MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 421 



weighed and in others measured ; and in three societies that I 

 know of, they include the cob, allowing seventy-five pounds 

 to the bushel. Statistics which must be based on such various 

 methods of ascertaining the quantity of an article raised, do 

 not establish anything. 



Just so in relation to the product of milch cows ! We have 

 no statistics which can be brought together, by which an 

 average can be made of the product in different parts of the 

 Commonwealth. My learned friend, from Amherst, used the 

 right figure, "perfect chaos." It proves nothing. 



This is the fact in relation to agriculture so far as I under- 

 stand the matter. What then must be done ? What is con- 

 templated in that resolution ? A central board ! A board of 

 agricultural education ! A board of agricultural statistics ! A 

 board which shall establish a uniformity of action among all 

 the societies, so that their statistics will be valuable ! We all 

 feel the vast importance that has been given to the cause of 

 education by the establishment of the Mr.ssachnsetts Board of 

 Education, and the great improvement that has been produced 

 in our common schools in consequence of the action of that 

 board. I suppose we have there a board similar to what is 

 wanted in agriculture, if we wish to accomplish what our 

 friend from Worcester County desires, — a board which shall 

 establish uniform returns from all the counties. 



We do establish such regulations with regard to education. 

 Every district school in this Commonwealth has to make its 

 returns precisely on the same data and the same principle. 

 Then we can make out our aggregates, we can make our de- 

 ductions, and we can learn lessons of wisdom in relation to 

 our schools. Now I suppose that precisely this is wanting 

 with regard to agriculture. And since this State makes liberal 

 grants every year for agricultural societies, would it not be 

 right, would it not be expedient, that the State should require 

 systematic and regular returns, the same as are made from the 

 common schools ; and unless those returns are accurately made, 

 according to the prescribed form, that the society should not 

 receive the bounty of the State. Without that, I have no hope 

 of anything being done. 



