CHAPTER IV 



CONNECTICUT STATE AGRICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY 



Almost as soon as he reached New Haven in the fall 

 of 1855, Mr. Johnson had heen appealed to for help in 

 establishing on a substantial basis the Connecticut 

 Homestead, which was published at Hartford from 

 1855 to 1861. The editors of this paper, Wm. Clift, 

 T. S. Gold and H. A. Dyer, served without pay. In 

 1856, Mason C. Weld became publisher and was added 

 to the board of editors, afterwards becoming editor- 

 in-chief. The paper grew in favor; it was self-sup- 

 porting when, at the outbreak of the Civil War, Colonel 

 Weld volunteered. About six months later, however, 

 its publication was discontinued. Mr. Weld had, on 

 the 22d of October, 1855, written to Mr. Johnson, 

 asking: 



Can't you give us a lift — by us I mean the Homestead. I 

 have to do pretty much the whole work just now, while the 

 other editors have so much to do in the Fair line. Do you 

 see ''The H?" We are getting a good circulation. If you 

 want your School cracked up I'll do it for love. 



Mr. Johnson's response was a series of articles. 

 These, published in the Homestead during 1856, 

 brought his methods and ideas before the members 

 of the Connecticut Agricultural Society, led to an 

 invitation to address them on his recent work in the 



