20 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



If it be asked whether the society did much in its in- 

 fancy, we answer readily and frankly, no. But wit hstill 

 more confidence we add that it was not their fault. The 

 institution was ahead of the age and of the intelligence 

 of the State, and of public opinion. Its two first volumes 

 will show that the trustees were not remiss. Their 

 queries distributed all over the State, prove their zeal, 

 and intelligence, and intimate knowledge of the real 

 wants of agriculture. No society in Europe or America 

 ever issued a more valuable set of queries, and no society 

 could at this day improve them, except by some trifling 

 additions derived from new discoveries. But neither 

 Europe nor America were prepared at that time for the 

 improvements and experiments which have since taken 

 place. It is praise enough, that the Massachusetts Agri- 

 cultural Society was the third in order of time, framed, 

 established, and endowed to promote the cause of agricul- 

 ture (as we believe), in any part of the world and that it 

 never lost sight of its object, and was always ready to en- 

 courage, and reward all attempts to improve any one 

 branch of agriculture, and give publicity to any ingenious 

 suggestions for the promotion of this art. 



The official record of the first meeting of the society, 

 April 19, 1792, states that Samuel Adams was present, and 

 while that point of detail is omitted in the record, it is in 

 the nature of the case that he called the assembly to order, 

 and, since nothing is said of any other person as chairman, 

 undoubtedly he presided during the brief session, the only 

 business of which was the election of a secretary of the 

 society pro tern. Time was taken for consultation and two 

 adjourned meetings followed. At that of May 31, John 

 Avery, Jr., was chosen permanent secretary, and seventy- 

 two new members were admitted. At the adjourned meet- 

 ing of June 14, articles of organization were submitted and 

 what in them was necessary for the immediate purpose was 

 adopted, and a permanent board of officers was chosen as 

 follows : 



President, Thomas Russell ; vice presidents, John Low- 

 ell and Moses Gill ; recording secretary, John Avery, Jr.; 

 corresponding secretary, Oliver Smith ; treasurer, Aaron 



