PIRST ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



SECRETAEY 



Oy THB 



BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Common- 

 wealth of Massachusetts : 



I propose, in my first Report, to review the past and present 

 condition of the Agriculture of Massachusetts. The past will 

 be found, it is thought, full of interest and instruction; the 

 present, full of encouragement and hope. The discussion of 

 special subjects will be left to a future occasion, with the 

 exception of such suggestions as seem to spring naturally from 

 the facts stated. This seems, indeed, to be the only course 

 which can be pursued. Previous to the organization of the 

 present Board, there has been no permanent department or 

 public officer, whose special duty it was to collect the facts 

 necessary for the guidance of the Legislature, and the vari- 

 ous societies in their efforts to advance the cause of Agri- 

 culture among us. The principal object of the Board, during 

 the past year, has accordingly been to procure the desired 

 information. It is these doings, which I now have the honor 

 to report for your consideration. 



We cannot, without some little reflection, make full allow- 

 ance for the difficulties which surrounded the early settlers of 

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