J N T R (i D U (M U R V . 



While it is tiius true that for iJic first year since the 

 organization of the society there has been no increase 

 in the amount of premiums and gratuities paid, althougli 

 there has been an annual increase in the amount offered, 

 we are happy to state that more attention has been 

 paid to the diffusion of agricultural knowledge among 

 the members of the society and others, than ever before. 

 Between seven and eight hundred copies of our trans- 

 actions for 1858 have been freely distributed at an 

 expense for publishing and distribution considerably in 

 advance of that of any previous year. 



One hundred and eighty-six bound volumes of ^^ Patent 

 Office Reports on Agriculture," "The Agriculture of 

 Massachusetts," and some other kindred works have 

 been received from various sources ; also fifty copies of 

 the transactions of the "Massachusetts Society for Pro- 

 moting Agriculture" for 1858, and about one hundred 

 pamphlets, most of them containing valuable Essays on 

 various topics connected with agricultural progress, 

 these nearly all have been distributed with some 

 expense and more labor, and in a majority of cases have 

 it is believed, gone into the hands of those who sought 

 them because of their desire to obtain information upon 

 the subjects of which they treat, and who will profit 

 by them. Thus the taste for reading and study upon 

 agricultural subjects is increasing among the members 

 6f the society and their families. This is evinced also 

 by the fact that a much greater number of Agricultural 

 publications are taken in the vicinity than ever before. 



Would it not be well for the officers of the societ}^ 

 to encourage this taste, particularly among the young, 

 by the offer of a larger number of interesting and 



