SECRETARY'S REPORT. 21 



to secure its amendment, so as to enable the board to act effi- 

 ciently. It was also tbongiit, tliat tlie law under which the 

 county societies operated, was defective in several particulars, 

 and that the formation of a state society would greatly assist 

 agricultural improvement. 



In conformity with these views and purposes, the chief part 

 of the session was devoted to the maturing of bills in conformity 

 with the views of the board. These bills, three in number, were 

 framed and reported to the Joint Standing Committee of the 

 Legislature, on Agriculture. One, re-organizing the Board of 

 Agriculture; another, more fully defining the powers and duties 

 of agricultural and horticultural societies; and the third, incor- 

 porating the Maine State Agricultural Society. The consid- 

 eration of these bills consumed so much of the session, that 

 other topics could receive little consideration ; but the subject of 

 agricultural education was deemed of so much moment, that a 

 committee was appointed to report on the subject after the ad- 

 journment of the board. "^^ 



The legislative committee did not report the bills left with 

 them by the board, but framed one instead, combining portions 

 of the three, incorporating and endowing a State Agricultural 

 Society, an executive committee of which, was to transact all 

 its business, and also to have powers and duties proper to a 

 Board of Agriculture ; and also more fully prescribing the powers 

 and duties of the local societies. 



It must necessarily require no little skill to arrange the de- 

 tails of a bill so comprehensive as this, and grouping together 

 things so essentially distinct, that all its parts would work har- 

 moniously. Such did not prove to have been the case with this. 

 It was, however, enacted by the Legislature, doubtless with the 

 belief that it was substantially what was asked for. But upon 

 examination, it was found so objectionable, that the corporators, 

 upon assembling to discuss its adoption, only consented to do 

 so, as otherwise, (such were its provisions, all other legislation 

 upon the subject of agriculture being by this repealed, except the 

 acts incorporating the local societies,) all the operations then 

 active throughout the State would cease. 



*See Appendix B. 



