APPENDIX. 



General Statutes relating to Agriculture. — The following 

 are believed to comprise all the newly revised laws that especially and 

 directly affect the interests of agriculture, or the farmer's rights of prop- 

 erty. These statutes take effect from and after May 31, 18G0. 



CHAPTER 16. 



OF THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Section 1. The governor, lieutenant-governor, and secretary of the 

 Commonwealth, one person appointed from and by each agricultural 

 society which receives an annual bounty from the state, and three other 

 persons appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the 

 council, shall constitute the state board of agriculture. 



Sect. 2. One-third of the appointed members of the board shall 

 retire from office on the first Wednesday of February in each year, 

 according to their appointments. The vacancies thus occurring shall be 

 filled by the governor and council, or the agricultural societies, as the 

 offices were before filled, and the persons thus appointed shall hold their 

 offices for three years from the expiration of the former terms. Other 

 vacancies may be filled in the same manner for the remainder of the 

 vacant terms. The present members of the board shall continue to hold 

 their offices during the terms for which they are appointed. 



Sect. 3. The board shall meet at the state house at least once in 

 each year, and as much oftener as may be deemed expedient. No 

 member thereof shall receive compensation from the state, except for 

 personal expenses when engaged in the duties of the board. 



Sect. 4. They may appoint and prescribe the duties of a secretary 

 of the board, who shall receive a salary of two thousand dollars a year ; 

 and who at such times as the board approve may employ a clerk at a 

 salary not exceeding six hundred dollars a year. 



Sect. 5. They shall investigate such subjects relating to improve- 

 ment in agriculture in this state as they think proper, and may take, 

 hold in trust, and exercise control over, donations or bequests made to 

 them, for promoting agricultural education, or the general interests of 

 husbandry. 



Sect. 6. They may prescribe forms for and regulate the returns 

 required of the different agricultural societies, and furnish to the secre- 

 tary of each, such blanks as they deem necessary to secure uniform and 

 reliable statistics. 



