SECRETARY'S REPORT. 271 



country. Most of the additions have been by purchase. 

 Acknowledgments are due to Mr. G. Howland Shaw, who pre- 

 sented to the library a copy of the " Description des Especes 

 Bovine ^^^ <fcc., volume 1, published by the French Government, 

 and to Gen. H. K. Oliver, for a copy of a Treatise on Afrri- 

 culture and Rural Affairs, by Robert Brown, two volumes, 

 Edinburgh, 1811. 



By an Act of the legislature of 1859, 1 was directed to pub- 

 lish a new and illustrated edition of Harris' valuable " Treatise 

 on Insects Injurious to Vegetation." No pains have been spared 

 to make it a model of its kind in every respect. The most 

 eminent entomologists of the country have voluntarily con- 

 tributed to its perfection by way of notes, and the services of 

 the most talented artists have been secured to illustrate and 

 adorn its pages. This work is now in press, and will be issued 

 during the ensuing summer, in a manner highly creditable to 

 the Commonwealth. Fifteen copies are placed at the disposal 

 of each of the agricultural societies, to be awarded in premiums. 



In conclusion, it is proper to state that since my last Annual 

 Report two new societies have been incorporated, making the 

 number now receiving the bounty of the Commonwealth 

 twenty-five. All are in a prosperous condition, notwithstand- 

 ing the fact that the exhibitions of the past year suffered from 

 the absence of neat stock, which was excluded on account of 

 the prevalence of the disease commonly known as pleuro- 

 pneumonia. This exclusion was regretted by some who were 

 not fully informed with regard to the alarming character of the 

 disease. But it should be borne in mind that under the cir- 

 cumstances then existing, and with the possibility that by 

 collecting large numbers of cattle the disease might be spread, 

 a proper regard to public safety demanded their exclusion, and 

 any other course might have been suicidal. 



The details of the operations of the commissioners appointed 

 to exterminate that disease are to be found on a preceding page, 

 but it may be proper to state that since the report of the com- 

 missioners was presented, the last of the cattle known to have 

 been exposed have been destroyed, and the result showed most 

 conclusively the wisdom of this course, a considerable portion 



