102 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



are anxious to know what it is. If a failure, it may 

 be none the less valuable for that ; it will prevent 

 thousands who cannot afford to lose from striking 

 on the same rock. If successful, the profits of the 

 farmer are not yet so affluent as to prevent him 

 from profiting by their wisdom. 



The annual volume of Transactions, — though 

 ever so judicious and full — is not enough. At best 

 it will only reach a tenth of the whole, and then 

 not those who actually need it the most. When 

 compiled and issued, it is a book for the library and 

 reference, and a credit to the county societies and 

 State. But it is not a "hand book," for the kitch- 

 en or sitting-room fire-side. There is too much of 

 it at once. The masses need the nutriment more 

 frequently and in smaller quantities. At least, let 

 us have a knowledge of the subjects discussed at 

 the quarterly meetings, and the opinions there 

 drawn out on matters of importance. Below is a 

 report of the meeting referred to above : — 



There were present Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, 

 His Hon. Lt. Gov. Benchley, President Hitchcock, 

 of Amherst, Messrs. Chandler, Lewis, and Bartlett, 

 of Middlesex county, B, V. French, of NorfollL coun- 

 ty. Tower, of Berkshire, Brooks, Felton and Park- 

 hurst, of Worcester county, Field, of Franklin coun- 

 ty, Hubbard and Sweetser, of Hampshire. 



In the absence of His Excellency Gov. Gardner, 

 who is ex-officio the President of the Board, Hon. 

 Marshall P. Wilder was requested to preside. 



Before proceeding to any business, Mr. Wilder 

 offered the following resolutions, which were unani- 

 jnously adopted. 



Resolved, That the members of this Board con- 

 template with deep and unmingled sorrow, the 

 death of their fellow-associate, the Hon. Seth 

 Sprague, of Plymouth County. 



Resolved, That we remember with satisfaction, 

 the lively interest which Mr. Sprague ever manifes- 

 ted in the welfare of this Board, and the cause of 

 Agriculture in this State, and especially that benev- 

 olence, courtesy and kindness of heart which had 

 gained him the confidence and respect of all who 

 knew him. 



Resolved, That we sympathize most deeply with 

 the relatives of the deceased in their affliction, but 

 while n'e mingle our tears with theirs, we rejoice in 

 the belief that he has passed to a higher and more 

 glorious state of existence and happiness. 



Resolved, That these resolutions be entered on 

 the Records of this Board, and that a copy be tranS' 

 mitte'i to the family of the deceased, and also pub- 

 lish?d in the papers of the day. 



The subject of the State Farm next came up, and 

 Mr. Brooks, of Worcester County, spoke of the ne- 

 cessity of procuring more land in order to afford 

 grass and hay for the cows necessary to be kept on 

 the farm to supply the bo) s with milk. The Smith 

 farm, which will furnish the required land, can now 

 be bought cheap, and it will furnish a farm-house 

 which is needed. 



Mr. Frexcii, of Norfolk County, expressed his 

 opinion, that more land was necessary for the pur 

 ])ose specified, and also to furnish additional em 

 ployment for the boys. 



Mr. liEWis, of Middlesex County, thought the 

 ir.easnre could be »ot before The [/ "isluturo now 



with better chances of success than when it was 

 tried two years ago. Then there was no member 

 of the Board in the House co place it in the rig^.t 

 light, and we shall not have the opposition of the 

 Superintendent of the State Reform School, 5 s be- 

 fore. 



Other members of the Board discussed che mat- 

 ter, expressing their conviction of the necessity of 

 the proposed addition, and of the expediency cf 

 making the purchase now while the land can be 

 procured at a cheap rate. Messrs. Tower, of Berk- 

 shire, Hubbard, of Hampshire, Lt. Gov. Benchley 

 and the President participated in the discussion. 



On motion of Mr. Lewis it was 



Voted, That a Committee be appointed to apply 

 to the Legislature for the usual annual appropria- 

 tion. 



The Board then adjourned to 3 r. M. 



AFTERNOO^f SESSION. 



At the afternoon session a resolve was passed au- 

 thorizing the Secretary to petition the Legislature 

 for the furnishing of the State Cabinet room. 



The Board then entered into a very interesting 

 discussion upon the suliject of the Chinese Sugar 

 Cane, which has of late attracted so much attention 

 among agriculturists. Samples of the seed were 

 present, and distributed among the members of the 

 Board. President Wilder read from the Patent 

 Office Reports, showing the success which had at- 

 tended the culture of this plant, and also gave oth- 

 er instances of a similiar character. He expressed 

 the opinion that it would revolutionize the sugar 

 interest. He thought it could be grown as well as 

 the broom corn. He thought it advi able to sug- 

 gest a trial of it by our Agricultural Societies. No 

 experiment yet tried with it has been known to fail. 



Mr. Brooks, of Worcester, expressed his doubts 

 whether it would be more profitable than Indian 

 corn. He was opposed to recommending it until 

 it had been tested by himself. 



President Hitchcock suggested that the Board 

 should recommend County Societies to offer premi- 

 ums to test it. 



Mr. FRE^XII sustained this suggestion — though 

 he was not entirely convinced that it would be cul- 

 tivated successfully here. Still he would have it 

 tested. 



]\Ir. Lewis was satisfied from what he had seen 

 grown that this was a most valuable plant, and he 

 was much in favor of having the Board recommend 

 its trial. 



The suggestion of Dr. Hitchcock was embodied 

 into a resolution, and was passed. 



The Board then at 5 p. M. adjourned. — Journal. 



Franklin County. — We have the address de- 

 livered at the annual meeting last fall, of the Frank- 

 lin Agricultural Society, by Charles L. Flint, 

 Esq., Secretary of the Mass. Board of Agriculture. 

 It is chiefly devoted to the operations of the Board 

 of Agriculture, as connected with the management 

 of the State farm at Westboro', and with the du- 

 ties and labors of the Secretary of the Board. 



EF^Bellona Arsenal, 14 miles above Itichmond, 

 the property of the UnitEci States, was sold at auc- 

 tion fur $2,G50. It cost the Government $175,000. 

 It was abandoned for unhealthincss. 



