The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-13
cry INTELLIGENCE.
UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

The Seventh Annual scssio OF the United States Agr
suitdra Society commenced at the Smithsonian Institu
ton yesterday morning There was very respectable
attendance Of gentlemen coming from twentone States
and two Territories embracing delegations from prominent
State and county societies. s,
After credentials had been handed in the first subject
10 order was
PRESIDENT rLcHsaNs ANNUAL ADDRESS.
The President rst alluded TO the change last year ia
the Executive officers of the society by which i desti
mics intrustod to and unted hands-to the es
tablishment Of permanent Office at Washington, under
the charge Of the secretayto the establishment OF
the Monthly Bulletin and TO the recent exhibition at
Richmond. He then went on TO say
tls veg Important that the true objects of the fairs Of
the United States Society should be correctly understood
They intended to elevate the standard Of excellence
in agricultural productions and processes and increase
the amount OF agricultural information in the various
parts of the country, by carrying into EACH SUCCESSFULLY
articles of superior quality and in instances of
different kind from those previously exhibited the local
fairs and secondly to disseminate information in regard
TO the Improvements and Institutions Of each portion of
the country among the people of the other portions by
inducing viduals and delegations remote sections
60 congregate in degree which the local fairs however
important, do not seem TO effect. s7
Ii is not to be expected in country extensive as
ours that every part OF it can be represented fair at
any point however accessible or even that the at
tendance national fair at points the most aces
sble, would be large that at State exhibitions in
more favorable localities If they present decided inn
provemen the best fairs which have been previously
held at the points, then the object has been effected
for which they principally intended
summary Of the exhibitions held by all the principal
State and local Societies during the past year and which
has been presented in any other publication has been
prepared by the Secretary, and will be submitted to this
meeting for correction in snch il may deem
most advisable preparatory to its insertion in the trans
actions for 1858 few specimen copies of the transac
will he he af
The publication of the full edition could not be made
until after the action Of the society upon the paper above
mentioned and the essays which have been prepared
for premiums ~
The uninterrupted harmony which has heretofore pre-
vailed between the United States Agricultural Society and
all the other agricultural institutions in the country
been highly gratifying IL was calculated oadyance the
interests oil the great in which all engaged
fellow aborers. Ii u.s. therefore, with feeling OF the deep
regret that have for the first time during the past
evidence Of contrary disposition and that too
in quarter where should least have expected and most
have regretted it, In the annual report the agricul
ura division of the Patent Office for 1857 recently issued
the first article is upon the progress OF agriculture"
and ppors give history of all the principal agrcu
tuI societies in the country The author that article
is Mr.. d. j. Browne, who the superintendent of the d
vision and who member of the executive commit
tee of the United States Agricultural Society for that
year The entire omission of the United States Ayrcu
tual Society from such article scarcely be regarded
accidental especially the volume CON
tains report entitled Report OF the United States Ag
ricultural Society the Chinese sugarcane made by
Mr. Browne, chairman of committee Of the society
This report contains accounts of experiments made under
his direction with seed which imported from France
by him at the expense and on account Of the United
States Agricultural Society and is accompanied by an
tended correspondence the subject which il Presumed
be that referred TO in the report and yet credit
given TO the society for either the appropriation the
correspondence.
The records of the society afford numerous instances
in which it has co-operaed with the department. and in
instance has it either declined to do when requested
or niled to give the department its full share of the
credit II is, therefore, OF profound regret
have experienced such want of courtesy from officer
Of the government connected with department for
which this society entertns the highest respect with
which it desires TO cherish the most friendly relations
The fact, however, that such omission has been
made and the frequent inquiries in regard to the history
of the society would seem to justify the introduction
brief synopsis of its organization and proceedings
On the 14th of June, 1851, nsonal agricultural CON
venon held at the Smithsonian Institute in Wash
ngton under call issued by the following agricultural
societies. at the instance Of the Massachusetts Board OF
Agriculture:
The Massachusetts, State Board of Agriculture; Penn
syvania State Agricultural Society Maryland State Agri-
cultural Society; New York State~A gcutual Society;
Southern Central Agricultural Society; Ohio State Board
of Agriculture American Institute New York Massa-
chusetts Society for the promotion of Agriculture; In
diana State Board of Agriculture New Hampshire Agri-
cultural Society Vermont Agricultural Society and the
Rhode Island Society for the encouragement of Ameri
The convention was composed of 1853 delegates repre-
senting 20 States and Territories. Among those who
present during its sessions the Hon. Willard
Fillmore, President of the United States and the Hon
Daniel Webster Secretary of State.
The following gentlemen composed the committee who
drafted its constitution Messrs Hocomb Delaware
Douglas, of Illinois j. A. King, OF New York Steele
of New Hampshire; Thurston, of Rhode Island !; Hub
bard of Connecticut; Stevens of Vermont Ewyn, Of
Pennsylvania; Calvert of Maryland Campbell, of
Ohio Hancock, of New Jersey; Caan, of the District
of Columbia q. w. r. Gusts, of Virginia; Burgwyn, OF
North Carolina Taylor, of Alabama; De Bow, of Lou
sana Spencer, of Indiana Mallory of Kentucky ;
Bell, of Tennessee Weston of Wisconsin McIane, of
California; Pickhard, of Maine Dawson, of Georgia
French, of Massachusetts, and Seaman of Michigan,
On the lists of its members to be found the
of many of the most distinguished in the nation
and it will compare favoraby in this respect with any in
stitution in the country.
The objects of the society declared by the preamble
TO its constitution 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 the adyan-
tages of better organization and extended useful
among all State county, and other agricultural
ccties
The first annual meeting held the I'd OF Feb
ruary 1858 since which they have been regularly
nued. The first number of the transactions issued
in August, 1852 and continued quarterly for the
first year. which time it's issue has been The
first fhr held the III of October, 1853 at
Springfield Massachusetts, Annual exhibitions have also
been held in Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania Ken
lucky and Virginia. at which there have been expended
upwards of 500 900 In July, 1851, il held national
trial of reapeu and mowers at Syracuse New York
equaed by any similar exhibition that has ever been
other operations Of the city, have given il high po
ton among the national agricultural societies of tho