SECRETARY'S REPORT. 25 



"A similar report of all the above items, except the nature of tlie soil, 

 will be made in 18G1, and in 18G2, when the premiums will be awarded 

 No manure is to be applied to the second and third crop." 



" Voted, That the Secretary of the 'Board be re(|uested to notify the 

 several societies of the above as soon as convenient ; and that the 

 societies be requested to offer premiums which will secure an adequate 

 compensation for the time and labor consumed in the experiment." 



1 hereby notify your society of the above vote. Evidence of a com- 

 pliance with it will be required before I shall feel authorized to draw a 

 certificate for the bounty to any society. 



One of the greatest obstacles in the way of agricultural progress is 

 the difficulty of obtaining reliable facts and statistics as a basis upon 

 which to establish principles and construct theories. As a general rule, 

 theories are first advanced, and then isolated facts are brought forward 

 for the purpose of proving their truthfulness. It is true that agriculture 

 is not, in the usual sense of the term, and probably never will become, 

 one of the exact sciences ; yet there are many things connected with it 

 which ought to be taken out of the region of conjecture, and placed, by 

 repeated and multiplied experiment, upon a more substantial basis. A 

 single fact or experiment may be of only trifling value in itself con- 

 sidered, but when added to scores or hundreds of others, the whole 

 collectively may elucidate a doubtful point, or settle a vexed question. 



With these considerations in view, the Board asks and requires the 

 attention of every society in the State, to render any aid in the solution 

 of the question here considered, and to act in concert with them, and 

 with each other, in such a way as to give to the result the greatest 

 possible practical and scientific value. I would suggest that the rotation 

 be limited to corn, grain and grass. 



Allow me to call your attention to the Act of 1859, ch. 232, sections 

 1, 2 and 3, and especially to sections 4 and 5, authorizing the Board to 

 make the above requirement, and the penalty of a disregard of^ or a 

 failure to comply with it. 



I would simply suggest that premiums of $25, $20, and $15, have 

 been offered by some of the societies, and that it is desirable that no 

 offers should be smaller than these amounts, as the object above indicated 

 is to induce a multiplicity of experiments. 

 Very truly, your obedient servant, 



Charles L. Flint, Secretary State Board of Agricidture. 



To the Secretary of the Society. 



In response to the offers of premiums required in the circular, 

 and more particularly in response to liberal offers made by the 

 Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, covering and 

 4 



