185^ 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



91 



foi' tliG buHJing up of quite a village, ornamented 

 with a variety of forest trees and shrubbery, where 

 fourt(!en years ao;o, but one single dwelling, and a 

 tall pine tree, relieved the monotony of mossy stone 

 walls that bordered the highway. 



i\Ir. Lake has certainly left a growing and en- 

 during memorial of his industry, activity and taste. 



About a fortnight before his death, ho met with 

 an accident on Charlestown bridge, from which he 

 had very nearly recovered, wlien he wis attacked 

 with inllammation of the chest, three days before 

 his death, lie leaves a wife and three children, 

 who, for their great and sudden bereavement, 

 have the deep sympathy of the public. 



Topsfteld, Jan. 14, 1853. ii. a. r. 



MASS. STATE BOARD OF AGRICUL- 

 TURE. 



Wednesday, January 12, 1853. 



Gov. BouTWELL in the chair. The proceedings 

 of the last meeting having been read, the Secretary 

 read a letter from the Hon. Levi Lincoln, brother 

 of the lamented Col. John W. Lincoln, a late 

 member of the Board, in reply to a letter of con- 

 dolence from the Board. Also, a letter from the 

 Worcester Society announcing the election of Har- 

 vey Dodge, Esq., of Sutton, as a member of this 

 Boai'd as successor of Col. Lincoln. 



A letter from M. Vattemare was read, acknowl- 

 edging the receipt of certain agricultural documents 

 from Mr. Walker, Secretary of State. 



Mr. John C. Gray reported on orchards. 



Mr. Sprague, of the Plymoutli Society, reported 

 on the Barnstable and Bristol Societies. 



Prof. Hitchcock reported upon the Essex Coun- 

 ty S )ciety. 



Mr. Brewer reported on the Worcester AVest 

 Society. 



Mr. Lawtox reported on the Housatonic Soci- 

 ety. 



Gov. BouTWELL reported on the Hampshire, 

 Franklin and Hampden Societies. 



Prof. Hitchcock read a paper recommending the 

 establishment of Farmers' Institutes throughout 

 the Commonwealth, similar to the Institutes for 

 the promotion of education. The following are 

 the leading suggestions of the paper : — 



1. A vast amount of knowledge concerning the 

 principles of agriculture could be imparted to the 

 farmers in every part of the State. It would, in 

 fact, form an ambulatory agricultural school, where 

 the young, especially, would learn very rapidly 

 from the best masters. 



2. It would give an opportunity to men well 

 qualified, after looking at the chemical and geolo- 

 gical constitutiim of the soil, to make suggestions 

 to the farmers of the different districts as to im- 

 proved modes of culture. 



3. It w )uld furnish a good mode of communi- 

 cating intelligence to the farmers of discoveries 

 and improvements in agriculture, of distributing 

 new varieties of seeds, and making known new and 

 improved breeds of domestic animals. 



4. It would probably bring to light new animal 

 manures in different parts of the State by the re- 

 searches of the lecturers, and of the farmers after 

 they were p-it upon the track 



5. It would awaken a deeper interest in agricul- 

 tural pursuits, and give them increased respecta- 

 bility. 



G. Opportunity miglit be given during the meet- 

 ings of the Institute for visiting some of the best 

 conducted forms and gardens in the vicinity, and 

 thus witnessing the operations of scientific princi- 

 ples. 



Mr. Brown read a report upon the Education of 

 the Young Farmer. 



Mr. Brewer presented a report on laying down 

 land to grass. 



Mr. Proctor moved that the subject of electing 

 a Secretary be now taken up. 



Mr. Wilder, from the committee appointed to 

 present the names of candidates, said he had no 

 written report to make, but would state that the 

 names of several gentlemen had been recommend- 

 ed from various parts of the State, which names he 

 would report if the Board desired it. 



Mr. Fessenden, of Sandwich, moved that the 

 further consideration of the election of a Secretary 

 be postponed until the next meeting of the Board, 

 and that the present Secretary continue to act 

 until another is appointed. 



On motion of ]Mr. French, it was voted that 

 when the Board adjourns, it adjourns to meet again 

 on Tuesday, the 25th inst., at 10 o'clock, A. M. 



Mr. Lawton reported on Indian Corn. 



Some arrangement was made in regard to the 

 meeting of the several County Agricultural Socie- 

 ties. 



Mr. Proctor, from the committee appointed to 

 examine the Progressive Farmer, a work by Mr. 

 J. A. Nash, Teacher of Agriculture in Amherst 

 College, made a favorable report, and recommend- 

 ed its use as a reading book in common schools. 



And at a quarter past G, P. M., the Board ad- 

 journed to meet as above stated. 



Hops. — Quantity in market at present time for 

 sale, 150 to 200 bales ; will not exceed the latter. 

 Quantity in hands of gi'owers, to come to market, 

 will not exceed 1000' bales, making 1150 to 1200 

 bales, against about 1000 bales in market, and in 

 hands of growers to come to market, last year at 

 this time. The quantity exported since the 1st of 

 September, will reach nearly GOO l)ales, purchased 

 in this market, a large proportion of which was 

 sent to New York, and shipped fi-om that port. 



The statement in the Courier 4th inst., and the 

 Boston Shipping List of Saturday, is very wide from 

 being correct, and will have a tendency to mislead 

 both growers and consumers, if not corrected; 

 (whether the statements referred to were made 

 designedly or not the autlior can best answer.) 

 The above statement is correct, and can be relied 

 upon. 



Sales have been made vv'ithin the last week, of 

 125 bales at 19a20 cents, first sort. w. b. 



