SECRETARY'S REPORT. ' 95 



and gain time, invented new machines. But mkid has not yet 

 fallen asleep, nor has genius exhausted its creative power, and 

 the future must show even more improvement than has been 

 seen in the past. Thus agriculture may rise by rapid steps to 

 the dignity of a science, seeking the means of obtaining animal 

 and vegetable products for the support of man, in the most 

 perfect and economical manner. 



We cannot hope to avoid labor ; but to make labor attractive, 

 agreeable and productive, to bring into subjection the rude 

 forces of nature, and make them do our bidding and increase 

 our stores, to redeem thousands of acres, now lying waste, from 

 wildness and desolation, and to make our country the granary 

 of the world, — these are triumphs we may hope to gain from 

 the introduction and use of improved machinery ; and in this 

 view the subject commends itself to the attention of the highest 

 intellect, and opens a field for the labors of the noblest philan- 

 throphy. 



It will be remembered that one of the original objects of the 

 enlargement of the State House was to obtain space for an agri- 

 cultural museum, in connection with the office of the Secretary 

 of the Board. It is intended that models of farm implements, 

 illustrating the past and present history of this department of 

 husbandry, shall be exhibited here under the most favorable 

 circumstances. The collection is to include, also, models of 

 the fruits of New England, and specimens of all the varieties of 

 grasses, together with a statement of the botanical and proper 

 names of each, the name by which it is known in different 

 localities, the soil in which it flourishes best, and other items of 

 information important or interesting to the cultivator ; speci- 

 mens of all the grains and remarkable vegetable productions 

 calculated to illustrate an improved condition of rural econo- 

 my, and of all the soils of the State, collected dviring the late 

 geological survey, all the mineralogical and geological speci- 

 mens, and all the birds, with the means of studying the charac- 

 ter and habits of each variety ; in short, it is designed to make 

 the collection as perfect and useful as possible. 



Increased facilities will also be provided for the distribution 

 of valuable seeds. During the past year many thousand pack- 

 ages of seeds of many different varieties have been distributed 



