194 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



erative spirit as applied to farming or manufacturing interests, 

 to any industrial interests, or even to municipal afifairs. Cer- 

 tainly in cooperation great benefits may be derived ; and I believe 

 that particularly at the present time the citizens of Maine are 

 beginning to realize more and more the benefits to be derived 

 in this "get-together" spirit. I believe that Maine has perhaps 

 not been as progressive on lines of that sort as some of the 

 states west of us, but forces are at w^ork in various ways that 

 are bringing about a happier condition, a condition that prom- 

 ises well for the state. 



I do not know that there is anything of special interest T 

 could offer to the dairymen. Certainly I do not know much 

 about dairying, although I remember as a boy the various cows 

 I milked and the troubles I had with them. I would offer this 

 suggestion to the dairymen and the seed men, and to all of you 

 who are particularly interested in agricultural lines, — that you 

 encourage the young people, especially with reference to the 

 scientific idea of farming. I think that farm life can be made 

 more attractive to the younger people, so that they will show a 

 greater disposition to remain on the farm and grow up on the 

 farm. I notice in the papers that I get from the west that in 

 about all the fairs out there they have competition classes of 

 boys and girls, in dairying and stock raising, and in the judging 

 of cattle and horses, and I would like to see some such thing 

 as that at our Maine fairs. I think generally our Maine fairs 

 are not as progressive as they should be. Perhaps we could 

 awaken a greater interes,t in fairs generally, if the younger 

 people were more interested. We are looking today at the 

 practical side of things. 



We believe we have an ideal convention city, situated as we 

 are near the center of population of the state, with splendid 

 hotels and good shopping facilities, and we want to extend to 

 you a welcome that is so sincere that it may impress you with 

 its sincerity and its cordiality and that we may have the pleas- 

 ure of seeing you here again in the near future. 



