87 



Destroying weeds is by no means the main purpose to be 

 attained by cultivation, but merely an incidental one. 



SOIL TEXTURE. 



Soil texture, or mechanical condition, materially in- 

 fluences the power and ability of the soil to retain moisture. 

 In this respect some soils are vastly inferior to others, but 

 the thinnest and most leachy soil may be greatly improved 

 as a water reservoir. Every soil needs a good lot of or- 

 ganic matter in it. This is obtained by ploughing in green 

 crops, stable manure, or any material adding vegetable 

 fibre to the earth. Wood ashes are famous for their ten- 

 dency to draw and retain moisture. Hence their benefi- 

 cial effect on lands, which periodically suffer owing to lack 

 of water. 



Thus the farmer is not entirely helpless ; as, by the 

 practice of wise husbandry, he can in a measure reduce 

 the injurious results of protracted and disastrous droughts. 



IN MEMORIAM. 



The following is a list of members deceased as returned 

 to the Secretary, not heretofore reported. 



Abbott, M. K., Hamilton Delano, Otis, Newburyport 

 Appleton, Thomas, Marble- Dow, Virgil, Methuen 



head Dunnells, Ira A., Hamilton 



Barrett, E. Pope, Peabody Eaton, B. F., Haverhill 

 Bushby, Nathan, Peabody Ellis, John A., Haverhill 

 Brown, Hayden, West New- Fabens, Frank L., Marble- 

 bury head 

 Chesley, John F., Araesbury Foster, David L., Beverly 

 Cutter, Ebeu P., Newbury- George, Henry M., Saugus 

 port Gustin, John H., Danvers 



