12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



could be advantageously made during the first year. More- 

 over, the character of the soil and its previous treatment were 

 in a great measure unknown; and owing to the lateness of the 

 season, all the work was necessarily crowded into a very short 

 time. The experiments that have been made, however, are not 

 without their interest and value. They will be found in detail 

 in the reports of the various committees hereafter. It is the 

 design of the Board to extend them, and to conduct them in 

 such a manner as to secure perfect accuracy. 



To be of any value, experiments require the expenditure of 

 much time and labor, much skill, a constant watchfulness, and 

 many facilities which are not often at the command of an indi- 

 vidual. The State can make them at little expense, compara- 

 tively ; and though they must, for the reasons stated, be a 

 secondary object at the farm at Westborough, it is of the ut- 

 most importance to secure all possible accuracy In making them, 

 that they may have the respect and confidence of those inter- 

 ested in them. 



It will be seen by the Report of the Committee on Improve- 

 ments, made at an adjourned meeting of the Board, held on tho 

 5th of December, that the wants of the State Reform School 

 have increased to such an extent, and the location of the farm 

 buildings is such, that it is very important to purchase land 

 adjoining the farm. This adjoining land can be obtained at a 

 reasonable rate, and it is evidently for the interest of the State 

 to secure it, both because it is really needed to enable the farm 

 to meet the growing wants of the Institution, and because it 

 would vastly improve the condition of the farm itself. This 

 subject is well alluded to in the following 



REPORT. 



Your committee had charge of the general improvements, farm 

 arrangements, plans, &c, on the farm at Westborough. They have 

 erected a piggery,* containing a commodious store-house ami slaughter- 

 house, 30 feet by 8G, with 14 feet posts, and so constructed as to 

 admit of storing straw, roots, &c, in the loft. They have converted 

 an old barn into a tool-house,* carpenter's shop, seed room, black- 

 smith's shop, &c. ; have laid drains in the barn-cellar to carry off the 



* Sec Appendix, C. 



