1891.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 371 



his resignation was accepted, Aug. 25, 1880. On that day 

 John E. Russell of Leicester was elected to succeed Mr. 

 Flint, and at this meeting it was voted that the secretary of 

 the Board be elected annually at the meeting in February, 

 the term of service to be for one year, beginning with the 

 first of July following the election. Mr. Russell continued 

 in office until his resignation in 1887. F. H. Appleton of 

 Peabody was elected to succeed him ; but he withdrew his 

 acceptance of the office before entering upon its duties, and 

 on August 23 of the same year the present incumbent, 

 William R. Sessions of Hampden, was elected. 



The Board of Agriculture, at the present time, consists of 

 the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of the Common- 

 wealth, the president of the agricultural college, one person 

 appointed from and by each agricultural society which 

 receives an annual bounty from the Commonwealth, and 

 three other persons appointed by the governor with the 

 advice and consent of the council. 



The first four are ex officio members ; the latter serve for 

 terms of three years each. At the present time there are 

 forty-one members, which number will be increased to forty- 

 five at the annual meeting in February next. The Board is 

 required to meet at the State House, or at the Agricultural 

 College, at least once in each year, and as much oftener as 

 may be deemed expedient ; and no member can receive com- 

 pensation from the Commonwealth except for personal 

 expenses when engaged in the duties of the Board, and to 

 meet these expenses the sum of $1,900 was appropriated 

 this year. 



The Board may appoint and prescribe the duties of a sec- 

 retary, who receives a salary of $2,500 a year ; and who, 

 at such times as the Board shall approve, may employ a 

 clerk at a salary of $1,200 a year, and may expend for other 

 clerical services in his office, and for lectures to be given 

 before the Board at its annual or other meetings, a sum not 

 exceeding $800. The secretary is also allowed $500 for 

 traveling and necessary expenses while engaged in the per- 

 formance of his duties. The Board are also overseers of the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural College, with powers and duties 

 defined and fixed by the governor and council ; are empow- 



