126 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7. 

 ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 



By W. G. HuNTON. 



At this meeting, our thirteenth annual meeting of the State 

 Dairy Conference, we have but to look at the exhibits in the lower 

 hall, the number of the old members present today, the large and 

 interested audience of last night, and the grand welcome extend- 

 ed to us by the citizens of this city, to prove to us beyond a doubt 

 that the farmers of Maine have entered upon an era of prosper- 

 ity and progression that means much to the future of our State. 

 A.nd for this organization that represents one of the largest and 

 most important industries, is it especially necessary that while 

 we are conservative yet we shall accomplish something that will 

 advance the enthusiasm and general interest in our State in dairy- 

 ing. In reviewing what we have accomplished for the past year, 

 we feel that much good has been done by the association; but it 

 has also made it more evident that we have the opportunity to 

 do much, very much more. Notwithstanding the fact that the 

 price of all dairy products has been far above the average for the 

 past year and the price of all live stock high, yet statistics of last 

 April show a depreciation in numbers of several thousands. This 

 I believe to be largely due to the high price of veal. Alany farm- 

 ers cannot understand that it is for their interest sometimes to re- 

 fuse an immediate profit to protect themselves against a future 

 v/ant that will curtail their business. At our last annual meet- 

 ing the officers of this association were authorized to hold a pre- 

 liminary meeting in each county, to stimulate the dairy interests 

 in the State and encourage a larger attendance at this, our annual 

 meeting. But the association forgot to provide the officers funds 

 for travelling from county to county, advertising the meetings, 

 and obtaining suitable halls and speakers for the several meet- 

 ings. But it does not require a very extended acquaintance with 

 our secretary to know that he is equal to almost any occasion and 

 not at all timid about asking for assistance to advance any in- 

 terest pertaining to agriculture ; and we were astonished at the 

 apparent pleasure with which all our wants were supplied. And 



