iaKL^T \I1ERIC 



JRICULTUK/VL 1j::HI0DICAL 



An interesting fact hA8 Just corae to light in re- 

 gard to one of the treasures oi the library at y.A.C. In the 

 current nuiiiher of the Agricultural Index the Librarian of the 

 United ; tates Department of V riculture gives the results of 

 a recent investigation as folio^Ts: 



should often con- 

 v/iicit is unknov/n 

 the history oi the 

 "The Ajierican Far- 

 in Baltiraore on 



"Pirst things are alwjiys of historical interest and 

 for this reason licive a value aside from their intrinsic value. 

 It is perhaps natural that claiMs of .jriority 

 flict a^ they are based on v/hat is knovm, but 

 may nevertheless exist. In the references to 

 agricultural literature of the United States, 

 mer", the first member of v/nicii was published 

 April 2, 1819, is ^uite generally given the honor of being the 

 first agricultural periodical ublished in the United states. 

 It is undoubtedly rightfully couBidered the great precursor of 

 our prcLient a:,ricultural perioaical press but there was anotncr 

 little icno\m agricultural periodical published in this country 

 which actually preceded "The tiorican Famer" by nearly nine 

 ye- rs. Tiie naiae of it was "The Agricultural Museum" and the 

 first nuL.ber was issued on July 4, 1610. Its place of publi- 

 cation was Georgetown in the District of Columbia or "George- 

 town, Ca." as it is given on tho publication. The editor of 

 the perioaical was Rev. David iley." 



This reverend gentle n in aaaition to his duties 



as editor of the Lluseum served 8 librarian of the Columbian 

 Library, principal of the Colu^oian \cadeiny, superintendent 

 of a turnpike, a luerchant, a uiiler, a preacher, and secre- 

 tary of an agricultural society. He also figures as Ilayor of 

 Georgetown in the year 1811. 



The life of "Tlie V.ri cultural Museuia" was not a 

 long one but 24 nuLibers were iirued in the first volu...e, and 

 a cojjy of this rare book, in . n excellent state of preserva- 

 tion, is one of M.A.C. library's highly valued volumes among 

 those rel ited to the history of agricultural literature in 

 the Un ited states. 



