RErORT. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives : 



Prominent among the duties of my office, is that of annually 

 submitting a report, in part* embodying ''such recommendations 

 and suggestions as the interests of agriculture may be deemed to 

 require." In the one which I had the honor to submit to you last 

 year, after remarking upon the importance of agriculture, sketching 

 the history of early efforts and of legislation in its behalf, and 

 noticing some of its wants, the attempt was made to treat of its 

 present condition and prospects among us. 



In viewing my field of labor for the present year, two paths 

 seemed to invite attention ; the one regarding the improvement of 

 agriculture as it exists in the older parts of the State, the other 

 having to do with the development of the agricultural resources and 

 capabilities of such portions 'as are not yet settled. Of the urgent 

 necessity of the former there can be no doubt, and equally certain 

 is it, that such was the principal end aimed at in the establishment of 

 this Board ; yet in view of the fact that the State is possessed of a 

 large extent of what is almost .an unbroken wilderness, portions of 

 which are reported to be rich and fertile in a high degree, but of 

 which very little definite and reliable information seems to be gen- 

 erally diffused among our citizens, and of one of the signs of the 

 times, to wit; that the tide of emigration westward, which for years 

 past has operated so disastrously in draining our State of brains, 

 money and muscles, is now partially stayed, and so a favorable 



* The report of the doings of the Board at its last session, January, 1857, and 

 which is also required, was prepared in season to be printed in connection with the 

 " Abstract of Returns" from the various agricultural societies in the State for 1856, 

 which returns were received by me in December preceding, and it is consequently 

 omitted here. 



