LETTER.

CARLISLE, January 23, 1854.

To His Excellency WM. BIGLER,

DEAR SIR:

Governor of Pennsylvania:

I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency a report of the transactions of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society for the past year, which embraces such reports of County Societies as have been made by them, in obedience to the fifth section of the act of March 29, 1851.

Very Respectfully,

Your Obedient Servant,

FRED'K. WATTS, President.

REPORT.

To His Excellency, WM. BIGLER,

Governor of Pennsylvania :

In the month of January, 1851, a few individuals, whose enterprizing spirit of benevolence for their fellow-men, and care for the honor of their own State, assembled at the Capitol to organize a State Agricultural Society. Of the number of intelligent men who are found in every enlightened community, there are comparatively few who are so unselfish as to devote themselves, and expend their time and money to promote that which is but a great public good, and promises to them individually no particular benefit. And when spirits like these do step out to lead the way, the cynic criticises them, the indifferent frown coldly upon them, the jealous impugn their motives, and under this influence, the power of the State itself withholds the cheerful light of its countenance and aid of its laws from them. The founders of our Society have not this to complain of. Their first meeting had but adjourned, when the Representatives of the State, seconded by the sincere and ardent support of the Executive, took up the subject, organized the society by a charter, and made, in aid of its funds, a liberal annual appropriation. The combined efforts of energetic men, and the earnest support of the representatives of the people, must accomplish the object in view.

The constitutional organization of our Society, regarding the choice of its officers, wisely embraces every portion of the State; each congressional district having an official representative, and all these representatives manage the affairs of the Society. Thus are duties and labors divided, and interests and knowledge, as various as the climate and soil of our State, associated.

The officers of the Society, forming its Executive Committee, repeatedly met during the first year of its existence, and under its auspices the first "Annual Exhibition" was held in the vicinity of Harrisburg. With the little experience we have now had; with the fruit which has already been so manifestly gathered from our short existence, we look back upon it as a most strange truth, that the year 1851 should have found the State of Pennsylvania without the organization of a State Agricultural Society. There are few States in the Union so purely agricultural as our own; and none which offered so many inducements and facilities, or whose wants in a greater degree demanded the establishment of a State Society. It was not surprising, therefore, that the farmers of the State took hold of the subject with avidity, and gave to its first exhibition a show of numbers and contributions which promised for the

future their hearty support. On the third Tuesday of January, 1852, the Society met at Harrisburg, in the Capitol, when a report of the transactions of the past year was submitted and considered, some amendments of the constitution made, and the officers for the ensuing year elected.

At this period the question was mooted as to the expediency of giving to the Society, with regard to its annual exhibitions, a permanent locality. The subject was discussed and decided by the executive committee, composed of the officers of the Society, exclusively upon the consideration of what course would produce the greatest amount of benefit to the State at large. The conclusion was to change the place every year. In pursuance of this arrangement, it was determined to hold the next "Annual Exhibition" of the society at Lancaster. It is only necessary here to remark that in this exhibition the highest anticipations of the Society were realized, as to numbers in attendance; the only limit was the capacity of railroads and other conveniences to carry the people; and the contributions greatly increased with a single year's experience.

At the period appointed by the constitution, January 18, 1853, the Society held their second annual meeting at the Capitol. The transactions of the Society for the past year were reported, and, with various subjects of interest, were discussed; and the officers elected for the ensuing year. At this meeting a committee was appointed to enquire into the expediency of establishing a "State Agricultural School," which resulted in a report favorable to the project, and recommending "a general convention of delegates from all parts of the State to meet at the Capitol; when a full expression of public sentiment could be had." This report was adopted and the eighth of the following March was fixed for its meeting. The convention met; and with an unparalleled unanimity recommended the establishment of a school for the education of Farmers, and gave the subject in charge to a committee to have it enacted into a law, and carried into effect. The late period, in reference to the session of our Legislature, at which this business commenced, rendered it impracticable to procure the charter of such an institution at that session, and it yet remains to be done.

There are circumstances connected with the consideration of the subject of a school for the education of Farmers which command the attention of every enlightened citizen of the State. That farmers require education to place them in that rank of society where they are entitled to stand, as well as to give effect to the important business of their life, is a point which needs no discussion. But how they shall be educated is a subject not so well understood. It must be conceded, that our institutions of learning, as at present constitu ted, are not adapted to the education of young men for the business of agriculture. The expense is too great, and the character of the education they acquire, unfits them for the occupation of a Farmer. The body, by an uninterrupted application to books at a period of life when the habits of a man are formed, is rendered, in a measure, incapable of labor; and the mind is trained