The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, 1785-1955

BY
STEVENSON WHITCOMB FLETCHER
Dean Emeritus, College of Agriculture
The Pennsylvania State University
REVISED EDITION

Excerpted Foreword:

The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture is the oldest and, as measured by the importance of its contributions, the most noted of American agricultural societies. For seventy years, from 1785 to 1855, it was the fountainhead of progress in agriculture in Pennsylvania and, to a large extent, in the nation. The origin or promotion of some of the most epochal developments in American agriculture, such as the rotation of crops and more general concern about the maintenance of soil fertility, may be traced to the activities of the little band of gentlemen farmers who comprised the Society. In addition to its important contributions to the improvement of farm practice, it was chiefly instrumental in the organization of many other agricultural societies and public agencies for the promotion of agricultural education and research some of which, as The Pennsylvania State University, serve agriculture to this day. After the lapse of nearly two centuries the Society still serves the interests of the farmer in honorable distinction.

State College, Pa.,
March 17, 1955

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