12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



But I must hasten on to the latter part of my subject, lest I 

 weary your patience: "The influence of Agricultural Societies 

 and Industrial Fairs upon the various interests of the State." 



Perhaps we might turn aside for a few moments to consider the 

 influence they ought to have. We would have all, and particular- 

 ly that numerous class of our people who earn their bread by the 

 labor of their hands, remember that the pioneers in these matters, 

 the fathers, protectors and supporters of agricultural societies 

 and fairs, were men who honestly sought for the best good of the 

 industrial classes, and who earnestly desired to place within the 

 reach of those who were to succeed ^hem in the active duties of 

 life, those means by which they might ; ender their circumstances 

 and situation more pleasant and th'eir labor more profitable than 

 had been their own. Well do I remember to-day the faces of 

 some of those noble old leaders in this enterprise. First and 

 foremost, were Parson Thurston, Dr. Holmes, the Woods and 

 others of Winthrop, Col. 'Greene of Winslow, Pierce of Mon- 

 mouth, Hon. John Otis and J. W. Haines of Hallowell, Dr. Bald- 

 win and Major Thing of Mt. Vernon, Esquire Fogg, Col, Bean, 

 Capt. Haines and others of Readfield, Hon. J. H. Underwood of 

 Fayette, Wardsworth of Livermore, and many others whose names 

 I am unable at this moment to recall. These men had no selfish 

 schemes to carry out, or personal ambition to gratify, but they 

 labored for the good of those who were to come after them. 

 When they commenced the work in Winthrop there was no agri- 

 cultural society in Maine, they had neither experience nor- pre- 

 cedent to guide them and there was no money to work with save 

 what they drew from their own pockets, and that did not find its 

 way there . so easily as money does now-a-days. But, stirred by 

 benevolence and philanthrophy", they began the work, and small 

 as was their beginning and untoward as were their circumstances, 

 it marked the beginning of a new and most important era, not 

 onl}^ in agriculture and mechanics, but also in the professions, 

 literature and politics of our State ; for no man of whatever pro- 

 fession or occupation can succeed for any length of time in any 

 community unless he is in sympathy with the people. 



The same class of self-sacrificing men have ever since, even up 

 to this day, had the management of this matter, and have freely 

 given to it their time, thought and money. When individuals 

 criticise or find fault with the manner in which our societies and 

 fairs are conducted, let them remember that the earnest study and 



