Messrs. Humphrey and Mason were chosen their own successors, and George S. Philbrick has succeeded C. W. Hackett in Belknap county. For the term commencing June, 1886, Joseph Farnum, of Peterborough, has been appointed successor to D. H. Goodell, and Jason S. Perry, of Rindge, succeeds George K. Harvey.

* Post-office address, Concord.

STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1886-87.

The secretary being ex-officio a member of each.

Finance. - Messrs. Humphrey and Parker.

Horses. Messrs. Whittemore and Farnum.

Neat Cattle. Messrs. Perry and Carr.

Sheep, Swine, and Poultry. - Messrs. Lyman and Mason. The Dairy. Messrs. Parker and Whittemore.

Diseases of Animals. Messrs. Mason and Philbrick.

Farm Machinery. - Messrs. DeMeritte and Humphrey. Farm Products. Messrs. Farnum and DeMeritte.

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Experimental Work. — Messrs. Philbrick and Lyman.
Miscellaneous Matters. Messrs. Carr and Perry.

AGRICULTURAL ROOMS, CONCORD, N. H., May 31, 1886.

To His Excellency the Governor :

It is required by statute authority to place the report of the Board of Agriculture in the hands of the public printer by the first day of May, annually. The fifteenth volume, now presented, is only technically prepared at this date. Though the secretary has the outlines of the report in readiness, there is much detail of farm-work, experiments, trials of new machinery, and most of the studied and valuable papers that will occupy these pages yet to be collected. They are in the hands, if not in the heads, of their authors and are secured for the public only through the repeated and persistent efforts of the secretary. There are now in preparation, soon to be perfected, a number of papers whose matter has been discussed at the winter meetings, and which will be presented in a far better form than they would have been, except under the direction of their authors; others still, on practical farm topics, or those closely allied to our agricultural interests, will find a welcome place on these pages and at the farmers' homes.

The delay which has thus been caused in the printing will admit much fresh material, and perhaps lead the reader to charge the secretary with admitting articles not in chronological accord with the date of the preface. They will, however, bear the evidence of a more careful preparation and be more acceptable to the people in whose interests they are prepared.

JAMES O. ADAMS, Secretary.