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NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE.

To his Excellency the Governor of New Hampshire:

In preparing our first annual report, as a Board of Agriculture, we propose to discuss the great interest of the state, to that extent and with that fidelity which circumstances will permit.

It would be an exercise pleasant to us and interesting to those who may read the record of our proceedings, should we give a history of the progress of agriculture in our state, and compare the practices of to-day with the customs of former generations.

Looking back upon the record, we should see the pine tree representing the rural interests of New Hampshire, when cutting timber from our extended forests, fishing upon our limited sea coast and by our clear, fresh lakes and streams, and hunting furbearing animals wherever the courage of our hardy settlers led them, were the sole pursuits.

Then a ship upon the stocks was adopted as our emblem of industry, and was incorporated into the seal of the state. The sun of civilization began to shed its rays upon the wilderness, enterprise was first recognized, and thrift and prosperity succeeded. Roads were cut through the forests, over high hills and broad valleys, along which huge masts were drawn to river landings to be floated to the ocean.

This led to inland settlements, to the clearing of lands, and the culture of cereals and vegetables for the support of life. Cattle were bred to furnish the requisite power for the enterprises which promised a rich reward, and grass and grain were cultivated to afford them support. Hence the plow and the hoe became our industrial emblems.

The nomadic life of the hunter was gradually abandoned, the

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exhausting labors of the lumberman became irksome, and our people devoted their energies, unwillingly at first, but faithfully, to the cultivation of a hard but new and productive soil. The harvests were abundant, and, after affording a comfortable support for the increasing population, left a surplus to be exchanged for the necessaries of life which could not be produced at home. Horses were now to supplement the patient ox. Teams were rapidly increased and traversed the state from inland town and hamlet to county shires, to villages on river banks or to the market that our only seaport furnished, bearing away the varied products of the farm and bringing back the fruits of commerce.

Until this period in the history of New Hampshire agriculture, no wheels had been turned by our frequent waterfalls, nor had their monotonous murmur been relieved by the music of the spindle or the ring of the hammer. But at length the spirit of enterprise, prompted by the desire of gain, converted the wilderness, the rocky hill-side and the barren plain about our water-powers on the Merrimack, the Nashua, the Cocheco, the Ashuelot and other rapid streams, into sites of busy towns and thriving cities. The construction of railways followed, or was simultaneous with the erection of mills and machine shops, and both of these agencies operated together to open new markets to the husbandman, to create new fields of rural labor and to bring a profit to the tiller of the soil who dwelt within their immediate reach. Market gardening, the growing of fruit, the raising of milk, the breeding of improved stock, are some of the sources of income to the farmer which have sprung into life at the call of the progressive spirit of the age. Such are the important points in the agricultural history of the state.

Added to these, and above all, are the revelations which, within the last half-century, science has made in the fields of nature. What new methods of culture have been discovered! What new plants and fruits have been propagated! What new riches have been found in the bowels of the earth! What new fertilizing materials have been compounded by the principles of chemistry! What new labor-saving machines have come from the genius of the inventor and the handiwork of the artisan!

We might longer dwell upon this, and, instead of the mere outlines which we have here suggested, write the full record of the

past; but the proper limits of our report would be exceeded before the task was completed. We leave it and refer to other topics which should interest the people of New Hampshire.

ORGANIZED AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS.

The first organized agricultural society in the state of which we have any accessible account originated in the county of Rockingham, as early as 1814. We find a record on the journals of the legislature of that year when a charter was granted. It probably had its central point at the then important town of Chester, or at Exeter.

A society was instituted in Cheshire county not long after, as we find it named in connection with the Rockingham society in the journal of 1817, when a small sum was appropriated to them by the legislature.

The general revival of business after the termination of the war for "free trade and sailors' rights," with the encouragement given temporarily by the state, induced other counties to institute agricultural organizations. Hillsborough and Strafford each organized in 1817 and received charters the ensuing year. Grafton followed the next year and Coos very soon afterwards; so that in 1819 and 1820 agricultural societies existed, held fairs and received benefactions from the state, in every county, there being six organizations. These maintained a name only for a few years. Their existence marks an era in the agricultural history of the state and becomes a matter of interest as a basis of comparison with the present day. The first appropriation was $100 to each of the two incorporated societies in the state-Rockingham and Cheshire.

The following year a resolution was passed, giving to the Rockingham society $300, and an equal amount to the Cheshire society. The sum of $200 was voted to each of the other county societies, viz: Hillsborough, Strafford and Grafton, provided they should organize before the meeting of the next legislature.

In 1819 the sum of $200 was voted to each of the five established societies, and an equal sum to the Coos society as soon as it should be fully organized. A provision was very properly appended as the condition of receiving the state bounty, which re

quired that the money be expended in the interest of agriculture, and an equal sum be added by the society, and that reports be made to the Secretary of State.

The next year, 1820, it was voted that $100 be paid to each county society, on the same condition as the year before, but in case of Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough and Coos, it was to be withheld until returns of the previous year were made.

Up to this time only about $3,000 had ever been expended for the promotion of agriculture by the state.

Appropriations were continued for several years to such county societies as made reports of proceedings. But, strange to say, most of the county organizations forfeited their right to draw on the state treasury by their own negligence. Such as did comply with the requirements of the law received the bounty, and made great improvements in the various branches of agriculture.

THE OLD BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

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The year 1820 was characterized in legislative history by the creation of a BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, in accordance with the recommendation of Governor Bell. The board consisted of the idents of the several county societies and a delegate from each. There were six societies existing at that time, consequently the board, if full, consisted of twelve members, and organized in 1821. We have not at hand a list of the members, but among them were William Badger, who was chosen president, and Matthew Harvey, secretary. Both of these gentlemen were prominent politicians of that day, and both were subsequently governors of the state. Other members were Samuel Grant, of Walpole; Rev. Humphrey Moore, of Milford, recently deceased; Amos Kent, and Messrs. Gilman, Dinsmoor, Wilcox and White.

A report was made and printed in 1822, and was regarded as an able document. But few copies are now to be found. The Secretary has made an effort to secure one to preserve as a curiosity in agricultural literature, but has not succeeded in his efforts.

A modification took place in the law after a brief period, limiting the members to one from each county, to be chosen by the county societies. But as the societies became inoperative and disorganized, the board ceased to exist, and the law, though unrepealed, became entirely useless. Thus originated, lived and ter

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