The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-02-21
BOARD OF AGRicuLTuRE.

one member from each county, and holds an
annual sission of fourteen days to investigate
matters pertaining to the general husbandry
OF the State.
The bringing together Of such body Of
men is necessarily benefit to themselves,
and we trust to those who send them. BY
comparison Of views and practice, and by the
reports here prepared, and the discussions
which follow, together with essays carefully
prepared before the session, At home, and re-
ports Of experiments instituted to ascertain
the conditions of successful production, q
greater or less amount of information is
elected. This is spread abroad through the
newspapers Of the day, and subsequently, in
the Secrctary's Report.
She duties of its Secretary are, briefly, to
acquaint himself, by personal inspection.
with the agricultural capabilities Of the State,
its soil, its crops, its means Of fertilization,
its methods Of husbandry,. and to suggest
improvements to correspond and invite ex.
change Of documents with kindred associa-
tons in other States and countries; to pre-
pare an annual report, embracing the doings
of the Board, the result Of his Investigations,
with such recommendations and suggestions
as the interests ofagriculturo seem to require;
to prepare, also, an abstract of the returns
from agricultural societies, sitting out Of the
great mass 40 returned whatever may be Of
public interest.
Prior to the reorganization Of the Board
in 1856 the publications Of the State were,
chiefly, reprints Of the reports made to the
county societies, and small edition sulliced
to meet the demand. During tho past five
years, the demand has steadily increased,
and has always been far in advance Of tho
supply, notwithstanding an enlargement Of
the issue. This demand testifes, to the ap-
probation in which they are held in our own
State. Abroad, they have been sought for
in exchange, often quoted from in the publi-
cations Of other States, and have been pro-
nounced .models of excellence in the depart
ment they represent" One Of the best agri-
cultural authors of our time, resident Of
another State, in correspondence with one Of
our number says: "Your worthy Secretary
works with zeal no less ardent than en-
lightened. In my Judgment his reports and
suggestions are invaluable to farmers. They
excel in dircctncss, and working force, any
thing in this class in the course Of my agri.
cultural reading"
OF the results Of his labors. we may men.
ton two or three instances. In 1857. the
Secretary visited Aroostook county-thcn
little known or spoken of-and investigated
its capabilities for production. His conclu.
sions formed large part Of the Report Of
that year and its publication at once
awakened q general interest throughout this
and other states. The next year, body Of
the editorial fraternity was induced to visit
that section. Very soon the inquiries made
of the Land Agent, induced the issue Of TO-
900 copies Of circular fall of which were
distributed, aflording the desired information,
and which was chiefly made up Of extracts
from Mr.. Goodales Report; and by these
and other agencies, q great and steady in.
crease Of population and wealth has flowed
into that country. In the Secretary's Re
port for 1868, among other papers OF value,
we have treatise on the principles Of breed.
ing, which supplies want long felt by the
agricultural community; and much infor-
nation was thus supplied never before within
the reach of farmers. This treati,e was
republished in Boston and has beencirculatcd
in every State and Territory in the Union
It's effects will be visible for many years to
come, in the constantly increasing value Of
our domestic animals. which must necessarily
follow enlightened practice. The labor Of
the Secretary during the past year, investiga-
ting our resources in the matter Of marine
manurcs, and especially the manufacture
of"fsh guano," may result in the establish
meut Of q new branch Of industry, and the