22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



by Secretary Wilson lately, shows that the agricultural prod- 

 ucts of this country today exceed more than six billion dollars. 

 That is the size of the farming industry in the United States. 

 Think of it ! What an immense sum that is ! Why, you can- 

 not compute it. It is more than all the mines. More than all 

 the financial power. It is really greater than the railroads 

 or any of the other vast interests of the country. Where does 

 it come from? Well, it comes from the soil. How does it 

 come from the soil? Why, the most of it comes through the 

 labor and the brains of the people who live upon the soil. 

 You cannot get away from that. It comes from those who 

 plod right down to the earth. Can there be any doubt then 

 about the agricultural interests of this country? Mark what 

 I say. It must be upon the agricultural interests of this 

 country that is based the perpetuity and maintenance of this 

 nation of ours. It cannot be otherwise. Look among any 

 other class of people on this broad earth, and you cannot 

 find such a condition as that ' anywhere else. It comes from 

 the agricultural interests of this country, the basis of which 

 is Mother Earth. That is all there is to it. 



Now as to our mission. We come only as plain common 

 people among you. We are glad to be welcomed as we have 

 been. We come to receive good at these meetings, and we 

 hope we shall be able to do you good. We certainly shall re- 

 ceive benefit if we get your cordial sympathy and your coopera- 

 tion in the little work that we intend to do. 



Thanking you, Mr. Mayor, for this hearty welcome which 

 you have extended for the people of Willimantic, I again say 

 we are glad to be among you this morning, and to receive 

 this greeting. (Applause.) 



Now the next thing on our programme seems to be an 

 address on " What the Department of Agriculture is Doing 

 for the Farmer," by Dr. H. J. Webber, of Washington, D. C. 

 I have the honor of introducing the gentleman to you now. 



