8 ' BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



be obtained in one year or two ; but rather that by a series of ex- 

 periments, skilfully and carefully conducted through a series of 

 years, facts would be arrived at which would be of permanent 

 value, so far as they might extend, to the science of agriculture. 

 Nor could the expenses of the farm proper be kept within the 

 limits of ordinary farm expenses. In order to carry out the 

 benevolent objects of the institution a large number of ])oys must 

 be employed and be taught, so far as practicable, all the details 

 of farm labor. To do this properly, required a much greater 

 numl^er of men than would have been necessary under other 

 circumstances ; and these men must' be of a better class, and 

 receive higher wages than in ordinary cases. During the past 

 summer, for instance, no less than thirteen men have been 

 needed, and during a large part of the time, one hundred and 

 fifty boys from the school have daily been furnished with work. 

 The average number of boys per day for the season has been 

 eighty-four. 



Moreover, the farm, when it came into the hands of the 

 Board, was not in a condition to do credit to the institution or 

 to the State. Many permanent improvements were needed, 

 involving a very considerable outlay. These improvements 

 were equally necessary, whether the farm was to be managed 

 by the Board or by the Trustees, and must have been made in 

 any event. Out of the amount appropriated last winter for the 

 expenses of the farm no less than $3,349.10 have been spent on 

 permanent improvements, such as clearing land of stone, 

 trenching, building reservoir, etc., tlie details of which will be 

 found in the report of the Committee oh Improvements and in 

 the Appendix, to which reference is respectfully made. 



But the expenses of the farm under its present management 

 are no greater than they would be under the former, or any 

 other arrangement. It always has been, is, and must hereafter 

 be, managed at the expense of the State. The State furnishes 

 the labor, to some extent, from the inmates of the school ; but 

 the inmates of the school consume the products as intimated 

 above. The members of the Board are not paid for their ser- 

 vices nor for the time they devote to the superintendence of 

 the farm — to the sacrifice, often, of their personal interests — 

 only their necessary incidental expenses being allowed. The 

 Board, moreover, constituted as it is, in a great measure, of 



