370 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



the object of which shall be to concert measures for their 

 mutual advantage, and for the promotion of the cause of 

 agricultural education." 



This convention assembled at the State House, in Boston, 

 March 20, 1851. The attendance was large, and the session 

 lasted for several days. 



As a result, the joint committee on agriculture of the Leg- 

 islature reported a bill for the creation of a board of agri- 

 culture ; but the further consideration of the subject, after 

 much debate, was referred to the next Legislature. 



This being a new measure, its possible failure was appre- 

 hended, and it was deemed expedient to establish a Central 

 Board of Agriculture, whose duties should be substantially 

 those which were proposed for a State department : and at 

 the above-mentioned convention this was done. 



Its board of officers were Marshall P. Wilder, president ; 

 Henry W. Cushman and John TV. Lincoln, vice-presidents ; 

 Allen W. Dodge, corresponding secretary; Edgar Whita- 

 ker, recording secretary ; with three delegates from each 

 incorporated society receiving the bounty of the Common- 

 wealth. 



At a meeting of this Board, Jan. 11, 1852, it was resolved 

 to petition the Legislature in the following resolution : — 



Resolved, That, inasmuch as agriculture is the chief occupation 

 of her citizens, the Commonwealth, in the organization of its 

 government should be provided with a department of agriculture, 

 with offices commensurate with the importance of the duties to be 

 discharged and the labors to be performed. 



These various efforts finally culminated in the establish- 

 ment of the present State Department of Agriculture, which 

 succeeded the existing voluntary Central Board. 



The act was passed in 1852, and, at a meeting of the 

 newly created Board of Agriculture, Aug. 5, 1852, Rev. 

 Dr. Edward Hitchcock, president of Amherst College, was 

 unanimously elected secretary ; but his duties in connection 

 with the college, and declining health, compelled him to 

 decline the appointment, and Jan. 25, 1853, Charles L. 

 Flint, a young lawyer just established in business in New 

 York, was elected, and continued to hold the position until 



