REPORT

OF THE

PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

CONSTITUTION.

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY was created a "body corporate" by the Legislature, on the 29th day of March, 1851. The act at large can be found in the statutes for 1851, and in previous volumes of the transactions of this society. The society sprung from a meeting held at Harrisburg, on the 21st of January, 1851, in which all the counties of the State were represented. On the 22d, the meeting had taken the form of a society, electing its first president and officers. On the 20th of January, 1852, it held its first annual meeting at Harrisburg, where, in the previous September, its first exhibition had been held, with a good degree of encouragement. Exhibitions have since been held at Lancaster, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Wyoming, Norristown, Williamsport, Easton, Scranton, and Erie, with varying success, but always doing something toward developing the agricultural resources of the State.

The concerns of the society are intrusted to an executive committee, consisting of a president, twenty-seven vice presidents, one from each of the congressional districts into which the State is divided, five additional members, all the ex-presidents, a corresponding and recording secretary, a treasurer, a chemist and geologist, and a librarian, in all, as at present, constituted, a committee of forty-seven.

The constitution has been frequently, but not substantially, amended since its original adoption, in 1852, and now stands as it is given herewith. A list of life members is embodied in this issue. It has been impossible to preserve a necrological register, and, therefore, lapses by death are not noted. The list comprises the names of life members previously to the 1st January, 1878; a total of eight hundred and ten names, representing all parts of the State.

CONSTITUTION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The name of the Society shall be the PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICULTUBAL SOCIETY. The objects of this society are to foster and improve agriculture, horticulture, and the domestic and household arts.

Who are Members.

SECTION 1. The Society shall consist of all such persons as shall pay to the Treasurer not less than two dollars, and annually, thereafter, not less than two dollars; and, also, of honorary and corresponding members; the names of the members to be recorded by the secretary.

The officers of county agricultural societies in this State, or delegations therefrom, shall be members ex officio of this society.

The payment of twenty dollars shall constitute life membership, and exempt the members so contributing from all annual payments.

Officers.

SECTION 2. The officers of this society shall be a president, a vice presi dent from each congressional district, three fourths of whom shall be practical agriculturists or horticulturists, a treasurer, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary, a librarian, an agricultural chemist and geologist, aud such assistants as the society may find essential to the transaction of its business; an executive committee, consisting of the above-named officers, five additional members, with the ex-presidents of the society.

Of the President.

SECTION 3. The president shall have a general superintendence of all the affairs of the society. In case of the death, illness, or inability of the president to perform the duties of his office, the executive committee shall select a vice president to act in his stead, who shall have the same power and perform the same duties as the president, until the next annual meeting.

Of the Vice Presidents.

It shall be the duty of the vice president to take charge of the affairs of the association in their several districts; to advance all its objects; to call upon farmers to report as to the condition of agriculture in their neighborhood; to ask for information as to the modes of cultivation adopted by different farmers; and as far as in their power to make known the resources of their districts, the nature of its soil, its geological character, and all such matter as may interest farmers in every part of the State.

Treasurer.

The treasurer shall keep an account of all moneys paid into his hands, and shall pay bills when audited and approved by the executive committee, each order for payment must be signed by the president or chairman of the executive committee.

Corresponding Secretary.

The duty of this officer shall be to invite a correspondence with all persons interested in agriculture, whether in the State of Pennsylvania or elsewhere, but especially with our consuls in foreign countries, that new seeds, vegetables, or live stock may be introduced, and their fitness for cultivation and propagation in our climate be tested. At each stated meeting of the society, he shall read his correspondence, which shall, either the whole, or such parts as may be selected by the society, form a portion of the transactions. He shall also correspond with the president or other officers of each State society in the United States, at least twice in the year, for purposes of combined and mutual action, and to be informed of

the result and progress of each other's efforts; also, to invite mechanics to forward models or implements for examination and trial.

Recording Secretary.

The recording secretary shall keep the minutes of the society and of the executive committee. At the close of each year he shall prepare for publication such parts of the minutes and transactions of the society as may be designated.

Librarian,

The librarian shall take charge of all books, pamphlets, &c., belonging to the society, and shall act as curator to preserve seeds, implements, or whatever property the society may possess.

Executive Committee and Quorum.

The executive committee shall transact the business of the society generally, and shall appoint, annually, at their first quarterly meeting, a recording secretary and treasurer, fix their salaries, and require security from the treasurer, if they deem it necessary; shall superintend and direct the publicaton of such of the reports and transactions as they may deem proper, and shall designate the time aud places for annual exhibitions, regulate the expenditures, examine all accounts, and keep such general charge of the affairs of the society as may best promote its interests.

They shall select their own chairman, and meet quarterly, and at any other time when convened by the president; five members shall form a quorum.

They shall call special meetings of the society when necessary.

Annual meeting of the Society and Quorum.

SECTION 4. The Society shall meet, annually, on the third Wednesday of January, at Harrisburg, when all the officers of the society, not otherwise appointed, shall be elected by ballot for the ensuing year, and until another election. They shall also hold a general meeting at the time of the annual exhibition, and special meetings whenever convoked by the executive committee.

Fifteen members shall form a quorum for the transaction of business, but no member in arrears shall be entitled to the privileges of the Society.

Qualifications of Voters.

SECTION 5. No annual member, hereafter, shall be entitled to vote for the election of officers of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, unless he shall have been a member at the previous State fair, and in default of a State fair, then three months previous membership shall be necessary.

SECTION 6. No one shall be eligible to office hereafter who has not obtained a right to vote under section five.

Alteration.

SECTION 7. This constitution may be altered or amended at the annual meetings in January, by a vote of two thirds of the members in attend

ance.

19 AGRICULture.

LIFE MEMBERS.