SECRETARY'S REPORT. 115 



The committee appointed to consider the subject presented 

 the following 



REPORT 



ON MARKET DAYS. 



The committee of the Board of Agriculture appointed for 

 the purpose of encouraging the institution of " Markets " 

 throughout the State, have the honor to report, that, in accord- 

 ance with the recommendations of the Board, expressed in their 

 votojs, your committee distributed the following circular: — 



At a late meeting of the Board of Agriculture it was 



Voted, That this Board recognizes the great importance of establish- 

 ing frequent Markets or Fairs for the sale of agricultural products. 



Voted, That the subject be brought before the county agricultural 

 societies, with the request that they will take early steps for the establish- 

 ment of markets within their respective districts. 



Voted, That the secretary communicate the above to the several agri- 

 cultural societies. 



This Board, recognizing the importance of establishing frequent 

 markets throughout the Commonwealth for the sale of agricultural pro- 

 ducts, have appointed the undersigned a committee, for the purpose of 

 securing the united action of those interested in the subject towards the 

 attainment of this object. By a vote of the Board, which is herewith 

 submitted, the county agricultural societies are invited to take such action 

 as will forward this important movement within their several neighbor- 

 hoods. So important, however, does it seem to the undersigned to secure 

 an early accomplishment of this measure, that, not contenting themselves 

 with forwarding these resolutions, they have presumed to accompany 

 them, with a few comments which they deem to be pertinent to the occa- 

 sion. They likewise invite your attention to the prize essay, by Mr. 

 Allen W. Dodge, in which the whole subject is fully and ably discussed ; 

 and they hope, by thus spreading the whole matter before you, that it will 

 receive your earnest and thoughtful consideration. 



Unlike most projects of amelioration and improvement, this involve- 

 no expense, and no working system or machinery requiring money or 

 time to put it in operation, and but little change in the existing order of 

 things. It amounts simply to this — that the farmers of a neighborhood, 

 larger or smaller in extent, according to circumstances, shall agree to 

 meet together on certain days, and at a certain place, for the disposal of 

 their agricultural products; — that instead of peddling them out as they 



