minated the first board of agriculture in New Hampshire and one of the first in the country.

THE NEW BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

At various times within the last quarter of a century have efforts been made to re-establish the board or create a new commission; and as often has a failurè, sometimes by a single vote, been the result. At length, in the year 1870, after a lapse of half a century, a new board was organized by the unanimous votes of both branches of the legislature, and in due time the governor and council made appointment of the gentlemen herein named, to constitute the board:

Merrimack County - Moses Humphrey, of Concord.
Belknap County - Thomas J. Whipple, of Laconia.
Hillsborough County-James O. Adams, of Manchester.
Cheshire County-Sampson W. Buffum, of Winchester.
Carroll County-W. H. H. Mason, of Moultonborough.
Grafton County - Luther B. Hoskins, of Lyman.
Strafford County - Charles Jones, of Milton.
Rockingham County -Joseph F. Lawrence, of Epping.
Coos County-Nathan R. Perkins, of Jefferson.
Sullivan County - Edward H. Brown, of Croydon.

In the month of December Mr. Brown resigned his place and was succeeded by John S. Walker, of Claremont, who has never met with the board, being absent in Europe. A few months later Col. Whipple, who never acted as a member, was succeeded at his own request by Capt. Thomas Coggswell, of Gilmanton, and on the resignation of Hon. Charles Jones, on petition of the members, Hon. Hiram R. Roberts, of Rollinsford, was appointed to fill the vacancy.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD.

FIRST MEETING.

In response to a call of the member first named, the board, with exception of the member from Belknap, met at the Council Chamber in Concord, on Tuesday, the 23d day of August, and organized by the unanimous choice of Hon. Moses Humphrey, of Concord, as chairman, and James O. Adams, of Manchester, as secretary.

A good portion of the session was occupied in discussing plans of operation, in which all the members of the board gave a free expression of opinion.

Several propositions were discussed, looking towards the collection of agricultural information, the recommendation of the proper breeds of animals for our state, the holding of meetings for discussion in the several counties, and other matters within the proper sphere of the board. It was voted that members be commissioned to prepare essays or be ready to talk on call on the following topics:

"Short Horns," as adapted to New Hampshire, with the points to be considered in selecting, was assigned to Mr. Buffum, of Winchester.

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Devons," with the same qualifications, was committed to Mr. Brown, of Croydon.

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'Sheep and Sheep Breeding" was entrusted to the hands of Dr. Mason, of Moultonborough.

It was understood that these subjects, and others not then designated, would be discussed during the autumn and winter, and that so much of the discussion as appeared to be valuable should be incorporated in the report to the governor.

It was ordered that members of the board attend the fairs as far as possible, note and report whatever was worthy of commendation or of condemnation.