18S8] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



523 



crease the advanlnsfes of our agricullural societies, 

 and render their influence more effectual to agri- 

 cullural entcrinii^e and improvement. 



We have not at hand the means of ascertaining 

 with precision the dates in the case ; but, as well 

 as we can recollect, the first cattle show in the 

 United States was held about twenty-lour years 

 since, under the spirited exertions of some intelli- 

 gent gentlemen at Pittsfield, JMaps., at the fiead of 

 whom was Elkanah Watson, Esq., then of that 

 town. The Berkshire Agricultural Society took 

 the lead in the case, and a ploughing match was 

 connected with their cattle show. This intelli- 

 gent and highly enterprising society have conti- 

 nued their cattle show and exhibitions from tiiat 

 time to the present, with unabated zeal; and with 

 beneficial effects of a decided and permanent cha- 

 racter upon the agriculture of that district. Per- 

 haps no better evidence of this can be iriven than 

 in the fiict, that the interest taken in this institu- 

 tion by the farmers of Berkshire universally was 

 never stronger than at this lime; and the exhibi- 

 tions of the society, as we have been informed, 

 were never more numerously attended nor better 

 sustained than the current year. 



The Massachusetts Agricultural Society, insti- 

 tuted as early as the 3^ear 1791, soon followed the 

 lead of the Berkshire Society; and for more than 

 twenty years, with the exception of three or four 

 intermissions, held cattle shows and exhibitions of 

 domestic manufactures at Brighton, open to the 

 competition of farmers from every part of the 

 commonwealth. Here too ploughing and draw- 

 ing matches were held, which, by the liberality of 

 their premiums, broucht competitors oftentimes 

 from a distance of fifty miles. These shows were 

 held and managed under the direction and person- 

 al superintendence of gentlemen of the highest 

 standing in professional and political life; and went 

 off with spu'it and effect. 



Tliese movements were soon followed by the 

 formation of county societies in the several coun- 

 ties of Essex, Worcester, Middlesex, Hampshire, 

 Hampden, and Franklin, and Bristol and Ply- 

 mouth. These societies Avere encouraged by 

 hberal grants from the legislature, giving to every 

 agricultural society, formed in a county containing 

 not less than 25,000 inhabitants, for every thou- 

 sand dollars, which they should raise and perma- 

 nently invest for the benefit of that society, the 

 interest of which should be yearly appropriated to 

 purposes of agricultural improvement, the annual 

 sum of two hundred dollars, to be applied in pre- 

 miums under the direction of the trustees of the 

 society; provided, however, that in no case should 

 any society receive annually more than six hun- 

 dred dollars. Under these provisions a sum of 

 upwards of four thousand dollars has been yearly 

 given by the state to these ditlerent societies to be 

 disbursed in agricultural premiums. This being 

 added to the amount furnished by their own liinds 

 liad formed a considerable aggregate: the sums 

 actually offered by the Mass. Agricultural Society 

 in premiums the current year exceeding in amount 

 twelve hundred dollars. These county societies 

 are nowaliof them in the practice of holding cat- 

 tle shows and exhibitions in their respective coun- 

 ties. We have had the pleasure of attending as 

 many of these as was practicable. As far as our 

 observation extends, the bounty of the state could 

 not have been applied to a more worthy object, 



nor with more success as concerns the public 

 wealth, and the general improvement. 'I'lie agi'i- 

 cultural improvements in the stale within thejast 

 twenty-five years have been immense. The 

 plough itself "has become a new instrument, in 

 fbrm^in lightness of draft, in ease in handling, in 

 ease of repairs, in the execution of its work, and 

 in the neatness of its construction. The potato- 

 hoe, the drill seed- sower, the seed-harrow, the 

 cultivator, the roller, the cradle, the horse-rake, 

 the corn-planter, the thrashing-machine, the dou- 

 ble mould board plough, the side hill plou^irh, owe 

 their origin and general diffusion to agricultural 

 societies"and agricultural publications. The in- 

 troduction of new seeds, of most valuable fruits, 

 of excellent esculent vegetables, of improved va- 

 rieties of Indian corn, wheat, barley, and oats, 

 this likewise is to be attributed in a great measiire 

 to the same source. The introduction likewise 

 and difiusion of improved breeds of live slock, of 

 the fine-woolled sheep, the long-woolled sheep, 

 the mutton breeds, the several improved varieties 

 of swine, the beef and dairy stock, the Devon, the 

 Holderness, the Alderney, the Ayrshire, the im- 

 proved Durham short horns, and of horses of an 

 improved kind for the saddle and for draft, are all 

 more or less to be ascribed to the spirit of public 

 enterprise and improvement awakened and kept 

 alive by these agricultural societies, exhibitions, 

 and publications. It is indeed impossible to esti- 

 mate by any exact measure what has been effect- 

 ed in the short space of a quarter of a century ; 

 but it meets the observing and experienced eye 

 every where in the improved and well furnished 

 houses, ornamental fences and embellishments, 

 smooth and well cultivated fields, commodious 

 barns, substantial wagons and carriages, which 

 are to be found every where in profusion among 

 our agricultural population. It is important to 

 keep this spirit of enterprise and public improve- 

 ment awake and active ; to press the steam to the 

 utmost limits of safety ; " to speed the plough ;"_ 

 and to relax no efforts to advance the cause of 

 agricultural improvement ; to diff'use agricultural 

 intelligence; to raise the character and the pro- 

 fession of the farmer ; and thus to extend the 

 power and the means, and quicken the spirit and 

 enterprise by which the treasures of the earth 

 shall be developed, the fund of human subsistence 

 become constantly enlarged ; and the comforts 

 and reasonable luxuries of life diffused among all 

 without stint. 



The agricultural societies hold the power of do- 

 ing immense good ; and, as the gentlemen who 

 have the direction of the funds of these societies 

 have no private views to answer, but are laboring 

 in the most disinterested manner, solely for the 

 public good, we know them too well to fear giving 

 offence by any suggestions, which have no other 

 object than the public good ; and which will not 

 be submitted without a perfect respect for their 

 public spirit and superior judgment. 



We have the highest opinion of the utility of cat- 

 tle shows, ploughing matches and the exhibition of 

 agricultural products and household manufactures. 

 They excite an emulation, which engenders no 

 bitterness of feeling, and which prompts to the most 

 spirited improvements. They gratify a laudable 

 ambition to exhibit to others, what we have accom- 

 plished. They extend the knowledge of what has 

 been done far' beyond what it could be by any 



