70 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Hubbardston,) and various other choice apples of recent origin, 

 in the place of the natural and almost wild apple-tree of the 

 last century, which bore fruit fit only for the hardest kind of 

 hard cider and vinegar ; in short, the practical result of the 

 difference between the orchards of the last century and the 

 middle of the present is this: the farmer tlien annually put 

 into his cellar ten or fifteen barrels of cider and a few barrels 

 of poor, knurly apples for his family use, while he now, in the 

 fall of every year, carefully stores in his cellar ten or more 

 barrels of choice, delicious fruit, as a rich luxury for his dinner- 

 table, the healthful, social, refining influence of which upon 

 the members of his family is seen in marked contrast to that of 

 the constant use of the cider mug. 



l]ut during the early part of the present century, a new era 

 dawned upon the productive industry of our Commonwealth. 

 Through the agencies of agricultural societies, encouraged and 

 assisted by the legislature, a strong stimulant was added to the 

 cause. Agricultural fairs and cattle shows were held at 

 various places in the State, at which liberal premiums were 

 offered and paid, in the successful encouragement of practical 

 agriculture and the arts, the results of which are seen in every 

 valley, on every hillside, in the cellar, in the garret, and on the 

 table of every intelligent farmer. 



The first agricultural society incorporated in this State, is 

 the " Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture." It 

 was the first in the New England States, and was one of the 

 fiirst in the country. With perhaps one exception, it has the 

 oldest charter of any organization of the kind in the country, 

 which is now in existence. Its charter bears date March 7th, 

 1792, and it is saying no more than is said by those having 

 charge of the Agricultural Department at Washington, to say 

 that no society in the Union has contributed as much as this 

 in promoting the interests of the people by offering rewards, by 

 holding public exhibitions, by importing improved breeds of 

 domestic animals for the use of the State, agricultural imple- 

 ments, machinery of improved construction, the standard works 

 on European agriculture, and in sending agents abroad to ac- 

 quire agricultural information which might be of use at home. 

 From the date of the charter of the " Massachusetts Society 

 for Promoting Agriculture," the policy of the State has been 



