li BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



s\'stem of teaching covering the whole field of agriculture. It must 

 be a school of itself, brought down to the solid footing of plain 

 instruction in science and practice, and sealed by the sweat of 

 the student's face upon the farm. There are other means of 

 agricultural education tlian schools and colleges which commend them- 

 selves to the thoughtful and observing, which are our agricultural 

 societies : thev are scliools of observation and incentives to study, 

 yielding a rich return to those who labor so generously in their behalf. 

 No other means have been more effective in infusing pride and awak- 

 ing a spirit of emulation among farmers that they should be conducted 

 with a closer reference to the elucidation of facts. The}' should be 

 in close sympathy with the largest portion of our people, the pro- 

 ducers. The public heart should throb in their behalf and answer 

 every reasonable demand of those who live by labor and desire to 

 educate themselves in the most intelligent and acceptable methods of 

 farming. The farmer who carries away the prize is always proud of 

 it, and should have the credit of taking a forward step in advancing the 

 standard of agriculture. Not wishing by any means to recommend, 

 only as a suggestion, sir, it is my opinion that our State agricultural 

 societies should be state institutions, then strictly audited accounts 

 would be kept and free to be carefully looked over by any member 

 of the society who wishes to do so. Then the few devoted souls who 

 have shouldered the burdens of the institution, and have been carr}'- 

 ing it along year after year b}' their persevering and untiring efforts, 

 would be free from the upbraiding of the inquisitive and interested 

 public. 



It is too bad for our State Agricultural Society to be struggling 

 through a financial depression. The farmers of Minnesota were de- 

 lighted and too glad when the State appropriated $100,000 for the 

 establishment of a State fair, notwithstanding it was their own hard 

 earned dollars that paid the bill. Their legislators seemed to be 

 aware of the fact that these agricultural interests were the back- 

 bone and the foundation of their prosperity and success as a State. 

 Hence, I think our agricultural societies should be harrowed over 

 that they may be made more productive and bear better fruit. 



Our institute work is accepted by the farmers with good grace, and in 

 my experijence is satisfactory. It has been the endeavor of our Sec- 

 retary to provide something new for discussion, and b}' all means 

 something true. These meetings are more particularh' for the ben- 

 efit of men of my age, and like myself, whose school da^'s have 



