278 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE [Jan. 



and, together with that active writer and worker in the 

 cause of Massachusetts agriculture, John Lowell, Esq., as 

 secretary, accomplished much for the advancement of farm- 

 ing interests in this State. It was thus that Massachusetts 

 agriculture received the aid of two most advanced workers 

 to forward her cause ; and records prove that they did it 

 well. 



While it has been shown that organized efforts to promote 

 and advance agriculture were at that time making headway 

 in this country, the same spirit was accomplishing like 

 results in Great Britain, and in 1793 the British Board of 

 Agriculture was established, through the efforts of Sir John 

 Sinclair and others. 



In 1795 the South Carolina Agricultural Society was 

 incorporated, and I am told still exists. 



In 1798 the famous Smithfield Club of London, well 

 known to this day for its exhibits of superb specimens of 

 live stock, chiefly beef cattle, was founded. 



In 1838 that distinguished organization, the Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society of England, commenced its admirable work. 

 This organization was, and is, so thorough and complete, 

 and its work so useful, that it commands from the men of 

 England all money and effort that are from time to time 

 necessary to make its regular work of the year and its very 

 extensive annual exhibitions always most valuable and pro- 

 gressive. It is well ahead of any other agricultural society 

 in the world for the completeness of all its work, and purity 

 of its efforts for agricultural advancement. 



The example set by this society is well worth presenting 

 at this time, for the consideration of those who are unfamiliar 

 with its organization and methods, and is here given, omit- 

 ting that part which relates to its annual fairs and their list 

 of prizes. 



The present membership of the Royal Agricultural Society 

 of England (June, 1890) consists of about eleven thousand 

 persons. These may be divided into two classes, — annual 

 and life ; and each of these in turn is sub-divided into gov- 

 ernors and members, but both these are entitled equally to 

 all the special privileges offered by the society. 



The annual members pay one pound (five dollars) yearly, 



