SECRETARY'S REPORT. 135 



Board and the established agricultural societies. That they look upon 

 such an organization as a most efficient means of stimulating agricultural 

 enterprise, and diffusing agricultural information. And that, at a time, 

 when the National Government is moving in the matter, and other States 

 are renewing their interest in agricultural investigation, Massachusetts 

 should not retrace the steps she has already taken, in the encouragement 

 of this vital branch of human industry. 



The delegates appointed to attend and report upon the 

 exhibitions of the various agricultural societies in 1862, were 

 as follows : — 



The Middlesex North, Mr. Hautwell ; the Highland, Mr. 

 LoTHROP ; the Middlesex South, Mr. Stockbridge ; the Hamp- 

 den East, Mr. Bushnell ; the Middlesex, Mr. Fisher ; the 

 Hampden, Mr. Phinney ; the Essex, Mr. Stedman ; the Wor- 

 cester North, Mr. Bull ; the Berkshire, Mr. Wilder ; the 

 Housatonic, Mr. Sewall ; the Franklin, Mr. Loring ; the 

 Worcester West, Mr. Cleaveland ; the Norfolk, Mr. Chapin ; 

 the Worcester, Mr. White ; the Bristol, Mr. Walker ; the 

 Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden, Mr. Peters ; the Worcester 

 South, Mr. Stebbins ; the Plymouth, Mr. Moore ; the Barn- 

 stable, Mr. Grennell ; the Nantucket, Mr. Colt ; the Hamp- 

 shire, Mr. Brooks ; the Martha's Vineyard, Mr. Smith ; the 

 Worcester South-East, Mr. Clement ; the Hoosac Valley, Mr. 

 Davis. 



Voted, That the Secretary of the Board be directed to bring to the 

 notice of the agricultural community, the offer of premiums for the third 

 series of experiments upon manures, and to request its cooperation in 

 increasing the number now making, and that the members of the Board be 

 requested to urge upon the farmers within their districts to compete 

 for the premiums offered. 



Select a level piece of land of any convenient size, from twenty rods 

 up to as many acres or more, which should be as nearly equal in its 

 character and conditions as possible. Divide it into five equal parts, 

 numbering them 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, for a rotation of three years. 



Divide the manure which it is proposed to apply, and which should 

 be of a uniform character, into four equal parts. At the time of first 

 ploughing in the spring, spread evenly one-fourth of the manure upon 

 plot No. 1, and then plougli the whole field of an equal depth. Apply 

 another fourth part of the manure to plot No. 2, and then cross-plough 



