No. 4.] AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 381 



into oue grand and co-operative system of popular agricultural 

 education, under the auspices and patronage of the government 

 of tlie State. Shall we have it ? The farmers, especially the 

 young farmers, of the old Bay State, must answer the question. 



By chapter 203, Acts of 1859, entitled " An Act relating 

 to Fanners' Clubs," the secretary of the State Board of 

 Agriculture was authorized to appoint one or more suitable 

 agents to visit various towns in the Commonwealth for cer- 

 tain purposes, among them being the purpose of " encour- 

 aging the establishment of farmers' clubs." 



At a meeting of the Board, Nov. 29, 1859, a committee 

 was appointed to consider what action should be taken in 

 compliance with the above act. Later, arrangements Avere 

 made to send a circular to one or more farmers in every 

 town in the State in the interests of the project. 



The following extract is from Mrs. Lucy Cutler Kellogg's 

 "History of Bernardston " (Franklin County) : — 



Among the flourishing institutions of the days past there 

 was in Bernardston a Farmers' Club and Agricultural Library 

 Association. This was a fully officered association, meeting 

 weekly for discussion and study of the best methods in vogue 

 as pertaining to farming. Members seem to have been en- 

 thusiastic, and to have enjoyed exceptional advantages in the 

 way of having talented speakers and lecturers from those who 

 stood high in the State as experts. It was in existence during 

 the years 1850, '60, '61 and '62, surely, and the meetings were 

 largely attended by the citizens and their wives. 



"Agriculture of Massachusetts." 

 At a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture, held 

 Jan. 25, 1853, Hon. Amasa Walker, Secretary of the Com- 

 monwealth and acting secretary of the Board, read the first 

 annual report of the said Board to the Legislature, which 

 was accepted and ordered to bear date Jan. 13, 1853. This 

 report constituted the " Proceedings of the State Board of 

 Agriculture, for the year 1852." It also contained, as an 

 appendix, the "Laws of Massachusetts in relation to Agri- 

 cultural Societies, up to May 10, 1853, inclusive."^ 



' Agriculture of Massachusetts, 1852, pp. G61-783. 



