1852.) 



The President, and Secretary, and Vice Presidents of 

 the preceding year, were re-elected. 



The second annual exhibition was held on the 20th, 

 21st, and 22d of October, at Lancaster, and proved to be 

 an entire and unprecedented success, and the report of pre- 

 miums awarded by the Judges, was embodied in the first 

 annual report of the Society, presented by the President 

 to Governor Bigler, January 20th, 1854. 



The second annual meeting convened January 18th, 



