FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE 35 



appreciation of the society of the Board of Agriculture 

 in England, as it appears to me to be well calculated 

 from its simplicity and efficacy to save much trouble 

 in the laborious and delicate operation of cheese mak- 

 ing." In September, 1797, a letter was received from 

 Sir John Sinclair, president of the Board of Agricul- 

 ture, acknowledging receipt of copies of the society's 

 publications and a model of a "cheese-curd breaker" 

 and expressing the thanks of the board therefor. 



In April, 1796, occurred the decease of Hon. 

 Thomas Russell, the president, and at the annual 

 meeting of that year John Lowell Vv^as chosen to the 

 chief office. Numerous matters having a direct rela- 

 tion to agriculture were considered and acted upon 

 during the first eight years. Among these was the 

 formation of a library, for which the most reputable 

 and authoritative works on agriculture were pur- 

 chased, as issued. Many communications to the 

 society, recognized at once as of practical value, were 

 ordered to be published in the newspapers. In the list 

 of things v/herein action was taken by publication or 

 award of premium are the following: An analysis of 

 soils, that the chemical qualities of good and poor soils 

 being known, what was lacking in the latter might be 

 supplied, if within the limits of reasonable cost; hemp 

 and flax cultivation, and machines for preparing the 

 fibre; apparatus for rapidly moving bodies of earth; 

 improved breeding of the native sheep ; cultivation of 

 onions ; raising apple trees from the seed ; the manage- 

 ment of bees; care of orchards and pruning; raising of 

 hoop-poles; a description of Thomas Jefferson's newly 

 invented plough and mould-board; and improvement 

 of wild lands. A method of removing brush without 

 ploughing, and another by ploughing and following 



