92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Stockbridge, from the Comnaitte on the Library, submit- 

 ted the following 



REPORT: 



Througli the influence of the Secretary of this Board, an 

 appropriation of two thousand dollars was made ten years ago 

 by the legislature, for the purpose of establishing an agricul- 

 tural library, and collecting models of fruits, chiefly for the 

 use of this office. That appropriation was soon expended by 

 him for the object designed, since which time all additions to 

 the library have been made by exchanges and donations. It 

 now contains nine hundred and thirty-two volumes, three hun- 

 dred and fifty-two having been added since the last catalogue 

 was printed. Although great care has been exercised, and the 

 most judicious selections have been made, until we have one 

 of the best agricultural libraries in the country, yet, it is 

 altogether too meagre, and not up to the times, or in keeping 

 "with the important business of this office and the board. More 

 books are needed on the various topics of natural history, and 

 sheep-husbandry. A new catalogue should be prepared and 

 printed. New cases should be provided, or the old ones 

 repaired and provided with glass doors for the better preserva- 

 tion of the books. For these purposes, an appropriation by 

 the legislature is mucli needed, but owing to the great pres- 

 sure on the State treasury to pay the expenses incident to the 

 war, your committee would not recommend one at this time, 

 but would suggest earnest effort by the Secretary and the 

 members of the board, to procure by donation from individ- 

 uals and associations, in various parts of the Commonwealth, 

 or abroad, such books as may be needed, and would be 

 useful to the cause of agriculture, if pjaced in the library. 

 There have never been any fixed rules or regulations for taking 

 books from the library, though occasionally tiie members of the 

 board are accustomed to carry them to their homes for a limited 

 time, and they are freely used at the office by the members of 

 the legislature. We would recommend that the Secretary of 

 the board be requested to establish rules to prevent the loss of 

 books and injury to the office business, and allow them to be 

 drawn at will under those rules, by the members of this board. 



