78 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



fully satisfied so far as known, that the farm was judiciously and 

 properly managed.* It was also said by those who had never 

 spent an hour on the farm, and did not know what they asserted, 

 that the Board were extravagant in their expenditure. This 

 assertion was based on the cost of a certain building commonly 

 called a piggery. The building called the piggery, cost a little 

 over two thousand dollars. It was built in 1854, when lumber 

 and labor were exceedingly high, and on that account did ac- 

 tually cost some two or three hundred dollars more than it 

 woTild have in any ordinary year. But what is it ? It is a 

 slaughter house, a store house, and a piggery combined. Nearly 

 all the beef and pork for the institution is slaughtered there, 

 and it was connected with the piggery for the sake of economy 



* It must be evident that the Board of Agriculture can have no personal or 

 interested motives in the management of the farm, since they arc not paid 

 even for the time and labor they devote to it. Whatever appropriation is 

 made, is devoted exclusively to the uses and improvements of the farm, and 

 these improvements are for the permanent advantage and benefit of the State. 

 The confidence of the trustees of the State Reform School in the present 

 management is expressed in the following " memorial " prepared and presented 

 to the late legislature, ^vithout the solicitation, but in aid of the petition of the 

 Board of Agriculture, for the usual appropriation. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assemUed : 



Tlie subscribers, Trustees of the State Reform School for Boys, respectfully 

 represent that two years have elapsed since the State Farm at Westboro' •was, 

 by authority of the legislature, transferred to the State Board of Agriculture : 

 that the two Boards have acted in entire harmony : that the farm is better 

 cared for by the Board of Agriculture than it could be by any board of trus- 

 tees not appointed with special reference to their interest in agriculture : that 

 the charge of the farm, in addition to the care of this large institution, could 

 not conveniently or reasonably be assumed by the trustees : and in our judg- 

 ment, the sum annually appropriated for the farm will be more judiciously ex- 

 pended by the Board of Agriculture, than by the trustees : and we respectfully 

 pray that the appropriation asked for by the Board of Agriculture may be 

 granted. 



And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray. 



(Signed) J. H. W. PAGE. 



GARDINER IIOWLAND SHAW. 

 HARVEY DODGE. 

 THOS. A. GREEN. 

 HENRY AV. CUSHMAN. 

 JOHN A. FITCH. 

 PARLEY HAMMOND. 

 Westboro', April 8, 1856. 



