The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-06-26

ciety of South Carolina, and is be-
lieved to be the first agricultural So
ciety organized in America, and, is
still in active and useful operation.
The society, however, has no connec-
ton with the State society, hereafter
noticed.
"On June 16, 1918, there was or
ganized at Columbia, the capital, a
State society called The South Caro-
lima Agricultural Society'-W. II.
Davie, president; Francis X. Huger,
John Taylor, John j. Chappell and
Wade Hampton, vice presidents; Ed
ward Fisher and d. j. McCord, Sec
retaries. This society was short. t.lived,
but published some valuable agricul-
tural papers during its existence.
"In 1926 another effort was made to
organize State society. 1t was called
The United Agricultural society of
South Carolina and was constituted of
societies of the State, many of which
are now in active operation. In 1928
W. b. Seabrook was president; he was
succeeded by Thos. Pinckney, and the
last meeting was held in 1881, after
which it ceased to exist"
In November, 1889 there was again
organized another State Agricultural
society at Columbia. Patrick Noble
was president; w. b. Seabrook, Whit
field Brooks. W. X. Clawney, James
Gregg and B. f. Dunkin, vice presi-
dents, and George McDuflie, anniver-
sary orator. This society was in eX-
go
it published some very valuable
papers, notably Chancellor Harp
cr's essay on slavery, Ham,
mond on mari, and Seabrook's
memoir on the cotton plant. These
efforts at a State organization of the
agricultural interests had other results.
Their influence upon the legislature
caused geological and agricultural
survey of the State to be made and in
duced the establishment of more than
one journal devoted to agriculture
which in tn cir day accomplished good.
Among these were the Southern Agri-
culturist, edited by j. ID. Legare and
b. r. Carroll, published at Charleston;
The Carolina Planter, edited by r. W.
Gibbs, published ut Columbia; Tho
Farmer and Planter, published by
Seaborn n Gilman of Pendleton, md
tho Southern Agriculturist, edited by
A. CT. and VIM. Summer of Pomaria
and published at Laurens.
On the Sth of August, 1865, an agri-
cultural convention met in Columbia,
and resulted in the organization of the
society of which the present South
Carolina Agricultural society is the
successor. A. p. Calhoun was elected
president; \. G.. Summer, secretary.
Mr.. Summer was afterwards succeed
ed by Il. J. Guge, AS secretary; but
Mr.. Calhoun served by reelection as
president until the outbreak of the
civil war. The Legislature aided the
the society by an appropriation of
$1,000. 1t was handsomely endowed
by the city of Columbia with grounds
and buildings, and it had considcra-
BILE fund derived from payment for
life membership. The annual fairs
and stock shows Of this society were
large, we'll attended and produced q
marked Improvement in the live stock
of the State. It's transactions were
published first in the South Carolina
Agriculturist, then in The Farmer and
Planter; and for lS5S and 1852 were
compiled in volume and published
by the secretary.
The civil war suspended the oper-
alton of this society. Its buildings
were destroyed in the Burning Of
Columbia, and its investments became
worthless from the results of the war.
In 1868 the society was reorganized
with Johnson Hagood, president, and
ID. Wyatt Ak N, secretary. The city
Of Colurnbla reconstructed the build.
ings in part and fund was raised
from sale Of life membership with
which to renew the operations of the
society. The society has been without
other resources than these until 1873.
The Legislature now appropriated g.
800 annually in its ail until 1890.
Large and successful fairs are held
each November in Columbia, and an
annual summer meeting is had at some
selected place elsewhere in the State
for the discussion of agricultural sub
jects.
The transactions Of the society, con-
tanning much valuable matter, have
been impcrfectly published. tits con
tempiatcd to publish them at IN carry
day i'll complete form.
President Hagood declined re-elcc-
tion after four years service. and his
successors have been Thos. W. Wood
ward, Thos. Taylor, Is. +. Crayton,
ID. p. Duncan, J. B. Humbcrt, +. II.
McIver, Il. \. Love, Thos. j. Moore
and l.. d. Childs, the present incum-
bent.
ID. Wyatt Aiken was succeeded in
1875 by Thos. w. Holloway, the pres
ent secretary.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY oE SOUTH
CAROLINA.
This society was organized on August