The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-01
American Agricultural Societies OF
the Lnat Century.

THE INSTITUTION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY BY MEMBER or
THE RuFFIN FAMILY OF VIRGINIA IL 1856
ITS PROVINCE AND MISSION
Editors Of the Dispatch beg the privi-
lege OF your valuable columns towards the
extension OF query in which, from its
material significance, have no dOubt but
that many OF your readers will be like in
terested with myself.
Nv connection with it Is at the instance
Of our friend and public-spiriled fellow
citizen, John OFT, Esq, who has referred
to me letter to him from Professor Will
liam II. Brewer, New Haven, CONF, the
special agent of the Census Department,
charged with the preparation of historical
account OF the institution and progress OF
agricultural societies in the United States.
i extract from the letter OF Professor
Brewer as follows: "In connection with
certain agricultural matters pertaining to the
tenth census, have endeavOred TO find out
definitely regarding the earliest American
Agricultural Society. 1t is somewhere
stated that the first society was formed in
1884, In Charleston, S. c., by one OF the
Rufhns who went into That State from Vir-
ginia. Can you give me any in-
formation or refer me 10 any place where
anything has been published relating TO this
particular society 2"
II is probable that the traditions ~Jnnect-
ing the name OF Rufn with the initiation
of the important movement mentioned is
we'll founded, since there were emigratiOns
to the colony Of South Carolina Of members
OF the family so bcne6cently represented in
the progress and enhancement Of the in
terestS OF American agriculture by the late
Edmund Rufhn. 1t is to be hoped that
the present publication may elicit the de-
sired Identification Of the founder or found
ers Of the South Carolina Agricultural So
cety, OF the institution OF which we find some
account in Ramsay's History Of South Car
olina, published at Charleston in two vol.
umes, Svo., 1909 (vol. H., PIP. 20S and 224-
220;
In 1885 a society was incorporated TO pro-
mote the. interests OF agriculture. Their
object was to institute a farm for agTicul-
tural eXperimentS-tO import and circulate
foreign articles that were suitable to the
climate OF Carolina, and to direct the atten-
tion OF the agriculturists OF the State to
useful objects, and to reward such as i'm
proved the art. They imported and dis
tributed some cuttings OF vines and olives.
In 1909 the Society was clear OF debt and
possessed fOrty-two acres OF land in the
vicinity of Charleston, on which agricul-
tura experiments were conducted. II con-
sisted Of forty members, with an annual
subscription OF S25 each.
Gold medals were offered for the best re-
suits in the culture OF rice and for the in
yention OF mechanical appliances in con-
nection Herewith: for destroying the cat
erpillar, which infested the cotton.plant;
for discharging stains from cotton, render.
ing il white. for the greatest quantity OF
sweet-oiI made from olives; for the great
est quantity OF oil obtained from ground
nuts and from the seed OF Sesamum or bene,
OF cotton, and Of sun flowers for the great
est quantities of the levant SIENNA, cassin
SIENNA, raised, cured, and brought to mar
ket: and the greatest quantity OF rhubaTb,
rhenm palmatum, castor-oil, hops, madden,
TO be raised In the State; to the person who
shall first, within the State, establish and
keen flock of sheep OF the "true marlnO
breed"; and for the greatest quantity OF
figs, the produce Of the State, dried and
brought to market.
The Society also "resolved to establish
nursery OF the most useful and ornamental
trees, shrubs, and plants, and to offer them
for sale at moderate prices"
1t is to be hoped that the South Carolina
press will give such publicity to this matter
as to elicit in behalf of the desirable under
taking OF Professor Brewer a definite ac-
count of the progress and present condition
of the early South Carolina Agricultural
Society, or its representative succession.
am, gentlemen, faithfully yours,
X. A. BROCK.
Richmond. Va. June 2J, 1881.