12 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb 



For the New England Farmer. 



THE BERKSHIRE AGHICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



My attention has just been called to an article 

 in the December number of the Farmer, in refer- 

 esice to the history of this Society, the conclu- 

 sions of which I cannot suffer to pass without 

 comment. These conclusions, although justified 

 by the unexplained circumstances which appear 

 on paper, are unwarranted, I consider, in fact, and 

 unjust in their spirit. I confess, that I have per- 

 ceived with regret and surprise, on more than 

 one occasion, the exhibition of an apparent pur- 

 pose in the Farmer of impugning the claims of 

 the Berkshire Society, and of detracting from the 

 fame of its projectors. 



No controversy has ever existed as to the nom- 

 inal priority of an association in Middlesex Coun- 

 ty called an "Agricultural Society." The old 

 "Massachusetts Agricultural Society" had, I be- 

 lieve, a still greater antiquity. Mr. Watson, in 

 his History, adverts to one, if not both of these 

 organizations, as having an existence antece- 

 dent to the Berkshire Society. Had they, how- 

 ever, for practical purposes, any other than a 

 mere paper existence ? In reference to the Mas- 

 sachusetts Society, Mr. Watson remarks in a 

 public address : "It will be peculiarly grateful 

 to every member of this society to know that the 

 7n»ther society in this State is at length aroused 

 from her lethargy, cautiously treading in your 

 footsteps. The week ensuing they will exhibit 

 their first cattle shoio at Brighton. They are 

 blessed with respectable funds for years accumu- 

 lating, ftw^ q/" no practical use to the community 

 thus far," (Memoirs Elkanah Watson, p. 454, 

 2d edition.) Will the courteous and intelligent 

 editor of the Farmer assert that these remarks 

 did not apply with equal or greater force to the 

 character of the Middlesex Society ? That soci- 

 ety had doubtless a chartered name, but did it 

 exhibit any vitality ? Had it impressed any 

 stamp upon the husbandry of the county, had it 

 accomplished any act that communicated progress 

 or improvement to the cause of agriculture or 

 domestic manufactures ? Had it infused any en- 

 thusiasm, any zeal, any increased effort, any sal- 

 utary emulation in the agricultural community ? 

 Had it in truth any other than a mere paper ex- 

 istence, such as distinguishes some of the benev- 

 olent institutions of the present day, who adopt 

 vigorous resolutions without exhibiting any cor- 

 respondent ac'jKon ? Was the Middlesex Society 

 known or heard of beyond its own circle ? Did it 

 present any programme of premiums, or had it 

 any public exhibition ? Agricultural societies 

 under that designation Avere no novelty even be- 

 fore the charter of the Middlesex Society existed. 



The friends of the Berkshire Society pretend 

 to no priority of date, but rest their claim for its 

 pre-eminence upon its originality, its novel and 

 peculiar plan, upon the efficiency and vigor of its 

 operations, which imparted to its action the high- 

 est practical usefulness. The measures of the 

 Berkshire Society were original, peculiar and po- 

 tent, by which the interest and pride of individu- 

 als were excited, and competition and emulation 

 aroused. It engaged the public attention, enlist- 

 ed the popular sympathy, gave to the farmer a 

 joyous festival, and elevated and dignified by its 



tendencies the profession of Agriculture. It stim- 

 ulated science in agriculture and promoted the 

 introduction of improved breeds of animals. — 

 These features formed the distinguishing charac- 

 teristics of the Berkshire Society, and made it the 

 model and exemplar of all succeeding societies 

 in the Union. These facts constitute its indis- 

 putable claims to regard and veneration. In this 

 aspect it asserts novelty and originality. It was 

 the first agricultural society not only of Massa- 

 chusetts, but of the Union, in its special form 

 and in its peculiar mode of operations. 



I was present at the first and many succeeding 

 fairs of the Berkshire Society, and occupied a po- 

 sition which rendered me familiar with its meas- 

 ures and history. I recall the presence of numer- 

 ous conspicuous and intelligent men, on these 

 occasions, from the eastern sections of the State, 

 and can distinctly recollect the high encomiums 

 they were wont to express on the measures of the 

 Berkshire Society, and on its novel and attrac- 

 tive "system, but never heard an allusion to the 

 existence of the Middlesex Society. John Adams, 

 who was himself at one time President of the 

 Massachusetts Society, in a letter addressed to 

 Mr. Watson, ascribes to him the character of 

 "father of American agricultural societies." (lb. 

 p. 238.) Had the advocates of the Berkshire Soci- 

 ety asserted its claims to priority and originality 

 as the j'lra^ agricultural society formed on the 

 modern and improved system, there would have 

 been no confusion, and no controversy could have 

 occurred, for their position would then have been 

 impregnable. This high and enviable attitude 

 they may fearlessly assume, and they may point 

 with just pride to innumerable societies scattered 

 over the whole breadth of our broad country, 

 whose system and operations retain the model 

 and reveal the lineaments of their common moth- 

 er, and who unhesitatingly trace their origin to 

 the humble society of Berkshire. Can the Mid- 

 dlesex Society present a record so glowing and 

 honorable ? 



The article I have referred to, justly ascribes 

 to Elkanah Watson prominence in the projection 

 and formation of the Berkshire Society, hut he 

 had efficient and patriotic coadjutors, some of 

 whom y ^t survive. Is it evincive of gratitude or 

 justice, to deprive any of these patriots of even a 

 single leaf from the chaplet of their well-earned 

 fame, in an attempt to assert the prior claim of 

 a society which seems to have had a mere nomi- 

 nal existence, without vitality or usefulness ? 



An efi'ort, on ground like this, to invalidate the 

 claims of the Berkshire Society, appaurs to me 

 very like, (comparing small things wi?h great,) 

 an attempt to disj)arage the merits of Columbus, 

 because the Northmen may possibly have made 

 earlier voyages than the great Genoese to this 

 continent. Justice. 



Remarks. — In the above article, the writer 

 seems to us to manifest feelings which are whol- 

 ly uncalled for by the subject or the occasion. He 

 makes an allegation against the Farmer, the truth 

 of which we not only do not admit, but which we 

 deny in the most unqualified terms. So far from 

 its having been "our purpose to impugn the 

 claims of the Berkshire Society, and detract from 



