xxiv 150ARD OF AGRICULTUKE. [Jan.'OO. 



essays presented were upon important topics, were al)ly 

 written and were well received. 



The death during the past year of two of our oldest and 

 most valued members, Avery P. Slade and Dr. James P. 

 Lynde, was noticed by suitable resolutions, which will be 

 found })rintcd with the records of the annual meeting. 



In accordance with an act of the Legislature, the report 

 of the State Experiment Station is bound with the report of 

 the secretary of the Board of Agriculture. This report is 

 increasing in size from year to year, and consequently 

 increases the size of the "Agriculture of Massachusetts." 

 This volume should include all annual publications author- 

 ized by State authority which pertain to agriculture. The 

 report of the trustees of the Agricultural College and the 

 report of the Hatch Experiment Station are of interest to 

 the agriculturists of the Commonwealth, and are as worthy 

 a place in the annual volume as are the report of the Cattle 

 Commissioners and the report of the State Experiment 

 Station. It is inexpedient to include all in one volume, and 

 I would rcconniiend to the Legislature that the statutes be 

 so amended as to authorize including all these reports with 

 the report of the secretary of the Board of Agriculture, and 

 that the whole be bound in two volumes. 



In view of the fact that the value of agricultural literature 

 to the farmers depends largely upon its coming to hand 

 during the winter season of leisure, I desire to suggest to 

 the Legislature and the Board of Agriculture, the propriety 

 of chaniring the time of the annual meeting of the Board 

 from the first week in February to a date. early in January. 

 This change would enable the secretary to issue his report 

 from two to three weeks earlier in the season than is now 

 possible. 



WILLIAM R. SESSIONS, 



Sccrclaru of the State Boai'd of Agriculture. 

 Boston, Februaiy, 1890. 



