Page 3
History of Orange County
Agriculture Society
Page 3
Gentlemen of the Committee—You will see by the enclosed note that the first motion for an Agricultural Society in the County of Orange was in Goshen, in 1808. The first and second meeting was respectable, but did not organize, and appointed another for that purpose, when a number of respectable farmers from Montgomery attended in order to become members. But alas! It had perished in embryo for want of vital energy to give it a form.
The second movement was in the village of Hamptonburgh in May last, as you may see by the subscribers to the proposed Constitution, which had liked to have shared the same fate with the former, and it not been for the little exertions Mr. Carpenter made to call the attention of the public, on Saturday last. I expected the meeting would be small, but felt determined to usher it into public notice, as you will see by the address which I presented that day. Think, then, what was my disappointment when I heard of the movements at Montgomery; it almost astonished me. It was with elevated satisfaction I perceived they were about to give vitality to so laudable a cause; and that we ought to yield the laurel to them, for waiting upon and wishing to join us about nine years ago. I trust they will receive us upon fair and liberal ground.
Permit me, however, to suggest to your committee the propriety of recommending to the meeting at Montgomery, before they form their Constitution, to admit each town in the County to form separate branches of the County Society, and the school districts branches of the town. Thus communications can be easily received from the remotest parts of the County: from the school districts to the town, from the town to the County Society, and from them to the State; and from the State the pendulum of information can vibrate back without giving the members and inhabitants but little trouble. The County Society to consist of two or more members from each town, to be chosen at every annual spring meeting, one of which ought to be a man of letters and practical chemical science. These members, thus elected in each town, are to compose a Board or County Society, to vote by towns, digest plans, &c to have quarterly meetings, &c., and lastly, to deliver at least once in each year in each town a summary address of the most important information they have received; and further, also to lecture upon any subject connected with the views of the Institution,—such as the elementary composition of plants, animals, fowls, petrified and pulverized substances, &c.
I feel animated with the consoling hope that I may yet live to hear and read discourses from our farmers’ boys upon physical and moral science.— These speculative views of one who perceives himself approaching towards a second childhood, and is partially deaf and blind, are submitted to your discretion with due deference,—and believe me, fellow citizens,
Respectfully yours,
PETER BULL.
Corresponding Committee from Goshen to Montgomery Agricultural Association
N. B.—I here send you all the papers in my possession relative to the above business. If they shall help you to but one useful idea it will gratify me, and return them when you have no more occasion for them. Being sensible of my own ignorance in the calling I have ever followed, I have therefor considered that the names of the Institution might be called “The Agrarian Society of Farmers’ Boys;” it might thereby stimulate our youths in the ardent pursuits of husbandry and let all premiums be divided between the laborer and proprietor. This might draw some of our “sponging loungers” into active service, who are this day preying upon the vitals of the laborer.
Thus you have the scope of the mind, upon this occasion, of a farmer’s boy. Nevertheless, whatever we have said or done, it must be admitted that our friends at Montgomery have acted nobly; they have broke the ice in a patriotic cause, and we, as mere floating cakes, if we move, must follow the current. P. B.