NINTH ANNUAL REPORT 



SECRETARY 



BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Common- 

 wealth of Massachusetts. 



It is gratifying to be able to state that the past year has been 

 one of marked prosperity for the agricultural interests of the 

 Commonwealth. Our crops liave been for the most part abun- 

 dant and profitable, farm labor has been cheaper and more easily 

 obtained than for some years past, and the season was generally 

 favorable, both for the operations of the farm and the growth of 

 vegetation. 



The exhibitions of the Agricultural Societies, with one or two 

 exceptions, were more than usually successful in point of 

 completeness and attraction, and the number of interested 

 visitors to those exhibitions was never known to be greater. 



The operations of the Board of Agriculture have been contin- 

 ued as heretofore. At the meeting held at the office of the 

 Secretary, on the 19th of February, 1861, various subjects were 

 assigned to special committees for investigation during the year, 

 with the duty of presenting a report upon each at the regular 

 annual meeting. 



Accordingly Dr. Bartlett of the Middlesex North Society, 

 presented the following 



