PREFACE 



It will be recollected that the publication of the Reports of the 

 Scientific Survey last year swelled our annual volume beyond its 

 usual size ; for which reason the "Abstract of Returns" therewith 

 presented was confined mainly to a tabular statement of the finan- 

 cial condition and operations of the several Agricultural Societies. 

 As no appropriation was made for the continuance of the Survey 

 the present year, it was suspended, and consequently no such 

 reason prevents the presentation of a considerable amount of mat- 

 ter received from these Societies at the present time. 



In view, however, of the fact that by far the greater amount of 

 the matter so returned to this office is of minor and frequently of 

 merely local interest, it has been thought best to supply the place 

 of some of it with papers of greater value from other sources, which 

 would not otherwise be accessible to the farmers of the State. 

 Accordingly, and to a limited extent, substitution has been made, 

 and the papers thus presented are commended to the careful 

 perusal of all who seek for knowledge regarding this greatest of 

 the material interests of the State and who desire to aid in its more 

 rapid progress. 



