No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xiii 



2. A bill to provide for the appropriation of S5,000 annually, 

 to be used for the encouragement of agriculture by holding 

 special shows, either by the Board or other organizations, in 

 demonstrations, agents, literature and otherwise. 



3. A bill, in accordance with the vote of the Board at the 

 summer meeting at Concord, to appropriate -125,000 annually 

 for the encouragement of dair}ing, by offering prizes for the 

 best kept barns, lowest bacteria count in milk, best quality of 

 milk, for holding demonstrations, for agents, literature and 

 otherwise for the encouragement of dairying. 



The last-named bill is drawn for the special purpose of trying, 

 in a practical manner, to bring about the production of clean 

 milk by encouraging the dairyman in its production rather than 

 by discouraging him in the production of all milk. Based on 

 the belief that education and encouragement will do more than 

 unfriendly inspection, it is sound in principle and should be of 

 great value to both producers and consumers. The first two 

 bills are self-explanatory and designed for the general encour- 

 agement of agriculture. That to increase the bounty received 

 by the agricultural societies looks to the upbuilding of agricul- 

 ture by interesting children and young people in its processes, 

 and goes to the foundation of the question, " How shall we keep 

 our boys on the farm?" These propositions have my hearty 

 approval, and I recommend their passage by the Legislature. 



Other bills for the improvement of agriculture have been 

 drafted by your secretary and will be called to your attention 

 under the proper headings. 



Work of the Office. 

 The W'ork of the office has proceeded in a very satisfactory 

 manner during the year, but new work has come upon us to 

 such an extent that, in spite of a larger regular office force, 

 much of the special work which it was hoped to accomplish dur- 

 ing the year has been obliged to go over into the future. IMuch 

 has been done in bringing the library into a systematic condi- 

 tion, but the main work of cataloguing and numbering still 

 remains to be done. The librarian has arranged a system 

 whereby all matter received is tabulated and a record kept, so 

 that it will be impossible for the library to again fall into the 



