FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE 1+3 



Roxbury, and during the following year the animals 

 were sold by auction to prominent farmers and 

 breeders in Roxbury, Salem, Marblehead, South- 

 bridge and Topsfield. In 1858 a bequest of $9,166.07 

 from Dr. George C. Shattuck, Sen., was received and 

 added to the permanent funds of the society. 



In 1859 the trustees received a communication from 

 the Hampden County Society, setting forth a project 

 for organizing a State Agricultural Society, and ex- 

 pressing intention to apply for an independent charter, 

 unless the Massachusetts society preferred to cooper- 

 ate in the movement through such amendments of its 

 charter as would have a like effect. The trustees voted 

 to put the document on file, and to have the following 

 entered upon the records, as a memorandum explana- 

 tory of the views of the society: 



By reference to page 408, of volume 6, of the 

 society's publications of the year 1821, it will be seen 

 that the society had not, up to that period, and it 

 certainly has not since, arrogated to itself the position 

 of a State agricultural society. In speaking of the 

 formation of a State agricultural society in New 

 Hampshire, the trustees of that date say, "With us we 

 have no such establishment. The Massachusetts 

 society has nothing which gives it either authority or 

 pre-eminence over any county society. Nor do we 

 wish that any such power should be delegated. We 

 cannot conceive any advantage which could be derived 

 from any general society. If local, with general 

 powers, it would be the object of jealousy. If com- 

 posed of gentlemen from all parts of the State, its 

 meetings would be few, formal, expensive and produc- 

 tive of no substantial good. All that agricultural 

 societies ought to wish is a charter to enable them to 

 manage their funds, and occasional aid from the Legis- 



