SECRETARY'S REPORT. 59 



A request by the Secretary, made in the early part of the session, 

 for advice or instructions from the Board giving special direction 

 to his labors during the current season, resulted in the adoption of 

 the following : 



Whereas, It is the province of this Board to determine the duties of its 

 Secretary, and 



Whereas, Large importations of dairy products, especially of cheese, are 

 annually made into the State, while, as we believe, if suitable attention were 

 given to the subject, and adequate knowledge and skill obtained and applied, 

 butter and cheese might be made profitable articles of export from the State, 

 therefore be it 



Resolved, That in addition to the duties imposed by law and by the former 

 votes of the Board, the Secretary be instructed to inquire into the capabilities 

 of Maine in this respect; to investigate the principles involved in, and the 

 best methods of manufacturing dairy products, particularly cheese, and to 

 present the results obtained in his next Annual Report. 



The Board finally adjourned on the 28th January, after a session 

 of peculiar interest. As the President happily remarked in his 

 response to a complimentary vote at its close, " The session has 

 been one of unusual interest and importance, because not only has 

 the general advancement of agriculture claimed our attention, but 

 we have been called upon to consider the special duties of farmers, 

 a& the great producing class, in view of the crisis now upon us ; 

 and it is hoped that the suggestions emanating from this Board 

 may serve to arouse farmers to renewed vigilance in their occupa- 

 tion, and thus prepare our State to pass safely through this time 

 of calamity without a visitation of war's twin-sister, famine. As 

 we go home to our several constituencies, let it be our aim, by our 

 words and by our example, to secure the production of the largest 

 amount of life-sustaining material which the hands left at home 

 from the war, and the soil of our State, are capable of producing. 



In our anxiety for great public interests, let us not forget 

 that the aggregate of good which each one of us may accomplish 

 in this life is not so much made up of a few brilliant thoughts and 

 deeds, as of the many little acts of kindness and words of encour- 

 agement which we may give to those with whom we have daily 

 intercourse." 



