1857. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



135 



(e.) We Ihink not — the value of coal ashes, how- 

 eTer, has not been satisfactorily tested. 



Will you experiment upon these suggestions, 

 and give us the result, especially as regards the 

 coal ashes, tried by the side of the leached wood 

 ashes, all other things being equal ? 



For the New England Farmer. 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, 



IN CONNECTION WITH THE STATE FAKM, WESTEORO'. 



Mr. Editor : — Believing that much error ann 

 prejudice exist in the minds of many persons id 

 regard to the State Board of Agriculture, and its 

 operations upon the State Farm, I have thought 

 that an exposition of the facts in relation to the 

 same might not be uninteresting to many of your 

 numerous readers, or unserviceable to the general 

 cause of agriculture, -which your columns so ably 

 seem to advance. 



If I mistake not, I had the pleasure of making, 

 through the medium of your columns, the original 

 suggestion of the propriety and expediency of plac- 

 ing the State Farm under the charge of the State 

 Board of Agriculture. I therefore feel a little more 

 than ordinary interest in the results which have 

 thus far been realized, through the practical adop- 

 tion of the idea. 



In order to a clear understanding of the whole 

 matter, it will be necessary to revert, as the saying 

 is, to "first principles," and show the nature and 

 design of the connection which exists between the 

 State Board of Agriculture and the State Farm ; 

 which I cannot do in a clearer manner than by 

 quoting from the very able report of the Secretary 

 of the Board of Agriculture for 1855, which report, 

 by the way, I fear has fallen into the hands of but 

 comparatively few farmers. 



"The farm in question," says the re]X)rt, "was connected 

 with the State Reform School, for the purpose of supplying 

 milk and other necessary products, and affording healthy and 

 useful employment to the boys. It contains about 285 acres 

 beautifully located, and embracing a variety of soils. By the 

 act establishing that institution, this farm was placed under 

 the charge of the Board of Trustees. As the number of in- 

 mates of the school rapidly increased, it was found that the 

 faithful superintendence and management of the institution 

 demanded much time and care, and that the farm not unfre- 

 quently interfered with the performance of duties more im- 

 mediately connected with the school. In the mean time, the 

 Board of Agriculture, a body so constituted as to present fair- 

 ly every diss of agricultural knowledge in the State, were de- 

 sirous of doing something by way of experiment, to advance 

 the cause of practical agriculture. Finding the Trustees, also 

 desirous of being relieved from the care and responsibility of 

 the farm under their charge, they resolved, after careful con- 

 sideration, to petition the Legislature in conjunction with the 

 Trustees, for an act authorizing the transfer of the farm into 

 their hands. 



"The Committee of the Legislature to whom this petition 

 was referred, made a report in which they state that, The 

 Trustees of the State Reform School, [and the State Board of 

 Agriculture, are both children and agents of the State ; both 

 Boards were instituted, and both labor for the same end, the 

 good of the State. The only question is, which Board can 

 most conveniently and profitably have charge of a particular 

 portion of State property ? Heretofore, the farm has been 

 improved and cultivated at the expense of the State, and the 

 State has furnithed consumers of all its products, with the ex- 

 ception of small quantities of fruit, &c., which have been sent 

 to market. A much larger quantity of agricultural products 

 will b3 required for the establishment, and it is believed that 

 under the best management a much larger amount may be 

 produced without proportionate increase of expense. Further 

 permanent improvements are required, and ought to be made 

 under either Board. 



"As the State consumes all the products of the farm, no 

 money can be realized from their sale, and consequently the 

 State must furnish funds to make necessary improvements, 

 aad pay current expenses, Tlia members of the two Boards 



are unanimous in their views, and an arrangement is contem- 

 plated by which the Trustees of the Reform School will, at a 

 stipulated price, furnish boys to work upon the farm, and to 

 a much greater extent than it has been heretofore found ex- 

 pedient or profitable to employ them in agricultural labor; 

 and the Board of Agriculture will supply the instituiion %7ith 

 milk, vegetables, and other necessary products of the farm, 

 do the cartage of coal, &c. Thus the labor of the boys and 

 the products of the farm will be applied for the benefit of the 

 State substantially ns heretofore, only under difierent di- 

 rections. The bulk of the farm will undoubtedly continue to 

 be carried on under the usual improved modes of cultivation, 

 while a small portion will be devoted to experiments of 

 which we have spoken. 



"The result was that an act was passed by the Legislature 

 of 1854, authorizing the transfer in accordance with the peti- 

 tion. A contract was duly made expressing the wishes and 

 intentions both of the Trustees and the Board of Agriculture, 

 and in accordance with the law, and since the first of April, 

 1854, the farm has been under the charge of the Board of Agri- 

 culture." 



Such were the views and interviews with which 

 the State Farm was transferred to the charge of 

 the Board of Agriculture. The objects, it will be 

 perceived, were simply two — the first being better 

 to serve the wants and interests of the institution 

 with which it is connected — the other to institute, 

 as opportunity should permit, some experiments 

 with a view to the advancement of agricultural 

 knowledge. The former was primary and espe- 

 cial — the latter secondary and subordinate. 



Nearly three years have now elapsed, and the 

 first question which arises in the minds of most 

 persons is, "has it paid'?" — or in other words, what 

 has the Board of Agriculture done to advance the 

 interests of the State, as represented by the Re- 

 form School, or as represented by the general in- 

 terests of agriculture — in return for the pecuniary 

 means with which it has been instrusted by the 

 Commonwealth ? As most persons measure the 

 success of an undertaking by its immediate results 

 in dollars and cents, I shall endeavor to answer 

 this branch of the question first, leaving the other 

 to be considered at a future time. 



The first year's operations of the Board upon the 

 farm were much impaired by the lateness of the 

 season at which the arrangement for the transfer 

 of the farm were consummated. However, let us see 

 how the operations of that year afiected the inter- 

 ests of the State, directly, in dollars and cents. I 

 first charge the Board of Agriculture with all the 

 means with which it was furnished by the State, 

 viz. : — 



To Legislative appropriation from State Treasury, §6,000 00 



Cash from Trustees State Reform School, 1,T04 24 



Labor of boys from Reform School, 883 10 



Board of farmers, furnished by Reform School, 602 43 



Sundry items from State Reform School, 4.38 04 



1:9,627 81 



And I credit the Board with all returns made 

 directly to the State in dollars and cents, viz. : — 



By produce of farm, together with labor of men and 



teams, furnished to Reform School, §,3628 75 



By new buildings, viz. : piggery, slaughter house, 



tool Louse, work shops and granary, 3,098 97 



By other permanent improvements, such as stone 



walls, clearing land of stone, &c., 1,000 00 



By increased value of personal property of the 

 farm in live stock, farming tools and produce 

 ^ hand, 2,389 95 



$10,117 67 

 Showing a balance in favor of the Board of $489 86. 



For the operations of 1855, 1 again charge the 



Board — 



To Legislative appropriation, $6,0C0 00 



Cash from Trustees Reform School, 834 37 



Labor of boys from Reform School, 2,565 10 



Sundry items from State Reform School, 820 37 



$10,219 84 



