SECRETARY'S REPORT. 27 



which are made are true, every county and almost every to^vn, 

 where peat exists, should have a machine working within its 

 limits. I trust this matter will be fully discussed, and I would 

 suggest that a committee be appointed, to investigate the impor- 

 tance of peat as a fuel, to the Commonwealth, the existing 

 supply, and the ,cost of furnishing it to the market. 



I have made these remarks, in opening this meeting, to 

 express my interest in its doings. I regret that I shall be 

 unable to remain and participate in your deliberations; for you 

 can congratulate yourselves that there are gentlemen here who 

 are abundantly able, from their scientific knowledge, to enlighten 

 you, whose presence in the Board will always be a matter of 

 congratulation with the farmers of the Commonwealth, and 

 whose teachings I should be happy to share with you at this 

 session. 



On motion of Mr. H. R. Keith, of Grafton, Hon. E. W. Bull, 

 of Concord, was chosen to preside during the day, who, on 

 taking the chair, expressed his thanks to the Board for the 

 honor of being called to preside over its deliberations. 



On motion of Dr. Loring, of Salem,'the Board then adjourned 

 to half-past two o'clock in the afternoon. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



The meeting was called to order at the hour assigned, by 

 Hon. E. W. Bull, the president, who introduced, as the lec- 

 turer for that hour, Charles L. Flint, Secretary of the Board 

 of Agriculture, who offered the following proposition ; 



TTle State Farms should constitute great Breeding Estabh'shments for 

 some one exclusive, distinct, pure-hred class of stock. 



Happening to pass a few hours at the State Almshouse at 

 Monson during the month of October, the superintendent, after 

 showing me over the buildings, desired me to take a look of the 

 stock at the barn. This consisted of a pure-bred Ayrshire and 

 a pure-bred Jersey bull, a half dozen Ayrshire heifers, a few grade 

 Shorthorns, and something like twenty grade or " native " cows. 



It appears to be the intention to cross the Jersey and tlie 

 Ayrshire stock by way of experiment. That is a good cross, as 

 I happen to know from several cows that I have owned, and in. 



