Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-12-17
The American Agricultural Society


called to order at the Metropolitan Hotel
at 10 o'clock A. NJ, and N. NJ. Curtis, OF
Ogdensburgh, was elected temporary
chairman, and Mr.. Lawrence. of Ohio,
secretary, and the forenoon mostly spent
in discussion. One member from each state
was appointed to act as committee to pre-
sent names for the permanent officers of
the society.
In the afternoon after coming together
the society adjourned thirty minutes to
allow the committee to confer and select
the names of the officers. While the con-
ventiou was adjourned the meeting resolv-
ed itself into committee of the whole,
and discussed the condition of alflirs. 1t
seems that committe had submitted II
draft for constitution, which was accept
ed, laid on the table and the committee
discharged. Then before the report was
acted upon. and before they knew what
officers would be required, they were at
work to get the officers. Mr.. Quinn, of
New Jersay, said that his idea was that it
should first he decided whether it was de-
sirable to have a national society, and, if it
was, then decide what kind of society
they would have, and then who should
govern it as officers. lie had thought
there was no demand for such society.
A gentleman whose name we did not
catch spoke of the necessity Of it, that
other industries had national associations,
and the wooden manufacturers had such
an association, and they had an agent
whom they paid five thousand dollars per
year and all his expenses while in Wash
ington to stay there during the session of
congress and look after the interests of
of the United States should demand some
recognition at the hands Of congress.
DR.. Loring, of Massachusetts, president
OF the New England Agricultural Society,
sud he had the misfortune to be member
Of congress, and he must assert that agri
culture had not been neglected by con-
gress, bnt hid secured the largest recog
milton at its hands, and at the hands of the
states, and that no action of congress was
needed to make farming respected or re-
spectacle.
At this point the nominating committee
came in and the convention was called to
order, but not till resolution had passed
expressing the sense of the committee of
the whole that the election of officers had
best be postponed till they had Il society.
81 the first business taken up was the con-
sttution reported by the committee as be-
fore named. The first article was the
name, and National" was objected to as
name of evil omen, rs q former national
agricultural society had come to an I'M
timely grave, so "American was select
cl, though the society is to be only nation
nations being excluded. The m.ttor of
directors was the next matter which called
forth much debate. The constitution pro.
vided for seven, which was thought to be
too small cumberland twenty one was f.
nally agreed upon, to which was added rs
eX officio the president, senior vice president
secretary and treasurer. Next ctme the
question of how many shoad be required
for quorum; five was ntmel, Col.
Mead objected to the number as to- Sun I'll,
and likely to give rise to ths charge of
being run by ring. Mr.. Lawrence, of
Ohio, said if larger number WAS required
the probability was that that quorum
would not be got together. NJ. Tinkhlm
said that gentlemen here were urging tn,
necessity Of an agricultural society which
should be national in its character and ex-
tent because it was demandcd. Ii gen
tlemen now went forth to the country
with so little confidence in the interest in
and demand for such Il society that no
more than five directors out of u board of
twenty-five could be got together, they
might as we'll celebrate the funeral of tho
society on the day Of its birth. Seven
was finally agreed on as the number. The
constitution was read and approved article
by article, after which the meeting al
journed.
In the evening lectures were given by
Profs Ledoux and Miles, the first on the
Purity Of SEEDS AMI the sccoud on
Correlation of forms"
When we came in Thursday morning,
DR.. Lnring of Massachusetts had the floor,
advertising Il paper published in New
York, the Land and Home. He said that
he observed that copies of that paper had
been very thoroughly circulated through
the hall. He was certain the officers of
the meeting were not parties 10 the act,
and the president had come to him and
disclaimed all responsibility for it, and
that the paper contains an article marked.
which he read. AS the New England So.
ciety is known somewhat, we will give the
article, which was considered objection
able.
But what does this mean? In 1872 an
effort was made to re organize the then
SuSDCUuGu OuIlCu OttlCS So
ciety. A meeting was held ut Washing
ington, at which some three hundred were
in attendance. 1t was agreed that no
less man than the earnest, unsefish
horiculturst, Marshall p. Wilder, should
be its chosen head; but n politician, get
ting his minions together. worked 50
valianlly Il ut he was made president.
With what result? Death for the society,
and disgrace for those who had anything
to do with it. That election was The las /
meeting of the society Of the great name,
though it has occasional gatherings of its
nominal officers. And it is now reported
that nice little plan is all completed to
put this dead horse with its little fund,
its big name and ignominious history,
upon the stand on the 10th of December.
and make the new society adopt its old
name and constitution. Such a scheme
demands attention. Its Carrying out would
only work harm to the youngster then to
be christened. Farmers, if you want to
avoid this evil you must be present and
fipht IL off,