/y -PA// •i^H'A f\. K^lKG- /^ /^ PROCEEDINGS 31st Annual Meetin January 10, 1883. WASHINGTON, D. C. : K. O. POLKINHORN, PRINTER. 1883. / PROCE EDI NG S THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING United + States + Agricultural + Society. The United States Agricultural Society held its thirty -first annual meeting on Wednesday, the lOtli of January, 1883, at the Depart- ment of Agriculture, by invitation of Commissioner LoRiNG. lion. John A. Kixg, of New York, the President of the Society, called the meeting to order and took the chair. Major Ben : Perley Poore, of Massachusetts, the Secretary of the Society, read the journal of the thirtietli annual meeting, which was approved. Dr. William M. French, of New Hampshire, the Treasurer of the Society, presented his accounts for the past year, which were ap- proved. On motion of Mr. Harris, of Mississippi, seconded by Col. Notley, of Missouri, it was — Resolved, That wlien this meeting adjoiiru, it adjourns to meet here on Wed- nesdaJ^ the 24th inst.; that tlie President be requested to postpone the delivery of his annual address until then, and that Commissioner Loring be requested to invite the delegates to the agricultural convention, which will then be in session, to attend the meeting. On motion of Allen Dodge, of Maryland, seconded by James H. NoYES, of Maine, the Sjciety then proceeded to the election of offi- cers for the ensuing year, and the following gentlemen were declared elected : OFFICERS FOR 1883-'84. pkesident: JOHN A. KING, of New York. VICE-PRESIDENTS : Alnhama Thomas Williams, California John Bidwell, Colorado Roger W. Woodbury, Connecticut H. H. Hyde, Dakota John Pattee, Delaware John Johns, Dist. of Col W. W. Corcoran, Florida George F. Drew, Georgia Alex. H. Stephens, Illinois John Wentworth, Indiana Claude Matthews, Iowa S. A. Knapp, Kansas F. T. Baker, Kentucky CM. Clay, Louisiana J. Floyd King, Maine J. R. Bard well, Maryland Ezra Whitman, Massachusetts . . .George B. Loring, Michigan James H. McGowan, Minnesota C. W. Thompson, Mississippi James L, Alcorn, Missouri C. C. Swallow, Nebraska D. H. Wheeler, Nevada John P. Jones, New Hampshire. JOB'S B. Clarke, New Jersey E. W. P. Lewis, New York J. W. Wadsworth, New Mexico W. F. M. Arny, North CaroUna .Robert B. Vance, Ohio W. I. Chamberlain, Oregon S. G. Reed, Pennsylvania . . .David Taggard, Rhode Island. . ..Q^o. F. Fearing, South Carolina .D. Wyatt Aiken, Tennessee R. Hofpaim, Texas Ashbel Smith, Utah George Q. Cannon, Vermont John B. Mead, Virginia Josiah E. Ware. Washington Thomas H. Brentz, Wisconsin Chester Hazen, West Virginia. . .Henry M. Matthews Wyoming George Graham. Executive Committee: Fred'k Smyth, of New Hampshire, Chairman. T. J. Edge, Harrisbiirg, Pa.; Robert Beverly, of Virginia; William S. King, of Minnesota; N. M, Cuktis, of New York; B. W. Seiler, of Pennsylvania, W. T. Hamilton, of Maryland. Ex-officio Members: John a. King, of New York; Ben: Peiiley Poore, of Massachusetts. secretary: Ben : Perley Poore, of Massachusetts, (Office: Ebbitt House, Washington.) treasurer: William M. French, of New Hampshire, (Office: 1810 Fourteenth street, Washington.) On motion of Mr. Whitney, of New York, seconded by Mr. Tal- bot, of West Virginia, it was — Resolved, unanimously. That the officers and members of the United States Agri- cultural Society, asseml)led at its Thirty first annual meeting, tender their sincere congratuhitions to its Founder, the Honorable Marshall P. Wilder, ot Massa- chusetts, with their wishes that his health may be spared for many years to come. On motion of Col. James Buckley, of Kentucky, seconded by Dr. Hammond, of North Carolina, it was — J^esohed, That tlic ofiicers of the United States Agricultural Society take such taeasures as they may deem expedient to revive its usefulness (interrupted by the late civil war), and that they invite the co-operation of State, County, and lo- teal organizations for the advancement of agriculture, Jiesohed, That the ofticcrsofthe United States Agricultural Society be and they are hereby authorized lo make arrangements for a National Exhibition in 1884, should they deem it expedient. On motion of Dr. French, the Society adjourned until the 24th, inst. The adjourned meeting of the United States Agricultural Society was held at the Department of Ayricidtwit. on the 2-itli of January, 1883. President King presided, while Secretary Poore and Treasurer French attended to their respective duties. Hon. George B. Loring, Commissioner of Agriculture, having in- troduced Hon. John A. King, President of the United States Agri- cultural Society, to the delegates assembled in convention^ that gen- tleman proceeded to deliver his ANNUAL ADDRESS. •Gentlemen of the Agrkullural Society: Owing to the inclemencj^ of the weather, from a sudden and deep fall of snow, it seemed impossible for many to come to the annual meeting of the United States Agricultural Society^ which was held on the 10th of Januarys and^ therefore, after the election of ofR'cers for the ensuing year, and the passsige of a resolution of l^leasure at the continued health and activity of out- chief founder, the Honorable Marshall P. Wilder, it was proposed to adjourn until the 34th instant^ upon which inorning the Honorable George B. Loring, the United States Commissioner of Ag- riculture, and long teonnected with this Society, had placed at our disposition the Spacious room in his Department building. It was hoped that there might then be a more numerous gathering of life members; and, added to them, the presence of many of the leading agriculturists from different sections of the Union. These latter were to convene at the Department on the 23d of January, in response to an invitation fronl the Commissioner, to discuss various topics touching upon agri- ■culture, and the collegiate institutions which were giving instruction upon that •subject. The continuance of inordinate wintry weather, it is feared, may now prevent many of tlie life members, generally well advanced in years, when five and twenty and thirty years since they joined the Society, from being with us. They are not now in condition to leave their comfortable firesides and undergo the unusual hardships of a journey hither. Only two new life members have been inscribed since 1861; and while several of those on the roll have sent their best wishes, their personal attendance must be excused. As the United States Society had not been in active work for a period of yeafs, although several efforts had been made to that end, it was deemed proper that the address prepared for the annual meeting should be read at this adjourned meet- ing, giving an outline of the history of the Society as to its origin, progress in the past, and asking for consideration as to its future. Remembering that Mr. Ben: Perley Poore, formerly an active member of the Executive Committee, was, not only now, our able and energetic Secretary, but had been such for more than twenty years, and during a portion of the vigorous working days, and that he was therefore thoroughly conversant with the transac- tions in the past, more so than 1 could possibly be after much research, I asked from him a sketch, which he has kindlj^ furnished, and in language so lucid and fitting that I shall read it, as it came from him, for your information. It is as fol- lows; "The seed from which the United States Agricultural Society sprung was planted upwards of forty j^ears since. In 1841 a convention of agriculturists, anx- ious ' to elevate the character and standing of the cultivation of the American soil, ' was held at Washington to organize a national agricultural society with the fund which had been bequeathed by Hugh Smithsou for its support. The establish- ment of the Smithsonian Institution prevented the realization of the hopes of those who had desired to make this endowment practically useful, and the national so- ciety remained dormant until 1851, when a convention was called to meet at Washington by the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, Marjdand State Agricultural Society, New York State Ag- ricultural Society, Southern Central Agricultural Society, Ohio State Board of Ag- riculture, American Institute (Npw York), Massachusetts Society for the promo- tion of Agriculture, Indiana State Board of Agriculture, New Hampshire Agri- cultural Society, Vermont Agricultural Society, and the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of American Industry, " At this national convention, held at Washington on the 14th of June, 1851, there were present one hundred and fifty-two delegates, representing twenty-three States and territories, and the United States Agricultural Societj^ was organized. The high standing of the delegates may be inferred from the following list of the committee which drafted the Constitution: the committee was Messrs. Holcomb, of Delaware; Douglas, of Illinois; J. A. Kmg, of New York; Steele, of New Hampshire; Thurston, of Rhode Island; Hubbard, of Connecticut; Stevens, of Vermont; Elwyn, of Pennsylvania; Calvert, of Maryland; Campbell, of Ohio; Hancock, of New Jersey; Callan, of the District of Ccxlumbia; G, W. P. Custis, of Virginia; Burgwyn, of North Carolina; Taylor, of Alabama; De Bow, of Louis- iana; Spencer, of Indiana; Mallory, of Kentucky; Bell, of Tennessee; Weston, of Wisconsin; McLane, of California; Pickhard, of Maine; Dawson, of Georgia-. French, of Massachusetts, and Seaman, of Michigan. •'The objects of the Society, as declared by the preamble to its Constitution, are to ' improve the agriculture of the country by attracting attention, eliciting the views, and confirming the efforts of that great class composing the agricultural community, and to secure the adA-antages of a better organization and more ex- tended usefulness among all State, countj'. and other agricultural societies.' "Soon after the formation of the Society, Congress was asked to grant it a char- ter, but objection was made on the ground that it W(nild be unconstitutional to incoi'poratc citizens of diflbrcnt Stiites. The tliflieulty Was finally solved by se- lecting as corporators members of the Society who were owners of real estate \n the District of Columbia. Accordingly, William W. Corcoran, Benjamin B. French, Benjamin Ogle Tayloe, Ben; Perlej' Poore, and John A. Smith and theii' associates were made, declared, and constituted a corijoration and body politic ■within and for the District of Columbia, in law and in fact, tf) liave contiiuiancc forever, by the name and style of the United States Agricultural Society, and by such corporate name, style, and title shall be hereafter ever able and capable, in law and equity, to sue and be sued, &c. This charter has been carefully pre- served, and forms a ralh'ing point around which the agriculturists of the United States can unite, for immediate concerted action, with the recognition of the gen- eral Government. "It was fortunate for the United States Agricultural Society that it had as its' first President the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, of Massachusetts, who had been largely instrumental in founding it, and whose rare executive abilities secured its immediate prosperity. The annual meetings which it held in th's city until the commencement of the civil war were a realization of the National Board of Agri- culture, recommended by George Washing'ton, the farmer of Mount Vernon, Gentlemen from almost every State in the Union (many of them delegates from agricultural associations) were annually as&erabled to discuss such topics as were calculated to advance the cause of agricultural improvement; interesting and val- uable lectures were delivered by practical and scientific farmers; reports were sub- mitted by committees especially appointed to examine new inventions and theo- ries, and by delegates who had been accredited to the agriculturists of other lands; and there was a general interchange of opinion. ' The great practical truth and characteristic of the present generation,' said Daniel Webster, the farmer of Marshfield, " is, that public improvements are bi'ought about by voluntarj^ asso elation and combination. The principle of association — the practice of bringing men together for the same general object, pursuing the same general end, and uniting their intellectual and physical efforts to that purpose — is a great improve- ment in our age. And the reason is obvicms. Here nun meet together that they may converse with one another, that they may compare with each other their ex- perience, and thus keep up a constant communication. In this practical point of view, these agricultural associations are of great importance. Conversation, in- tercourse with other minds, is the general scmrce of knowledge. Books do some- thing. But it is conversation, it is the meeting of men face to face and talking over what they have in common interest, it is this intercourse that makes men sharp,, intelligent, ready to communicate to others, and ready to. receive instruc- ion from them.' "National exhibitions and field-trials were held by the United States Agricul- tural Society at Springfield, Mass. ; Springfield, Ohio ; Boston, Mass. ; Philadel-' delphia, Penn. ; Syracuse, N, Y. ; Louisville, Kentucky ; Richmond, Va. ; Chicago, 111.; and Cincinnati, Ohio. These national exhibitions were self-sustaining, the receipts meeting the disbusements of upwards of $100,000, for premiums and ex- penses ; and they not only increased the efficiency of State, county and local associations, but called together larger assemblages of the people than convened upon other occasions, embracing not only our most intelligent yeomanry, but gentlemen of every art and profession, from every portion of the widespread Union evincing that the national pulse beats in unison with agriculture, and that 8 the public voice was I'esponsive to the call. At the haiiquets \vith which these national jubilees were concluded, eminent gentlemen met upon the board platform of good citizenship, merging all sectional jealousies and party distinctions in a general desire to improve and elevate that great calling which gives independence and strength to our nation. Such men as Daniel Webster, Edward Everett, Stephen A. Douglas, John C. Crittenden, Henry A. Wise and Caleb dishing spoke at these banquets, with the leading farmers and planters of the United States and Canada. "The Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, published by the tJnited States Agricul- tural Society, during the five years preceding the war, contained feports of the annual meetings, exhibitions, and operations of the society, with a general state- ment of the position of agricultural affairs at the metropolis and reports of the operation of State boards and societies, agricultural colleges, and of all legislative 1-ecognition of the predominant interest of the country. The bound volumes of this Quarterly Journal of Agriculture ai*e now in great demand, as they contain a great amount of Valuable information not othervpise accessible. " The United States Agricultural Society, also had at Washington a secretary's office and reading-room, where the members of the society and others interested in agricultural improvement could meet as brothers at a common home, and find a collection of objects in which they have a common interest. Many state and county societies contributed their published transactions) premium-lists, the names of their officers, and other information, which were registered, and they received the publications of the society in return. A majority of the agricultural and nu- merous other publishers contributed their periodicals and newspapero, and thus aided in forming a free agricultural reading-room at the national metr polls. " The establishment of a Department of Agriculture was urged at every annual meeting of the Society until the desirable result was attained, and it was then re- lieved of many of its self-imposed duties. The preparations made by the Society for a national exhibition at Washington in 18(31, which could not be held, ex- hausted the small balance in the Society's treasury at that time. The Soeietj^ has not, however, a dollar of indebtedness. Upwafd of two hundred and fifty thous- and dollars were received and disbursed by it between 1852 and 1862, and of this the highest sum ever received by any one of its officers, in a year, was 8600, which barely defrayed his personal expenses while attending to the business of the So- ciety. " During the war, the officers and members of the United States Agricultural Society were estranged. Some wore blue uniforms and some gray, and many Were conspicuous on hard-fought fields or languished in military prisons. The Society Was, however^ kept alive, and the annual meetings, prescribed by the constitution, were regularly held. Messrs. Tilghman, of Maryland, Hubbard, of Ohio, French and Corcoran, of the District of Columbia, Frederick Smyth, of New Hampshire, and Merryman, of Maryland, were successively chosen to the office of President. The Secretary was annually re-elected; and on the death of the Treasurer, our present efficient officer, Dr. Wm. M. French, of New Hamp- shire, now a sojourner at Washington, was chosen as the successor. "In 1880 the Honorable John Merryman, of Maryland, w'as elected Presi- dent, and, with him, an earnest Executive Committee. These gentlemen were alive to the value of the interests confided to them; and, after considering the sit- uation of the Society in its various bearings, in regard to its future usefulness, its relations to tlic Bureau ol Agriculture, and to a new organisation which liad started under the name of the American Agricultural Association, they pro- pounded certain questions to the life members for discussion and action at the next annual meeting. Although asked for, no formal vote seems to have been after- wards taken. One of the questions was as to the propriety of surrendering the charter. Of this, evidently, there was no desire. As to the other two, of resum- ing active operations, and the feasibility of an exhibition in conjunction with the new oiganization, steps were undoubtedly taken with that view. Mr. Merryman was, in 1881, re-elected as President. Well-known in Maryland and many other States as an agriculturist and great stock grower, he had been chosen Presi- dent of the Society of his own State, and also President of the recently founded American Agricultural Association. Of this latter Association, your Secretary had been elected as its Secretary. Thus the question of 1880 seemed to have, in the main, resolved themselves by the skillful management of Presid^^nt Merryman, and an exhibition, commensurate with the undertaking, under the auspices of the United States Agricultural and the associate societies, was to be held in the Au- tumn of 1881 in the State of Maryland, but the proposals of men were not permit- ted to be accomplished. The death of Mr. Merryman before any preparations were finally made for the fair put an end to the combination. At the next elec- tion of officers by the American Agricultural Association, your Secretary was not continued as its Secretary. "At the annual meeting of 1882, but little was done except the choice of officers for the ensuing year. The propositions developed two years before, and, at one time, apparently so happily disposed of, again recur in their full force for the con- sideration of the members, and are worthy of very serious attention. It is only with the co-operation of the Department of Agriculture and the State and county associations that success may be insured. I invite a full, an earnest, consideration of the best method of promoting the usefulness and the efliiciency of the United States Agricultural Society." Such is the admirable resume of our Secretary, all too brief, for it only touches incidentally upon the consummate skill and energy of Mr. Wilder and his associ- ates in developing the purposes of the Society, and in the holding of many suc- cessful fairs in different sections of the Union. It does not give the name of Cal- vert, of Maryland, who, backed by the persistent efforts of a strong executive committee, fina'ily prevailed in urging upon the attention of the Congress of the United States the necessity of a Department of Agriculture, although that De- partment, as yet, has not attained the full strength accorded in other nations, and such as was ever contemplated by Calvert, and those acting with him. It does not speak of the land grant to the States for agricultural colleges, although the incipient steps thereto were probably taken from the frequent discussions and res- olutions in relation to such grant, at the earlier annual meetings of this Society. It does not allude to other subjects of equally engrossing and national interests which were brought to notice and public attention, and which, when accom- plished, were evidence of the value of the combined and intelligent efforts of our predecessors. With such a history of the position of the United States Agricultu- ral Society in the past; with the valuable charter granted by the National Gov- ernment; with its past and present roll of members and life members, composed of so many of the best citizens and leading men of different sections of the Union; with its honorable record of usefulness; and, without a dollar of indebtedness, it 8 has been aptly compared to a line of battle-ship, fully equipped and officered and ready for service — the question arises, What shall that service be? Since the sword was happly sheathed, and the people have returned to their more natural and peaceful pursuits, the plowshare cleaves the virgin soil of our extensive country with renewed vigor, and the generous earth yields of its fresh- ness the most abundant results. The immensity of production year by year, in- creases, and the volume of emigration from other nations to the Western Conti- nent, to assist our ever enlarging population in tilling the land swells so vastly that it behooves us to pursue the researches, begun by our founders, as the best meth- ods whereby men may be enabled to unfold to each other the most economical processes for getting from the willing earth the great secrets of her possession, to ascertain what are the most valuabie crops for the different portions of our great territory, which the best strains of stock for these differing sections, what the most profitable fertilizers for the varying soils and climates. These are live questions and need patient and combined investigation. Add to . these the diifusion of knowledge in relation to the constantly improving quality of implements and machines, invented by American ingenuity, to save manual labor, and thus to increase and cheapen the necessaries of life to the consumers. When I call to mind the rude implements and husbandry which are yet in use in the most ancient parts of Egjqit and Europe, and have scarcely varied with the lapse of centuries, and when I remember such as were formerly used even here, and compare them with those now in the hands of our farmers, I am amazed at the ■