MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 413 



The sixth resolution was taken up, on which B. V. French, 

 of Braintree, spoke as follows :— 



This proposition is so expedient, and commends itself to the 

 approbation of so many, that perhaps it should pass without 

 remark. But I can see much in it to interest every mind. We 

 should have an organization which can combine and unite the 

 interests of the several societies, by means of which communi- 

 cations can be kept up between them. In New York this is 

 left with the secretary, who corresponds with the other organi- 

 zations, and looks after the interests of the various societies. A 

 few evenings since, this proposition was suggested to me, and 

 it struck me that we did want a place which would answer for 

 a kind of head-quarters, where we could exhibit agricultural 

 implements, models of everything that could interest the 

 farmer, such as a committee could approve of, and where a per- 

 son could go and see the instrument which is most valued by 

 the committee. I think this is a resolve that is calculated to do 

 an immense amount of good to the cause. 



George Denny, president of the Westborou!9;h Society : — The 

 resolve was considered a very iimocent one, — that agriculture 

 Avas of so much importance that it demanded the same stand 

 among the people that the other branches of education had. 

 The machinery which should be connected with it was not 

 determined upon, but was left to the future. 



Edward L. Keyes : — These resolutions, it may have occur- 

 red to the gentlemen who have seen the report of the late com- 

 mission, are all based on that report. This resolution is but 

 one of their recommendations. It is, simply, that a State depart- 

 ment of agriculture should be established. Of course, the 

 details are to be in accordance with the purposes and objects of 

 the department. The department of the militia has its adju- 

 tant-general and its arsenal. The educational department has 

 a board of education, and secretary, and agents. It is proposed 

 that this department of agriculture shall have a board, and a 

 secretary, who shall lecture, collect statistics in relation to agri- 

 culture, make digests of the reports, and publish such facts and 

 statistics as will be necessary to promote the welfare of agri- 

 culture. This resolution simply acknowledges the principle. 



