SECRETARY'S REPORT. 15 



in many instances, destroyed, by an insect whose ravages were 

 extensive. 



The culture of Indian corn fell at once into disrepute, as an 

 uncertain crop, and it was only by slow deg-rees that it came 

 again to be a favorite of the farmer. Gradually, however, 

 things began to assume a brighter aspect. As an evidence of 

 the progress which has since been made, it is only necessary 

 to allude to the number of acres of waste and unimproved 

 lands, in all parts of the State, which have been reclaimed to 

 fruitfulness and beauty ; to the many noble farms whose pro- 

 ducts have been doul)lcd and trebled; to the comparative 

 freedom from mortgages in the country ; and to the evidence, 

 now everywhere seen, of the enterprise, the energy and intel- 

 ligence of the people. If the rate of progress, indicated by a 

 comparison of the returns of 1840 and of 1850, should con- 

 tinue, it would take but little more than thirty years to bring 

 all our waste lands capable of improvement, under some degree 

 of cultivation. Prol)ably for each year in the future, we may 

 calculate on an advance equal to that of any one former year, 

 on account of the increasing population and wants of the State, 

 and the continually growing interest felt in the subject. The 

 conviction is fast gaining strength, that these lands, many of 

 which are low, wet swamps, will be more profitable than any 

 other in the State. To this marked progress, the agricultural 

 societies have, undoubtedly, largely contributed. The older 

 societies have already been alluded to. The Bristol Society 

 was incorporated in 1823, tlie Barnstable and the Hampden 

 in 1844, the Housatonic in 1848, the Norfolk in 1849, the 

 Hampshire and the Franklin in 1850, and the Worcester West 

 in 1851. 



In 1852, the Board of Agriculture was established, by an 

 Act which provided that " All the duties of the Secretary of 

 the Commonwealth, relating to returns of Agricultural Socie- 

 ties, shall be performed by the Secretary of the Board of Ag- 

 riculture." 



A Secretary was appointed in January, 1853, who entered 

 upon his duties in the course of the February following. 

 Though he had long been familiar with the details of practical 

 farming, the duties of the office were, for the most part, new, 



