EDITOR'S PREFACE. 11 



August 5 following, when Dr. Edward Hitchcock, president 

 of Amherst College and one of the members at large appointed 

 by the governor, was unanimously elected secretary of the 

 Board ; but his duties in connection with the college com- 

 pelled him to decline the proffered honor, which he did by 

 letter dated Aug. 21, 1852. Jan. 25, 1853, the Board elected 

 Charles L. Flint, Esq., of New York, as secretary, which posi- 

 tion he retained until his resignation was accepted, Aug. 25, 

 1880. 



Feb. 3, 1860, Prof. J. W. P. Jenks of Middleborough was 

 appointed zoologist of the Board for the year 1860. Dr. A. 

 S. Packard, Jr., was appointed entomologist of the Board 

 Aug. 1, 1870, and made several annual reports. Feb. 4, 1*7;;. 

 Prof. C. A. Goessmann of Amherst was appointed chemist of 

 the Board, and still holds this relation. 



Aug. 25, 1880, Mr. John E. Russell of Leicester was chosen 

 secretary, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sec- 

 retary Flint. He held the position until his election to the 

 Congress of the United States, and was succeeded by Mr. 

 Francis H. Appleton of Peabody, Feb. 3, 1887. Mr. Apple- 

 ton, however, did not assume the duties of the position, on 

 account of ill-health, and the clerk in the office, Mr. W. H. 

 Griffith, served as secretary pro tern, from March 1 to July 1, 

 and Mr. Edmund Hersey of Hingham, a member of the Board, 

 from July 1 to August 23, when Hon. Win. II. Sessions of 

 Hampden, a member of the Board, was elected secretary, and 

 still retains the position. Feb. 3, 1887, Prof. C. H. Fernald 

 of Amherst was elected entomologist of the Board, and still 

 holds this relation. 



It early became the desire of the Board to have such con- 

 veniences as would enable it to conduct a series of experiments 

 in such a manner as to secure the confidence of the community. 

 Accordingly arrangements were made whereby the Board leased 

 the farm of the State Reform School ;it West borough for a 

 period of five years, the transfer being made March 24, L854, 

 to go into effect April 1, 1854. 



Annual public winter meetings for lectures and discussions 

 were instituted by vote of the Board, .Ian. 15, 1863, and they 

 have been held as follows : — 



