AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 391 



not immediately and completely. Can any one say that the 

 admirable horticultural ideas adopted by the Middlesex Society 

 have gained much currency ? Can any one doubt but that the 

 adoption of such ideas has promoted the material prosperity 

 of the market-gardeners of Middlesex ? 



Again : The New York State Agricultural Society is organ- 

 ized differently, and works in a different manner, from any 

 society we have in New England. Many persons acquainted 

 with it regard it as the model society of the country, being 

 higher-toned and exerting a superior influence to any. But 

 what do we know of this society in Massachusetts? It is true, 

 the Middlesex South Society has recently incorporated in its 

 constitution a valuable feature derived from it. Perhaps some 

 few have benefited by it, but the great body of intelligent 

 farmers are not aware that the New York State Society ap- 

 proaches in excellence several foreign societies, — namely, 

 "The Royal Agricultural Society" of England, and "The 

 Highland and Agricultural Society " of Scotland. 



It may happen that some of our societies have a misconcep- 

 tion of the object for which they exist. Some may be the 

 exponents of pernicious influences, as when there is brought 

 to a prominence a low class of jockeys, and they in a manner 

 uphold them in their courses. To encourage a taste for the 

 breeding of fine horses is one thing ; to encourage an increase 

 in the number of low jockeys, and allow them airs of worthy 

 members of the community, another. Should it occur in any 

 instance that the bounty bestowed by the State is employed 

 to demean her citizens, in place of uplifting her agriculture, 

 there should be sorne means of putting a check to the evil. 

 This check may be found in publicity and freedom of 

 criticism. 



For the attainment of these ends expressed in the phrase, 

 improvement of agricultural societies, it seems to me highly 

 desirable that the Board have a standing committee, whose 

 duty it shall be to become familiar with what pertains to the 

 management of societies and the objects proper to them. 

 Such a committee might be instructed to submit to the Board 

 such critical observations, and such store of information and 

 suggestion having a bearing upon their inquiry, as shall 



