EDITOR'S PEEFACE. 



The volumes known as the ' ' Agriculture of Massachusetts " 

 cover three periods, viz. : the period of the reports of Rev. 

 Henry Colman, commissioner for an agricultural survey of the 

 State, 1837-40; the period of the abstracts from the returns of 

 the agricultural societies, compiled by the secretary of the Com- 

 monwealth, 1845-52 ; and the period of the annual reports of 

 the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, 1853-92. 



The volumes published by Mr. Colman and by the secretary 

 of the Commonwealth contain simply indexes of subjects. In 

 1877 an analytical index to the twenty-five previous annual 

 reports of the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture was 

 prepared, under the direction of Secretary Flint, and made a 

 portion of his report for 1877-78. As the year 1892 rounds 

 out forty years of the life and work of the State Board of 

 Agriculture, it seems quite proper that an index to the forty 

 annual volumes issued should be prepared. It seems desirable 

 also to include with this index similar indexes to the volumes 

 of Mr. Colman and the secretary of the Commonwealth, in 

 order that a uniform whole may be obtained. 



The resolve providing for an agricultural survey of the State 

 bears date of April 12, 1837, and reads as follows : — 



Resolved, That his excellency the governor, by and with the advice 

 of the council, is hereby authorized and requested to appoint some 

 suitable and competent person, whose duty it shall be, under the 

 direction of his excellency the governor, to make an agricultural 

 survey of the Commonwealth, collect accurate information of the 

 state and condition of its agriculture, and every subject connected 

 with it, point out the means of improvement, and make a detailed 

 report thereof with as much exactness, as circumstances will admit. 



Resolved, That a summary of such survey, and examination shall 

 be furnished to his excellency the governor every six months, until 

 the whole shall be completed ; and at such other times, as shall be 



