1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 347 



aid, that now no less than thirty-four incorporated societies 

 hold their annual fairs, their farmers' institutes and farmers' 

 clubs. 



In 1852 the Board of Agriculture was established, the 

 members of which are the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, 

 Secretary of State, the President of the Agricultural College ; 

 three members at large, appointed by the governor, and one 

 from each incorporated agricultural society. 



The Agricultural College, under the combined action of 

 the Federal and State governments, was incorporated and 

 located at Amherst in 1864. It has been, and still is, very 

 successful, — never so much so as now. The Experiment 

 Station was also incorporated and located at Amherst on 

 the grounds of the Agricultural College, in 1882, and now 

 receives support from the Federal government. 



Under the direction of the Board of Agriculture, each 

 incorporated society holds not less than three farmers' insti- 

 tutes during the year, for essays and discussions. 



In 1864, in accordance with the views of the Board of 

 Agriculture, expressed the previous year, the New England 

 Agricultural Society was formed, comprising in its limits 

 the six New England States ; and has in each year, in some 

 one of these States, held a large and successful exhibition, 

 in which were represented great agricultural, manufacturing 

 and mechanical displays. 



The Bay State Agricultural Society was organized in 1886 ; 

 and, as a society bearing the name of the State, and as an 

 exponent of the agriculture of the State, may properly 

 receive a somewhat more extended notice. 



There is no doubt that the early exhibitions of the State 

 and the county societies of Massachusetts contributed very 

 much to the improvement of our practical farming, and much 

 to awaken a spirit of inquiry and investigation ; and that 

 their continuance will do more than any other one thing to 

 secure the advancement of agriculture among us. 



The Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture con- 

 tinued its exhibitions for more than twenty years, and until 

 they were found to interfere with those of county societies ; 

 they were then abandoned in 1833, and the funds of the 

 society devoted to the importation and breeding of stock, 

 distributed all over the Conunonwealth. 



