138 LETTER-FILES OF S. W. JOHNSON 



Dr. George Bailey Loring of Salem, Massachusetts, 

 later United States Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 devoted himself to the promotion of scientific agricul- 

 ture and to the publication of scientific literature. In 

 September 1863, he asked Professor Johnson to 

 address the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, say- 

 ing: 



We are obliged to depend on voluntary contributions. I 

 have invited Mr. Harris of the Genesee Farmer, Mr. Tucker 

 of the Country Gentleman, Prof. Rogers of Boston, Prof. 

 Wyman of Cambridge, Mr. Sanford Howard and Mr. Goodale 

 of Me. to take part in the performances. I think the occasion 

 will be an interesting one, and I trust you will aid us with 

 your presence and counsel. 



And so, in December 1863, Professor Johnson lec- 

 tured before the Massachusetts Board at Springfield, 

 renewing old friendships and forming new ones. His 

 long correspondence with Mr. S. A. Goodale, secre- 

 tary of the Maine Board of Agriculture, began soon 

 after this meeting. The high personal character and 

 professional ability of the men who responded to this 

 appeal of Dr. Loring 's are noteworthy. Nearly all 

 were warm personal friends as well as co-workers for 

 the cause of agricultural science. Professor Johnson 

 took advantage of his opportunity, and in addition to 

 his announced topic, addressed this gathering upon the 

 subject of Agricultural Education. 



Collaboration between Professor Johnson and Mr. 

 Goodale of Maine began in 1865 and continued until 

 experiment stations were finally established in this 

 country. Mr. Goodale, an enthusiastic worker for the 

 advancement of scientific knowledge and the author of 



