man composer and writer on musical subjects, born at Soiau. Silesia. Kiom 1524 until his death he was cantor and musical director in the first Protestant school established at Mafgdeburg. His hooks are marked by a forceful style and ex- tensive knowledfje, and in his own day passed tliroujih numerous editions. He has been inaccurately credited with bavin-; been the first composer to reject tlic ancient "lal)lature," or system of musical notation. His writiufjs include: Municd Iiintninirnlalis (1")2!)), Mjtsica Figuralis Dcudxch (ir>:)'2), Ruilimcnta Musicci (1539), Qiicstinnes VHlijnriorcs in Musicam (1543), and other similar works.
AGRICOLA, RoDOLPiiL'S (properly Roelof
Hi is.l.x..N') (1443-85). An eminent Hutch hu-
manist, born at Hallo. He studied at the univer-
sities of l.uuvain and Paris and afterward in
Italy, and by his Latin stjle and his skill in dis-
putation attained high scholastic distinction.
For .some time he lectured on philology and phi-
losophy at Heidelberg. The most important of
his works is the Uc Invoilioiic Dinlrrtica, in
three books: but he is noteworthy less for his
writings than for his personal inlluence. He did
much to sul)stitute classical Latinity for medi-
tcval barbarisms, to difl'use in (Jermany the
knowledge of Greek; in short, to transmit be-
yond the Alps the spirit of the Halian renais-
sance of letters. Of theology, painting, and
iimsic he seems also to have known considerable.
His writings were collected by Alardus (Cologne,
2 vnlumes. 153!)). Consult: Trcsling, Vita ct
Merita Rddolpiti Ayri'^ola; (Groningen, 1830),
and Ihm, Oir Humanist Itudolf Aijricola, scin
l.vbvn and xrinr Schriflrn ( Paderborn, 1893).
AGRICUL'TURAL ANT. A species of
ant living on the semi-arid plains of Texas that
cultivates areas of grass about its dwelling. On
this cultivated space, which may have a diameter
of 10 to 15 feet, only luic kind of grass is allowed
to grow, and it is said that the seeds of this grass
arc even planted by the ants. Roads are laid
out radiating from the ant hill across the plain,
and all shoots of undesirable plants are ])romptly
nibbled off as rapidly as they appear among the
crops. When the harvest of the protected gi-ass
is ripe, the ants collect the seeds and convey them
along the r:idiatiug highways to the chambers in
the hill. Interesting ;uid wimderful as is the
economy of these aiils, the insects may. when the
colonies are large and numerous enough, do con-
siderable damage to the "rain fields in which the
moimds are reared and the clearings made. See
AxTS; Insects: and consult ^IcCook, Agricul-
tural Ant (,f Ti.ms (Phila(l<0|iliia. ISTO).
AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIA'TION. A voluntary association of farmers and other persons interested in agriculture, formed for the purpose of promoting a knowledge of agriculture. Great P.uit.mx. The movement began with
the organization of the Society of Improvers in
the Knowledge of Agriculture in Scotland, in
1723. by a company of landholders. This society
existed for more than twenty years and did mucii
valuable work. Its Hclrrt Trnnaartionx. collected
by Mr. Maxwell, were published in 1743. The
Bath and West of England Society was estab-
lished in 1777, and the Highbind Society in 1784.
The latter society aftcrwiird included in its
operations the whole of Scotland, and under the
namo of the Highland and Agi-ieult>iral Society
of Scotland has ever since continued its work
with increasing success and usefulness. Kor
many years its Prize Essays aiul Transactions
were published in connection with the Quarterly
Journal of Agriculture. In 1842 an Agiieultural
Chemistry Association was formed at Swanstonc,
near Edinburgh, which for several years con-
ducted investigations independently, but finally
merged in the Highland and Agricultural So-
ciety. The Highland Society now has a numer-
ous membership. Its large income is expended
in studying manures, feeding stulTs, seeds, jilants,
etc.; further, in holding annual shows of live
stock, implements, etc, at which largo prizes are
ollered, and, finally, in publishing an annual
volume of 'J'ransactions.
The Royal Agricultural Society of England,
founded in 1838, has been an imjjortant factor in
the development of British agriculture, and, in-
deed, has undertaken many duties which in other
countries are performed by the Government. This
society has at present more than 10,000 mem-
bers, holds an annual show of live stock, imple-
ments, and machinery, dairy and other jiroducts,
at which some £5000 (.$25,000) are distributed
in prizes. It issues a quarterly journal, con-
taining information on a great variety of agri-
cultural topics, retains the services of chemical,
botanical, zoiilogical, and veterinary experts for
advice to members, as well as for experiments
and research, maintains an experimental f:irm
at Woburn and a veterinary college at Camden
Town. London, and conducts in cooperation with
the Highland and -gricultural Society of .Scot-
land an annual e.xiiiiiination for a natiomil diplo-
ma in the science and juactice of agriculture.
Ikei.a.no. In Ireland the interests of .agriculture
- u'e juomoted liy a department of the Royal Dub-
lin Society, chartered in 1749, and other agricul- tural organizations. Agricultural societies are maintained also in (^inada, Australia, and other parts of the British Empire.
Uniteo States. In the United States the first society for promoting agriculture was established at l'hiladelpbi:i in 1785. In the same year a similar society was formed in South Carolina, to which the present State Agricultural Society of South Carolina traces its origin. The New York Society for the Promotion of Agiiculture, Arts, and Manufactures was organized in 1791 and published its first volume of Transactions in 1792. The Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture was incorporated in 1792 and began the publication of pamphlets on agi'icultural topics in 1797. Several other societies were organiz<'d prior to the beginning of the nineteenth century. This movement continued, until in 1S()9 we have the germ of a national organization in the Columbian Agricultural Society, formed in the District of Columbia. The holding of agricultural shows, or "fairs," was begin in the city of Washington in 1804, and was made a popular movement largely through the efforts of Elkanah Watson of Massachusetts, who, beginning with an exhibition of two imported nu'rino sheep on (he public square at Pittsfield. Mass.. in 1807. soon developed the more elalxuatc and ])i(turesquc "cattle shows." which for many years have been popular rural festivals, especially in New England. Shows of various sorts are now held in different parts of the country by numerous State, county, and other local and interstate associations. Societies for promoting
