21 



Lynnfield was elected to succeed him, but he withdrew his 

 acceptance of the ofEce before entering upon its duties, and 

 on August 23 of the same year the present incumbent, 

 William R. Sessions of Hampden, was elected. 



The Board of Agriculture, at the present time, consists of 

 the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of the Common- 

 wealth, the president of the agricultural college, one person 

 appointed from and by each agricultural society which 

 receives an annual bounty from the Commonwealth, and 

 three other persons appointed by the governor with the 

 advice and consent of the council. 



The first four are ex officio members ; the latter serve for 

 terms of three years each. At the present time there are 

 41 members, which number will be increased to 44 at the 

 annual meeting in February next. The Board is required to 

 meet at the State House, or at the Agricultural College, at 

 least once in each year, and as much oftener as may be 

 deemed expedient, and no member can receive compensation 

 from the Commonwealth except for personal expenses when 

 engaged in the duties of the Board, and to meet these 

 expenses the sum of $1,900 was appropriated this year. 



The Board may appoint and prescribe the duties of a sec- 

 retary, who receives a salary of $i,500 a year; and who, 

 at such times as the Board shall approve, may employ a 

 clerk at a salary of $1,200 a year, and may expend for other 

 clerical services in his office, and for lectures to be given 

 before the Board at its annual or other meetings, a sum not 

 exceeding $800. The secretary is also allowed $500 for 

 travelling and necessary expenses while engaged in the per- 

 formance of his duties. The Board are also overseers of the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural College, with powers and duties 

 defined and fixed by the governor and council ; are impow- 

 ered to investigate such subjects relating to improvement in 

 agriculture in this Commonwealth as they may think proper, 

 and may take, hold in trust, and exercise control over dona- 

 tions or bequests made to them for promoting agricultural 

 education or the general interests of husbandry ; may fix 

 the days on which the different agricultural societies shall 

 commence their exhil)itions, and may prescribe forms for 

 and regulate the returns required of said societies, and shall 



