10 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Cambridge, a tract of land for a rural cemetery and experi- 

 mental garden. It seems somewhat odd in these days that 

 these two very different objects should have been linked 

 together. It came about from the fact that many of the same 

 gentlemen who were interested in the society were deeply 

 interested in the project for a rural cemetery. Up to that 

 time people were buried either under the churches or in the 

 small congested burying grounds in the city. There were 

 many unpleasant thoughts connected with burial in such 

 places. The purchase was made in 1831, and for four years 

 the garden and the burying ground were kept together, but in 

 1835 they found it was not a practical arrangement, and the 

 society conveyed the land to the lot owners, who were incor- 

 porated by an act of the Legislature. That ended the further 

 efforts of the society to conduct an experimental garden. But 

 under the agreement of separation the society was to receive 

 one-fourth of the proceeds of sales of land after deducting 

 $1,400, the superintendent's salary, and that has proved one 

 of the most constant and satisfactory sources of revenue to 

 this time. I mention this as showing how important it is for a 

 society of this kind to be progressive. 



We are glad that our building will serve as the meeting 

 place for your Board for the next three days. We place at 

 your disposal the use of our library, one of the best of its 

 kind in the world. 



Many of our members will undoubtedly take this oppor- 

 tunity to listen to your lectures and conferences, most of which 

 are on subjects for which this society is working. 



In closing let me take this opportunity to call your atten- 

 tion to our large exhibition which we are planning for next 

 May. We are offering a number of special prizes, and expect 

 a very large display. We are going to try the experiment of 

 having one or two shows each year on a much more extensive 

 scale than the others. Speak of it to your horticultural friends 

 and do all you can to make it a success. 



Mr. W. P. Rich. I would like to add that that was the 

 main object of the establishment of this society in 1829. 

 Every record refers to a proposed experimental garden in 



