XVI ADVERTISEMENT. 



making selections was to present whatever was peculiar to any society, so as 

 to afford a variety of information to the reader, and extend the knowledge of 

 local experiments. On the other hand, in some particulars, it is meagre from 

 want of materials. It might have been advantageously enlarged, if all the 

 returns had been equally rich in their specimens of reports of committees, and 

 of statements of successful competitors for premiums. 



In the preparation of the Abstract, I have availed myself of the well known 

 judgment and talent of the Honorable Allen W. Dodge, an experienced farmer 

 of Hamilton, in the county of Essex. 



Using the latitude of discretion, which the law appeared to intend to give to 

 the Secretary, I have, in an Appendix, enriched the volume with specimens 

 of the addresses delivered before three of the Agricultural Societies during the 

 past year. Those of Mr. Stone and Mr. Foote had been previously published, 

 and were already in the hands of many readers. That of Dr. Hitchcock, now 

 appearing for the first time, is printed entire. After these selections had been 

 arranged for the press, and nearly the whole volume was in type, the manu- 

 script of another valuable address was kindly furnished, which it would have 

 been highly gratifying to use in enlarging the collection. But the volume had 

 already swelled to an unexpected size, and any extension would have hazarded 

 the delay of its publication beyond the period of the session of the Legislature. 



In the return of the Massachusetts Society the statement of its recent valu- 

 able importation of foreign stock is not accompanied by any description of the 

 animals. Believing that the subject would attract the particular attention of 

 farmers, I have placed in the Appendix a full description, which appeared in 

 the columns of the " New England Farmer," after the bulk of the volume 

 had been printed. 



J. G. P. 



Secretary's Office; 



March 17th, 1846. 



