276 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE: [Jan. 



Fifth. — The appointment of chemists in the science of 

 agriculture. 



Sixth. — The establishment of an agricultural museum. 

 Seventh. — The publication of reports and essays. 



In 1785 the " Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agri- 

 culture " was formed, whose energy and usefulness has been 

 great, and whose record will remain most honorable. The 

 society appears to have lately 'transferred its library to the 

 University of Pennsylvania, for the benefit of her agricult- 

 ural department, and has transferred its work to other 

 organized associations, after celebrating its centennial anni- 

 versary. 



In 1790 a professorship of agriculture was established at 

 Edinburgh, marking an important step in the advance in 

 this line of knowledge. 



In 1791 the Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, 

 Arts and Manufactures was founded in New York State, and 

 it, or its successor, appears to have' been continued until 

 1819, when such was dissolved, and a State Board of Agri- 

 culture formed. In 1832 the present New York State 

 Agricultural Society was formed, whose record for efficiency 

 and usefulness is remarkably good. It is backed by an 

 annual appropriation from the State, which enables it to 

 devote its work to purely agricultural encouragement. 



In 1792 the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agricult- 

 ure was established, and has been active in its work up to 

 the present time, through nearly a century of existence ; and 

 it is to-day quietly but actively occupied. 



Their early work was by spreading abroad the best infor- 

 mation as to better methods of cultivation, of raising and 

 securing seed, of breeding and purchase of live stock, of 

 housing live stock, and of the feeding and care of same ; 

 stimulating the improvement of implements, live stock, etc., 

 by invention and importation ; and in as many ways as were 

 suggested to advance the State's agriculture, by personal 

 appeals, by lectures and writings, as their own and other 

 publications of that day bear testimony. 



They set the example to Massachusetts for the establish- 

 ment of the county agricultural society system, which has more 



