RESPONSE TO ADDRESSES OF WELCOME. 



By Dr. L. S. Merrill, Orono. 



Your words of welcome are warmly appreciated, because 

 knowing you and the splendid citizenship you represent, we 

 know that you are indeed glad to have the Maine Dairymen's 

 and the Maine Seed Improvement Associations meet in your 

 city. In turn, we are equally glad that circumstances have so 

 directed the affairs of our Associations that their annual meet- 

 ings can be held in the city of Portland. 



We are glad because Portland is a beautiful city, because it 

 is the chief city of this great commonwealth, because its citi- 

 zens are public spirited, because of its strong and aggressive 

 business organizations, because these organizations have shown 

 an active interest in the development of agriculture, and be- 

 cause many of the members of the Portland Board of Trade 

 and the Portland Farmers' Club are active members of the As- 

 sociations which are tonight and will be for a few days your 

 guests. 



These Associations represent organized agriculture along two 

 fundamental lines of the industry, — plant, and dairy husbatidry. 

 It is from these two lines that Maine agriculture derives its 

 principal income, amounting to quite fifty million dollars annu- 

 ally. 



The Maine Dairymen's Association was organized to fill a 

 definite need in the dairy industry. It has helped to educate 

 and unify its membership; to improve the quality of dairy pro- 

 ducts; to place the industry on a firmer business basis. It has 

 labored under difficulties and its efforts have been practically 

 limited to holding an annual meeting and exhibition, simply be- 

 cause no direct appropriations have been made by the State for 

 its support. 



Its plans for the future must include liberal support from the 

 State and an aggressive promotion program. As business men 



