xxiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Agricultural College. 



The report of the examining committee of the Agricultural 

 College will be found printed on pages 215-223 of this 

 volume. The ninth annual report of the Hatch Experiment 

 Station of the college (Pub. Doc, No. 31) is by law bound 

 with the report of the secretary of the Board of Agriculture 

 in this volume. 



Returns of Societies. 



These returns will be found printed on pages 457-486 of 

 this volume. A summary, contrasting the totals of 1894, 

 1895 and 189B, is printed on page 486. Attention is called 

 to the report of the committee on agricultural societies^ 

 which is printed on pages 224-225 of this volume. 



Agricultural Directory. 



A directory of the agricultural organizations of the Com- 

 monwealth, with oiBcers for 1897, will be found printed on 

 pages 487-501 of this volume. As it is a somewhat difficult 

 task to make this directory complete and up to date, it would 

 be considered a favor if those who are interested in this 

 feature of the annual report of the secretary of the Board 

 would report to the secretary any cases of omission or error 

 which may come to their notice. The intention is to publish 

 yearly an agricultural directory which can be relied upon as 



being accurate. 



The Library. 



The valuable reference library in the office of the secretary 

 is being constantly enlarged, and its various branches made 

 more complete by exchange, by gift and by purchase. 

 Under a by-law of the Board the first clerk of the secretary 

 has been appointed librarian and curator, and the general 

 charge of the library has become a part of his duties. It is 

 expected that when the Board removes to its new quarters in 

 the State House the library will be thoroughly overhauled, 

 and steps taken towards putting it in such condition, by in- 

 dexing and cataloguing, that it will become even more valu- 



