42 . BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Resolved, That no animal or article for whicli a preminm 

 shall be awarded to the owner by any incorporated agricultural 

 society receiving the bounty of the State, shall at any time 

 thereafter be considered a subject for any further premium 

 of such society, except it be for qualities different from those 

 for which the former premium was awarded ; provided, how- 

 ever, that nothing in this act sliall affect, restrain, or limit a 

 competitor for premiums offered by the State Board of Agricul- 

 ture, or the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture. 



The subject of holding market fairs was introduced by the 

 committee appointed to investigate and collect statistics in 

 relation to it, and it was 



Voted, That this Board recognizes the great importance of 

 establishing frequent markets, or fairs for the sale of agricultural 

 products. 



Voted, That the subject be brought before the county agri- 

 cultural societies, with a request that they will take early steps 

 for the establishment of markets within their respective districts. 



Voted, That the Secretary communicate the above to the 

 several agricultural societies. 



At the meeting of the Board, held on the 18th and 21st of 

 January, it was 



Voted, To appoint a committee to consider and report upon 

 the propriety of instituting meetings similar to Teachers' Insti- 

 tutes, for the discussion of agricultural topics. 



This committee was constituted by the appointment of Messrs. 

 Bull, Brown, and Bartlett, and at the meeting held on the 2d 

 of February, they submitted the following 



REPORT: 



Nothing is so difficult as the true adjustment of theory and practice 

 in agriculture. The modifying influences of soil, climate, exposition, 

 require on the part of the farmer a larger experience, and in the proper 

 application of the soundest theory a larger intellectual force than falls 

 to the lot of most men. The longest life is often inadequate, on the 

 part of an individual, to accomplish results which, by aid of and com- 

 munication with his fellows, might be made possible. 



The theory of manures, for instance — the successful application of 

 which lies at the base of all good farming — is probably understood by 



