18 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



18. Xorth Franklin Agricultaral Societj% incorporated 1852. 



19. North Penobscot " " " 1852. 



20. Penobscot and Aroostook Union Agricultural Society, 



incorporated 1853, 



21. Piscataquis Central Agricultural Society, incorporated 1853. 



22. South Kennebec " " " 1853. 



23. Sagadahoc County " " " 1853. 



24. West Penobscot " " " 1855. 



25. Maine State " " " 1855. 



26. North Somerset " " " 1356. 



The act of 1832 remained in force, Tritliout any raaterial 

 amendments, up to 1852, a period of twenty years. This la-w^ 

 though defective in some points, was a very important step in 

 advance, and has been productive of immense good to the State. 

 But it would have accomplished more, had the provisions 

 been complied with, in regard to the printing and distribution 

 of public documents. The following is the law in relation to 

 this matter : 



"Sect. 5. Such society shall be held to apply to some or all of 

 the purposes, mentioned in the preceding section, a sum, in each year, 

 equal at least to that received from the state ; and shall, annually in 

 the month of January, transmit to the secretary of state an official 

 statement of its expenditures, expressing the object for Avhich premiums 

 have been awarded, and to whom paid, accompanied by such general 

 observations as may be deemed useful. 



Sect. 8. The secretary of state shall, annually on or before the 

 first day of February, lay said official statements before the legisla- 

 ture, to be submitted to a committee on agriculture, who may publish 

 extracts therefrom, and such essays, relative to the subject, as they 

 may think adapted to the advancement of agriculture and horticul- 

 ture ; and the legislature may cause a suitable number of copies to be 

 distributed." 



In conformity with this provision, the several agricultural 

 societies annually made returns to the secretary of state. He 

 duly transmitted the same to the Legislature, and they were by 

 this body referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Agricul- 

 ture. But in no single instance does it appear that any article 

 or document was published, or prepared, embracing the sub- 

 stance of those reports ; nor does it appear that they were even 

 cared for suflBciently to be returned to the secretary's office for 



