BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



F^Ii:VIERS' I]SrSTITUTES. 



AROOSTOOK COUNTY. 



The season's work of holding Fanners' Institutes was opened in 

 Aroostook county, at the town hall in Maysville, September 15th, 

 by invitation of the Ma^'sville Grange. This was made the occasion 

 of an excursion to the count}- which brought large numbers of visi- 

 tors, a goodly number of whom were present at the meeting. The 

 hospitality of the citizens of the town was extended to all visitors 

 from abroad and was amply sufficient for all. 



CoixMBUs Hayford. of Maysville, presided, and introduced -as 

 first in order the following 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



BY EDWARD WIGGIN. ESQ. 



Mr. Presicient, Gentlemen of the Board of Agriculture and Visiting 

 Friends : I have been invited to speak a word of welcome to these 

 friends who are here with us to-da}' from other parts of the State, 

 and who have come here to instruct us and confer with us in regard to 

 the interests of agriculture. And, my friends, in behalf of ]\Ia3's- 

 ville Centre Grange, and in behalf of the citizens of this Aroostook 

 valley, I bid ^'ou a cordial welcome. We meet, I say, to consult 

 together in regard to matters which pertain to our calling as tillers 

 of the soil, the oldest and noblest occupation of man. The heat of 

 the political contest is over. The last partizan speech has been 

 made. The last vote cast. The dust and smoke of the battle has 

 cleared away. The dead have been buried with appropriate honors, 

 the wounded have been tenderly cared for. And to-da}' we meet 

 amid these scenes of peace and moral quietude not as partizans but 

 as friends, as brothers and sisters, for the common purpose of giving 

 and receiving instruction, and conferring together in regard to those 

 matters which have a common interest to us all. I welcome you 

 not only to a land of peace but to a land of plenty. I do not mean 



