FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE. 33 



foundation at Harvard College of a professorship of natural 

 history, and, after proper negotiations, it was established in 

 1804. The plan, so far as connected with the objects of 

 the society, provided for scientific observation of the 

 growth of vegetation and of the habits of noxious insects, 

 that methods might be devised for their destruction, and a 

 cultivation, for sale and distribution, of the seeds and roots 

 of useful plants. This cooperation of the society and 

 college continued for twenty-five years, when the annual 

 grant which had been made fey the State, in aid of this 

 part of the society's work, ceased. During the period 

 named the society voted annually a sum of money from 

 its own funds for the work, and appointed each year a board 

 of visitors to report thereupon. Herein was the origin of 

 the present " Botanical Garden " at Cambridge. 



In the year 1801 the society took a very important step, 

 which marks the beginning of a movement which has gone 

 on with increasing benefit both to the farming population 

 and the general public, the movement, namely, by which all 

 sorts of farm-bred animals have been immensely improved 

 in the breeding of the most desirable qualities. Neither 

 by a comparison of written records, nor by listening to the 

 testimony of the oldest citizen qualified to speak on the 

 subject, can a true idea be gained of the disparity between 

 the conditions prevalent then and now ; and it is even far- 

 ther beyond the mind's capacity to estimate the money 

 value of the improvement. Much of the benefit thus real- 

 ized by the whole people is attributable to the endeavors of 

 the society, constantly exerted during the long lapse of 

 years, and much has resulted from efforts otherwise made 

 or prompted. Here, however, was the beginning of any 

 concerted action, in the offer of a premium in July, 1801, 

 for sheep for breeding purposes, " superior to any breed 

 now in the State " a premium of 30 for each animal in- 

 troduced into the State, and if from a foreign country, $50. 



In 1802 the trustees had their attention called to the 

 fact that Col. David Humphreys of Connecticut, had that 



