1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



37 



all abolitionifits, as he said. The Yankees who 

 coolly go to -work in their o-\vn -vvay, without re- 

 gard to custom or precedent, are a puzzle to the 

 Virginians. They soon see the advantage of cer- 

 tain modes of doing things, however, and are not 

 long in adopting what appears to be the best 

 method of managing a farm. 



Such is the influence already exerted upon the 

 most intelligent of our neighbors. WithouL any 

 design or desire to influence them or meddle in 

 the afiairs of others in any way, the Yankee fcu'- 

 mers went to work in their own way, and the re- 

 sult of their lal)ors was sufficient to convince any 

 but a fool, that the soil had been trilled with, and 

 that a climate that would furnish green beans five 

 months in the year, was good enough for anybody 

 with brains. — Boston Journul. 



THE STATE BOARD OF AGBICULTUE.E. 

 This Board met at the State House Nov. 29th, 

 and continued its sittings three days, Hon. Mak- 

 sriALL P. Wilder presided over its deliberations. 

 The subject of the formation of farmers' clubs, 

 and the act of 1859, was taken up and discussed 

 at some length, when a committee was appointed 

 to consider the act in relation to the formation of 

 said clubs. This committee, consisting of Messrs. 

 Bartlett, Fisher, Brown and Grennell, sub- 

 sequently reported : That the chief, perhaps the 

 only object, attempted at this time, should be the 

 establishment of farmers' clubs, and the aid of 

 those already established. They did not recom- 

 mend details, but advised the appointment of a 

 committee to carry out the provisions of the act, 

 and recommended that the plans, constitutions and 

 by-laws of the various farmers' clubs already or- 

 ganized, should be as much in uniformity as pos- 

 sible with those hereafter formed. They also ad- 

 vised that each member of the Board should give 

 notice in the several towns within the limits of 

 his society, of the desire of the Board to estal>lish 

 farmers' clubs, and of the benefits to be derived 

 from them. 



Reports of the delegates to the county societies 

 were then read and discussed. 



SECOND DAY. 



Reports of delegates Avere continued. Upon 

 the motion to accept one of these reports an ani- 

 mated discussion ensued, which assumed a very 

 interesting character. 



Mr. Davis, of Plymouth, moved that the re- 

 ports be 7ioi printed. He thought much that was 

 seen and said would have no public interest, and 

 while they might be important in repeating details 

 to the Board for their information, yet a delegate 

 would not wish to utter it, if it were to go out 

 before the public. 



Mr. Grennell, of Greenfield, thought it best 

 t--^ administer reproof, Avhen needed, in private, 

 by way of suggestions to the officers of the soci- 



eties, where it would ordinarily do more good 

 than through the medium of a public printed re- 

 port. 



Prof. Clark, of Amherst, expressed the opinion 

 that the report of a delegate, if properly prepared, 

 was a document of permanent value as a means 

 of comparison and reference in future, and, as 

 such, worthy of publication. 



Mr. Broavn, of Concord, thought it well that 

 the delegate should give his ideas aiul recommend- 

 ations with reference to the exhibition he had wit- 

 nessed, but that the Board itself should ex- 

 press some decided opinion upon the practices 

 and customs criticised or commended, in the form 

 of a resolution, or some other mode of expression, 

 so that the farmers of the State may learn what 

 opinions the Board entertain Avith regard to the 

 modes of conducting the exhibitions in the sev- 

 eral counties. 



^Ir. Brooks, of Princeton, hoped the printing 

 of the reports would be discontinued, unless the 

 Board should adopt the plan of discussing them. 

 Dr. Fisher, of Fitchburg, was in favor of print- 

 ing. 



Mr. Lewis, of Framingham, said the reports 

 occupied on an average only about a ninth part 

 of the whole volume. They are its most valuable 

 parts, and are wanted as a means of comparison. 

 Messrs. Bartlett, Clark, Davis, Atwater, 

 Felton, and others, continued the debate at some 

 length, and then the motion not to print was laid 

 upon the table. 



The subject of holding a secoiul State Fair Avas 

 committed to a committee of five, Avho subsequent- 

 ly reported that a fair be held in September next, 

 at such place as will furnish the best accommoda- 

 tions and the necessary guarantee fund. 



Messrs. Bartlett, Clark and Bull were 

 elected a committee to carry out the provisions 

 of the act in relation to the establishment and en- 

 couragement of farmers' clubs. See chapter 203, 

 Massachusetts laws, 1859. 



Messrs. Wilder, Brooks, Bull, Sutton and 

 Atwater were elected delegates to attend the 

 annual meeting of the United States Agricultural 

 Society at Washington, on the second Wednesday 

 of January next. 



THIRD DAY. 



Board met at ten o'clock. The subject of the 

 returns of circulars, and the reports upon them 

 by the several committees, was discussed, and it 

 Avas ruled that the answers of the circulars should 

 be compiled by the respective committees, and 

 their contents reported at the annual meeting of 

 the Board in January next. 



Nearly all the members of the Board were pres- 

 ent, and they manifested a deep interest in th« 

 subjects presented for consideration. 



