INTRODUCTION. • XXVli 



great demand by our farmers, and my small apportionment is but a di'op 

 in the bucket of demand, in my section. 



Of course, the Board has not maintained an existence twenty-five years 

 without meeting opposition. Hardly a session of the Legislature passes 

 but some public spirited member, hailing somewhere from Quoddy to 

 Madawaska. upon whom the mantle of '•■reform" has fallen, in his own 

 estimation, attacks the Boai'd as a ''useless institution," a ''leech ujDon 

 the treasury." and many such endearing epithets. Think of it. you bloated 

 office holders — you members of the Board who work for nothing and board 

 round. Don't your consciences smite you for your extravagance? But. 

 so far it has withstood all such uncalled for attacks, and has gained 

 friends, and been strengthened by the opposition and clamor for a mis- 

 taken economy. I presume the same old cry will come up again next 

 winter, led on by some ignorant, self-constituted guardian of the State 

 treasury. 



But the greatest change has tal»en place in the composition of tlie Board 

 itself. I look around me to-day and find but one present who was a mem- 

 ber ten years ago, and there are but two of us on the rolls. Three genera- 

 tions of members, as it were, have come and gone, have been elected by 

 their several societies, served a three j'ears' term, have done their work 

 and given place to others, and some of tliem have left vacancies which 

 can never be filled. Of the influence wliich the Board in its labors has 

 exercised upon the community, and of its value to the agricultural inter- 

 ests of Maine, it is not for me to say. it must speak for itself; but I think 

 I can truthfull}- saj-, its record will compare favorably with that of any 

 other body or society in the State, and I trust and have no doubt another 

 decade will find it still more worthj^ of support, and a still greater and 

 more powerful agent in forwarding that great interest, agriculture, which 

 "iinderlies and is the foundation of all material and national prosperity." 



A review of the industrial histoiy of Maine will show that 

 agriculture has ever been its leading productive interest. 

 This must continue to be such for generations to come, and 

 on its development and improvement in the future will 

 depend the prosperity of all classes of its citizens, and 

 through them that of the State. We have in Maine — census 

 of 1870 — 208,225 persons engaged in the various occupations 

 in life. Of the whole number having employment, 28,115 

 were engaged in trade and transportation ; 36,092 in profes- 

 sional effort ; 62,007 in manufactures and mining, and 82,011 

 in agriculture. Thus thirty-nine per cent, of laboring per- 

 sons in our State are devoted to the productive and creating 

 employment of agriculture. For the farmer creates products 

 that before had no existence, and at the same time increases 



