120 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



With regard to the internal organization of the Board, and 

 its plan of operations, there is no doubt that some advantageous 

 changes may be made. Hitherto the whole business of the 

 Board has been thrown upon the secretary, in such a way as to 

 encumber him, and leave the Board ignorant in many respects 

 of the work in which it is engaged. 



From the tenor of the fifth section of the Act establishing 

 the Board, it was evidently anticipated that property would 

 pass into its hands either by donation, or bequest, or other- 

 wise, to be used for tlie purposes of agricultural education, or 

 the general interests of husbandry. Although no such state 

 of things exists, still there are annual appropriations made for 

 defraying the expenses of the Board, and to carry out such 

 objects as they may recommend. It would seem proper there- 

 fore that a finance committee should be appointed, under whose 

 supervision the appropriations should be expended, and. who 

 should recommend objects for which appropriations should be 

 made ; and that this committee should, through the secretary, 

 make an annual report to the Board. 



Tiie library and museum have become extensive and valuable ; 

 and it would appear necessary that a committee should be 

 aj)pointed to aid the secretary in making an annual report 

 of their condition, and to establish a system of exchanges of 

 reports and documents with other societies, for the benefit of 

 the members of the Board and of the societies which they 

 represent. 



A full report from the secretary with regard to the business 

 of the department, would be very valuable, if made annually ; 

 and we would recommend that this be required ; and that at the 

 close of each session of tlie Board, the action and discussion of 

 the meeting as reported by the secretary, be revised by a com- 

 mittee for the purposes of publication, with the understanding 

 that all reports and votes be published m full, with as much of 

 the debate which led to their adoption as possible. 



The committee would recommend that the Board hold but 

 one meeting annually, in Boston, commencing on Thursday of 

 the week previous to the first Wednesday of February, and 

 continuing to said Wednesday, at which time the new members 

 take their seats, and tlic Board can be organized, committees 

 ap])ointcd, reports finished, delegates appointed, and the business 



