Chap. XXIII.] Litej-ary Associations, 107 



jiumerous in America. There is scarcely a state 

 ill the Union in which an institution of this kind 

 has not been establir^hed; and in some of the 

 states there are more than one. The most con- 

 spicuous and active of these associations are 

 those established in Massachusetts, New York, 

 and Pennsyl^Fania. That in New York, denomi- 

 nated the Society for promoting Agriculture^ ArlSy 

 and Manufactures^ has been particularly distin- 

 guished, and, it is believed, is the only one of this 

 nature in the United States which has made a re- 

 gular publication of its proceedings, and of the 

 principal memoirs communicated by its mem- 

 bers *. The useful elfects of these institutions 

 are undeniably great in various parts of the 

 country. They have excited a spirit of inquiry, 

 experiment, and diligence, in agricultural pur- 

 suits, among a considerable portion of the citi- 

 zens ; they have contributed to raise the dignity 

 and importance of agriculture in the popular opi- 

 nion \ they have collected facts and doctrines, 

 from different districts, for more full trial and sa- 

 tisfactory comparison ; and if they have encou- 

 raged 'in any cases a disposition for speculative 

 and visionary farming, they have promoted, in a 

 still greater degree, practical and valuable im- 

 provements. 



The literary and scientific associations of the 

 eighteenth century differed considerably from 

 those which were formed in preceding times. Be- 



* The Agncultural Socieij/ of Massachusetts the author be- 

 lieves, has published several small works; but he has not been 

 so fortunate as to see them, ©r to be J)articularly informed of their 

 contents. 



