To His Excellency , 



Edward Everett, 



Governor of Massachusetts : 

 Sir,— 



I have the honor to submit to you my second Report of the Ag- 

 riculture of Massachusetts. It is principally confined to the county 

 of Berkshire ; but embraces also much incidental matter. 



I have omitted in this report the consideration of one of the great 

 interests of the agriculture of Berkshire, the Sheep Husbandry. I 

 have gone largely into the other great interests of the county, the 

 Dairy Husbandry ; and on that account judged it expedient to post- 

 pone the discussion of the Sheep Husbandry to the report of the 

 agriculture of the county of Franklin. The agriculture of Berk- 

 shire and Franklin counties are in many respects similar and nearly 

 related ; and in the report of Franklin, I propose to treat this sub- 

 ject at large. 



The surveys of Franklin county and Middlesex county are com- 

 pleted, as far as I have deemed the views of the government to ex- 

 tend ; and the reports will be made with all practicable despatch. 

 In the collection, arrangement, and comparison of such a variety of 

 facts, however, as the survey necessarily embraces, time and labor 

 are requisite to do justice to the subject and to the Commonwealth. 

 No time shall be lost in finishing these reports, which are already in 

 progress. 



The report of Franklin will embrace among other subjects an ex- 

 tended view of the Sheep Husbandry ; and the report of Middle- 

 sex the culture of hops, the redemption of peat-bogs, and partic- 

 ular improvements in the cultivation of arable lands ; on which sub- 

 jects information has been particularly solicited. The counties of 

 Worcester and Hampshire have been half explored. 



I had great pleasure in attending the Cattle Shows of the Middle- 

 sex, Worcester, and Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin Agricul- 

 tural Societies ; and the town Shows of Barre and Petersham ; and 

 in witnessing the spirit of improvement every where awake. 



