6 MR. proctor's address. 



he did more than all others. Having had the privilege 

 of his intimate acquaintance for ten years or more, as 

 secretary, and as his associate on the committee for 

 viewing farms, I speak with confidence of what he did: — 

 and I take pleasure in acknowledging that my admira- 

 tion of his example in this pursuit, has ever had a strong 

 influence on my own mind in its favour. 



The first movements towards the establishment of the 

 Society, as I am informed, were made in 1818, by about 

 twenty practical farmers assembled at Topsfield,* who 

 unanimously invited Col. Pickering to be their Presi- 

 dent. He may be said to have prepared the soil, — fur- 

 nished and planted the seed, which others have only 

 cultivated. He was a careful observer of nature, and 

 drew wise lessons from his own untaught experience. 

 He was never satisfied with superficial inquiry, but 

 carefully looked into the connection between cause and 

 effect. Because a practice had been continued for a 

 series of years, was not a suflicient reason for his adopt- 

 ing it. Always ready to receive suggestions from 

 others, he would cheerfully yield his assent, when con- 

 vinced of their utility. He was a man who thought for 

 himself, and bowed to no man as his master. A refer- 

 ence to many of the maxims that he uttered, and plans 

 that he advocated, will show that he was in advance of 

 the age in which he lived. I have ever esteemed the 

 hints and observations that fell from him at our meet- 



* The names of the gentlemen who constituted this meeting, were, 



John Adams of Andover. Aaron Perley of Boxford. 



Hobart Clark " John Peabody of Tops field. 



Robert Dodge of Newhunj. Ichabod Tucker of Scilrm. 



Temple Cutler of HarmUon. Enoch Tappan of Newhury. 



David Cummins o/'Sc/fr/rt. Stephen Tappan " 



Paul Kent of Ncwhury. Jacob Townc, Jr. of Topsfield. 



James Kimball of Bradford. Eleazer Putnam of Danvers. 



Elisha Mack o/* Srt/fim. Andrew Nichols " 



Orlando B. March o/'iVettjZiMry. Daniel Putnam " 



Stephen Migh ill fj/iJoii^/ey. George Osgood " 



Amos Perley of Boxford. 



Incorporated June 12, 1818. The first Exhibition was at Topsfield, in Oc- 

 tober, 1820. 



