16 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



great value. Among these questions was No. 18, "Value 

 of garden crops raised by you, and used in your family, less 

 all money expenditures on account of the same." The 

 answer to this question showed that the average net value 

 of garden products, gathered by the class to whom the 

 inquiry was directed, was $21 to each male. In Norfolk 

 County it rose to $32.70 for each male. Since 1875, the date 

 of the last census, gardening and fruit-culture by laboring 

 jDeople has largely increased. 



Some of the finest exhibitions, at the fairs of the past 

 season, of vegetables, fruits, and flowers, were made by 

 people who do day's work in mills. 



The luxury and extravagance of wealth got by specula- 

 tion is not satisfied unless it produces June in Januarj^, and 

 there is great demand for winter fruit and vegetables in 

 New York that is largely supplied by the skilful gardeners 

 of Massachusetts. 



The finest rosebuds, grapes, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, 

 etc., are supplied from our hot-houses. There is room for 

 extension of this business in the growinsj of edible funcri, 

 now largely imported from France, and grown to a limited 

 extent by the gardeners of New Jersey. 



SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD. 



The Board met at the office of the secretary in Boston, 

 Aug. 25, 1880, at twelve o'clock, having been called together 

 b}'' order of the executive committee. 



Hon. jNIarshall P. Wilder, chairman of the committee, 

 in the chair. 



Present : Messrs Baker, Bowditch, Brown, Demond, Glea- 

 son, Goessmann, Grinnell, Hadwen, Hersey, Lane, Lynde, 

 Macy, Mayhew, Moore, Nichols, Perkins, Slade, Taft, Wake- 

 field, Ware, Warner, Wheeler, and Wilder. 



The chairman made a statement of the object of the meet- 

 ing, and read the following communication from the secre- 

 tary : — 



State Board of AGRicaLTURE^, 

 Boston, Junel, 1880. 

 Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, 



Chairman of the Executive Committee. 



Dear Sir, — I hereby place my resignation of the position as secretary 

 of the State Board of Agriculture in the hands of the executive com- 



