REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 377 



adoption of which we may hope to obtain more valuable results ? 

 It seems to me that tiiere may be. Tlic course at present 

 pursued, when viewed in all its relations, cannot be so near 

 perfection as not to be susceptible of improvement. Such an 

 idea is not consistent with our views of agricultural progress. 

 I believe that the most earnest consideration of this Board is 

 demanded in connection with this subject. The Board of Agri- 

 culture is in a high degree the source from which we should 

 expect agricultural ideas to emanate. It should be active to 

 originate and give direction to methodical investigation, that 

 united labor throughout its jurisdiction may be directed to some 

 valuable end, and not individually frittered away without any 

 useful purpose. Being made up of representatives from all the 

 agricultural societies in the Commonwealth, it should know and 

 appreciate the various conditions, needs and capacities of all, 

 and by its combined wisdom, legislate, so far as it has the power, 

 for the best interests of agriculture in its connection with all. 

 It is a subject for serious inquiry, whether, with all the means 

 at command through the liberality of the Commonwealth and 

 otherwise, the results of to-day are as nearly equivalent to its 

 expenditure as they might be made. I would not be under- 

 stood as undervaluing past results, but I would urge a more 

 earnest and thoughtful pressing forward in the future, that we 

 may not remain stationary while the world around us moves 

 onward. 



Jabez Fisher. 



MIDDLESEX SOUTH. 



In the discharge of my duty as delegate of the State Board 

 of Agriculture, I attended the annual exhibition and cattle 

 show of the Middlesex South Society, at Framingham, on 

 Tuesday and Wednesday the 23d and 24th of September. The 

 eleven towns embraced within the limits of this society are of a 

 diversified soil, but as a whole, probably better adapted to. 

 grazing than any other pursuit. The farmers, to some extent, 

 are engaged in market gardening and the production of milk, 

 and all the varied pursuits of husbandry are in a prosperous. 



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