6n agricultural societies.

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CHAP. XVIII.

ON THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES OF SCOTLAND .

BY THE REV ROBERT RENNIE, D. B.

MINISTER OF KIESYTH.

It is proposed, in this Chapter, to give some account of,1. The origin and progress of the agricultural societies firstestablished in Scotland ; 2. The number that now exist inthat part of the united kingdom ; 3. The objects for whichthey have been formed ; 4. The rules they have adopted;5. The advantages that result from them; and, 6. To sug-gest a few hints for their farther improvement.

SECT. I.

ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIE-TIES FIRST ESTABLISHED IN SCOTLAND .

w hile the attention of the Scotch nation was occupiedwith the feuds of the clans, and wars with England, it is notsurprising that cultivation was neglected, and that no agri-cultural societies were formed. Nor was it till the union ofthe two kingdoms in 1707, when the produce of the soil wasno longer exposed to domestic incursions, or foreign inva-sion, that agriculture came to, be generally regarded as thegreat source of national prosperity.