1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 13 



to lal)or to make the old society, with the State Board, useful 

 as tliey could, and would be to every interest of the farmer. 



Hon. Simon Brown made a brief speech, descriptive of the 

 advantages which had proceeded from the institution of the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural Society — showing that they were 

 beyond estimate, and that it would be injudicious to take any 

 step which would hinder its continued efficiency. He was 

 opposed to any new society. 



Mr. Loomis, of Springfield, said that the parties who had 

 originated this question had had their motives misrepresented. 

 The State society had been called ancient and honorable, but 

 was it not so more for ornament than for use ? The question 

 was, was it up to the mark of usefulness ? had it done all the 

 good it could ? It had done some good, surely, but not the 

 amount that was sufficient for the requirements of the times. 

 It was too contracted in its numbers ; and if the old society 

 would extend its numbers, and admit men into it who would 

 make its usefulness practically beneficial, no more would be 

 required. An association in which the aggregate opinions of 

 the agriculture of the whole State could be represented, was 

 exactly what was wanted ; and in procuring this, he did not see 

 in what respect the movement would vitiate the interest, or 

 hinder the usefulness of the local societies. Besides, the State 

 society, to be infiuentially operative, and do credit to the whole 

 State, should not be narrowed in its numbers, and contracted 

 in its views, as the Massachusetts Society had been. 



Mr. Brooks, of Princeton, said that the Massachusetts Society 

 had partially been driven out of the agricultural exhibition 

 field by the county societies, and that may have originated, in 

 part, what was cliaracterizod as closeness on their part. He 

 had no doubt that when the members know that State shows were 

 demanded, they would agree to the wish. For his part, he would 

 guarantee $500 as his share in covering their loss — although 

 such would hardly be possible. Mr. Brooks moved that the 

 resolutions offered by Mr. Phillips, of Fitcliburg, be adopted. 



The resolutions were passed by an unanimous vote. That of 

 Mr. Copeland was not put, as he did not offer it either as an 

 amendment to Mr. Phillips' resolutions, or as an independent 

 one — and as Mr. Copeland had left the hall when it came before 

 tlie meeting. 



Major Phinney, of Barnstable, with the view to satisfy some 

 parties present, and to keep a way open for future safe action, 

 should it be necessary, offered a resolution that a committee be 

 appointed by the chair, of one from each county, to consider the 

 propi-iety of establishing anew association, and report to a future 

 meeting, or through the press, as they should think expedient. 



Discussion took place on this resolution — some believing that 

 sufficient had already been done. The mover was of opinion 



