SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



R B P R T . 



The object of the State Reform School was the reformation of juve- 

 nile offenders. For the double purpose of supplying milk, vegetables, 



and other needful agricultural products, and also affording useful and 

 healthful employment to the inmates, a farm was connected with the 

 school ; with some recent purchases, it now contains about 285 acres. 



Its location is beautiful, and it embraces great variety of soil and 

 surface, is well adapted for the usual modes of cultivation and for ag- 

 ricultural experiments, and may be made both very attractive to the 

 eye, and very productive. By the Act establishing the State Reform 

 School, the farm is placed under the charge of the Trustees. Much 

 money has been expended upon it, very considerable improvements 

 have been made, and its products have been as great as could, \mder 

 all circumstances, be reasonably anticipated. But excellent qualifica- 

 tions for the oversight of the school do not necessarily imply either 

 taste or skill in agriculture, and, in point of fact, it is believed that the 

 appointments of Trustees have generally been made without any refer- 

 ence to experience or skill in agriculture, or ability to direct the con- 

 duct of the farm. The Trustees have found the charge of the farm a 

 hinderancc to them in the performance of their duties more immediately 

 concerning the school. It would be a relief to them to be permitted 

 to transfer to others that portion of their responsibilities. The build- 

 ings have bean enlarged during the past year, and now furnish accom- 

 modations for 550 or 600 inmates, and that number will probably 

 soon be reached. The faithful and judicious oversight and manage- 

 ment of such an institution demand as much time and care as the 

 Commonwealth ought to expect any unpaid Board of Trustees to de- 

 vote to a public duty. 



Since the establishment of the State Reform School, the State Board 

 of Agriculture has been created. It is composed of men of science 

 and men of practical skill in agriculture, and all deeply interested in 

 that most important subject. The Board has also bedn fortunate in 

 securing the services of a competent, faithful and zealous Secretary, 

 well skilled both in the theory and practice of agriculture. If that 

 Board had existed when the Reform School was established, the con- 

 venience and propriety of placing the farm under its charge could not 

 have failed to attract attention. 



The Board of Agriculture would be gratified to secure land upon 

 which various modes of cultivation may be thoroughly tried, and a 

 series of experiments instituted to test the value of the various con- 

 centrated and other manures which are so constantly urged upon the 



