r o o k The fociety confifts o f a prefident,- who is changed every
■— four months ; and o f an indefinite number o f members.
The candidate for admiffion muft bepropofed by three members,.
and ftands reje&ed or admitted by the majority o f - the
perfons prefent.
The fociety is chiefly fupported by the voluntary contributions
o f its members, many of whom are perfons o f the
firft diftindtion and fortune. Their number, in 178 1 ,
amounted to 179 .
The affembly meets regularly once in the week, when the
papers on agriculture and fimilar fubjedts are read ; -thofe
which are thought worthy o f publication are printed at the
emprefies expence, and the profits o f the fale are given'to
the fociety. The work is fold at a very low price; and
twelve copies are forwarded gratis to the governors o f each
province, in order to be diftributed in the feveral governments.
The Tranfa&ions are either written or-tranflated
into the Ruffian language, and are printed in odlavo. The
original title was “ Treatifes o f the (Economical Society,”
which confift o f 30 parts, in ten volumes. The firft
part was put forth in 176 5 , and the laft in 17 7 5 . The
title has fince been altered into “ Continuation o f the Trea-
“ tifes,” & c . and the work, inftead o f being publiffied three
times in the year, pomes out only occafionally. Since this
alteration the firft volume made its appearance in 176 9, and
the fecond in 1780 ®,
This fociety gives annual prizes, confiding o f gold and
filver medals, or money, fometimes to the amount of ¿ 14 0 ,
* F o r an ac count o f this S o c ie ty , fee paflim ; and the A b h an d lun g en der F re v .
SGhmidt. s N a c h r ic h tv o n de r Freyen O e co n . G e f. o r the G e rm an T r a n f la t io n o f thefc
G e le ll s , in his Be ytra g e t Bachm. R u ff . B ib . T r a o la f iio u s .
to
tothebeftfolutions o f certain queftions relative to agriculture, ei!AP-
for difcovering improvements in huibandry, ike. . .
The emprefs, in the true fpirit o f this inftitution, fends
feveral young men into England, in order to ftudy practical
agriculture. They are chiefly recommended to Arthur
Younge, Efq; who has diftinguiihed himfelf by many excellent
works on various branches of huibandry; and who was
eledled in the moft honourable manner a member o f this
fociety.
Catharine likewife has lately formed an eftablifhment for
the improvement o f agriculture, which is as Angular in its
kind, as it is calculated to be highly beneficial to the country.
The defign was planned by Mr. Samborlki, a clergyman o f
great learning and abilities, whoftudied agriculture forfeveral
years in England ; and who accompanied the great-duke
during his late tour, that he might obferve the different
modes o f farming in the feveral countries through which
he paffed. The plan, which is now carrying into execution,
is as follows.
At Sophiik, about three quarters o f a mile from Sariko-
Selo, a farm o f a thoufand acres is provided with dwelling-
houfes, and other neceffary buildings. In this fpot Mr.
Samboriki, and the young men who have been educated
in England, are to be fettled. Every Ipecies o f huf-
bandry is to be introduced; and ledtures upon the theory
and practice o f agriculture are to be given. From each fe-
minary o f the empire two children o f priefts, who are likely
to fucceed their fathers in their benefices, are to be placed in
this rural eftablifhment, that they may render themfelves acquainted
with the oeconomy o f a fa rm ; and be able, in due
time, to inftrua their pariihioners. Any nobleman, who is
V o l . II. X defirous