SECRETARY'S REPORT. 131 



late that I did not have time to prepare one, as I had only a 

 week, and that the week of Thanksgiving. I like the suggestion 

 exceedingly, and think it proper that the members should 

 prepare such essays, and present them. I have, therefore, 

 prepared a Resolution on the subject, which I beg leave to offer. 

 Mr. Keith, of Grafton, seconded the Resolution, which was 

 adopted, as follows : 



Resolved, That each member of the Board be requested to 

 present, at the meeting of the Board in January, an essay upon 

 the agriculture of his particular district, giving, so far as practi- 

 cable, the number and variety of thoroughbred stock, principal 

 crops, manner of cultivation, markets and other topics, including 

 details of individual practice, so far as they may be of general 

 interest. 



Adjourned till 7 1-2, P. M. 



EVENING SESSION. 



The evening session was devoted to a lecture on the 



ADAPTATION OF PLANTS TO THE WOKLD, TO SOIL, 



CLIMATE, ETC. 



BY HON. PAUL A. CHADBOURNE. 



In my discussion last evening, I endeavored to enforce the 

 idea that study is not only essential to the highest success of 

 agriculture, but that farming ought to rank among the learned 

 professions as a field of intellectual labor and enjoyment. It is 

 beautifully adapted to the wants of man. The general laws of 

 vegetable growth are so simple that they can be understood by 

 men in a low state of civilization, when their wants are few ; and 

 they are also so complicated and nicely balanced in their higher 

 relations, that they require all the study, wisdom and skill of 

 the highest civilized society, that the fruits of the earth may 

 satisfy, in their quantity and qviality, the demands of such a 

 state of society. We find, then, in the very beginning, plants 

 adapted to man as an intellectual and physical being. By their 

 unlimited power of improvement they are fitted to call out 

 forever his mental activity, and by this very power of improve- 

 ment they are fitted to gratify his increasing desires as he 

 advances in civilization. 



