258 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



At a later date, " An Act to encourage the production of Silk." 

 In 1852 the State Board of Agriculture was established, which 

 now consists of the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of 

 state and the president of the Massachusetts Agricultural Col- 

 lege, who are members ex-officio, and also one member chosen 

 by each of the agricultural societies in the Commonwealth 

 receiving State bounty, and three members who are appointed 

 by the governor and council ; in all thirty-three members 

 besides their Secretary. 



Our agricultural societies are doing much to elevate the sys- 

 tem of agriculture. The annual gatherings of farmers, when 

 their choicest animals are brought together for the inspection of 

 brother farmers, tends to make the annual cattle show the most 

 improving of any day of the year. Farmers learn by sight and 

 comparison. Many a farmer, after attending one of these 

 autumnal exhibitions, has been led to make new resolves, to 

 turn over new leaves, to exert himself, that he may compete 

 with his neighbors in rendering the show more attractive, and 

 thereby lie himself is elevated ; he is induced to think and 

 investigate, and instead of a mere machine he becomes a 

 reasoning being, and capable of giving information to others. 



How our agricultural fairs may be conducted so as to render 

 them of the greatest practical benefit to those for whom they 

 are instituted, is a subject which may well engross our attention. 

 In this State there are twenty-five incorporated societies which 

 hold annual fairs, and in each nearly the same routine is gone 

 through with, differing, of course, as customs and habits in one 

 section of the State may differ from those of another. The 

 most of these societies are the owners of a tract of ground, which 

 is enclosed by a high and tight board-fence. The exhibition is 

 made of all kinds of farm-stock and of agricultural implements. 

 A hall, set apart for the purpose, is filled with grains, seeds, veg- 

 etables, fruits, field products, mechanic and the fancy arts, both 

 ornamental and useful, and every variety of manufacture, which 

 is the product of home industry. It is customary, also, to invite 

 some distinguished learned gentleman from abroad to give an 

 address upon some agricultural subject. 



Now this is all very well, and is the source of profit to a large 

 class of the agricultural community. Farmers, as a class, do 

 not have holidays enough ; do not spend time enough in relaxa- 



