24 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



the improvement of wild lands ; to the raising of trees ; 

 and for the most beef from the fewest acres ; the greatest 

 stock (farm animals) maintained on the least land ; the 

 best vegetable food, except hay, for wintering stock ; the 

 most and best wool from a given number of sheep ; the 

 best process for making cider ; the best method of making 

 maple sugar, and for butter, cheese, flax and salted provis- 

 ions. It was voted that those obtaining the highest pre- 

 mium might at their option have the society's gold medal, 

 suitably inscribed. The medal had for its device, the seal 

 of the society on one side, and engraved on the reverse 

 these words " Presented to (A B ,) 1796." 



In April, 1793, at the meeting of the society a vote was- 

 passed looking to an encouragement of the formation of 

 county societies for promoting agriculture. 



The trustees in February, 1794, appointed a committee 

 " to consider the expediency of procuring a piece of ground 

 for the purpose of agricultural experiments." This project 

 ultimately took a somewhat different shape and led to the 

 establishment of the Botanical Garden at Cambridge, in 

 conducting which the society for some years cooperated 

 with the college. At the April meeting of 1794, an analy- 

 sis was ordered of a specimen of earth, said to be marl and 

 of value as a fertilizer. In the following October a report 

 was made by Dr. Cotton Tufts to the effect that by tests 

 with four different acids, and with spirits of ammonia, the 

 earth had no chemical affinity with vegetable or mineral 

 acids, and so was worthless for the purpose named. In 

 July, 1794, a letter from Dr. J. C. Lettsom of London,, 

 Eng., was read expressing his appreciation of having been 

 chosen as an honorary member and enclosing a draft for 

 ten guineas, which he desired should be applied in the- 

 society's work in the direction of natural history.* 



*John Coakley Lettsom, M. D., was a physician of extensive practice in 

 London, a man of versatile mind and general scientific attainments and a 

 writer of repute on various subjects outside of those pertaining to his pro- 

 fession. He was a personal friend of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. He was in- 

 terested in agriculture, and it is recorded of him that he was the first to 

 introduce the mangel-wurzel into England, about the year 1773. He was 

 horn in 1744 ; died in 1815. 



