XXX BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



granges, local associations and farmers' conventions, discus- 

 sions and institutes — are all efficient agencies for promoting 

 that art and science which is the grandest creative art in the 

 universe, and upon the advancement of which all the material 

 interests of the State depend. 



The State, in one sense, may be regarded as an organiza-- 

 tion of citizens for mutual benefit, supported by taxes which 

 are self-imposed. The taxes are paid by the people who 

 own the property and are the creators of the wealth upon 

 which the amount realized from taxation depends, for the 

 support of the political organization known as the State. It 

 is therefore thoroughly competent for the people to say, 

 through their servants the representatives, that a portion of 

 the income of the State shall be devoted to increasing the 

 productive capacity of the same. How can this be done? 

 By encouraging the obtaining of that knowledge and skill 

 needed in the prosecution of the business of farming, in indi- 

 vidual producers, by the support of the State College of 

 Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts for young men, the Board 

 of Agricultui'e for adults, and all those agencies which are 

 educators of the farmers at large ; and by carrying on experi- 

 ments, as is being done at the State College farm at Orono, 

 which are both illustrative and investigative, which demand 

 skill and knowledge, and the employment of means and appli- 

 ances which cannot be commanded by individuals. 



Nothing can be plainer than that all classes of citizens, re- 

 gardless of party, are either closely or remotely interested 

 in the prosperity of the productive industries of the State, 

 and that measures which aid these are not amenable to the 

 charge of class legislation, but are in fact for the general and 

 common good. When the agriculture of Maine prospers, 

 everyl)ody rejoices ; when it suffers, those engaged in all 

 other occupations, however remotely connected, feel a cor- 

 responding depression. In view of these facts, it belongs 

 to the State to look to its own advancement and prosperity 

 through the increased knowledge and skill of its producers, 



