48 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



This is, ill Jjrief, tlio plan upou which Ihu Indiana World's Fair Com- 

 missiou is laboring to bring out a creditable display of agricultural prod- 

 ucts. The heartj', earnest, enthusiastic co-operation of all who are labor- 

 ing along those lines must be secured to bring about the most desii'able 

 results and rewards, as well as credit, to our commonwealth. We are 

 all proud, and have a riglit to be, of our past achievements, but we must 

 look well to the future if we are to retain our prestige among the proud, 

 progressive and incomparable galaxy of States, the present wonder of 

 the world along the line of progress and achievement. 



Now, I am glad to be able to appear before this body of representa- 

 tive agriculturists and tell you at first hand what our aims and ambitions 

 are, and to invoke your interest and hearty co-operation. I desire to 

 appeal to you for some sort of substantial aid and encouragement, such 

 as may be in your power to contribute. The World's Fair Commission 

 has done all it can in the matter with the means at its command. If 

 a State agricultural society stands for anything it is for the promotion 

 of agricultnre and its allied industries— the uplifting of by far the largest 

 class of our people representing our greatest industry. And any society 

 that is backed up, as this one is, by liberal State aid can and should 

 be a power for good along lines of work for which it was created. May 

 I suggest that you seriously consider this proposition at an early day 

 and decide to do something to encourage our display at St. Louis— some- 

 thing that would help to bring out the very best of everything, and any- 

 thing that would help to demonstrate to the world Indiana's greatness 

 as an agricultural State. It would have been strictly proper and appro- 

 priate for this Board to have been the prime and leading factor in 

 carrying this w'ork to a successful conclusion. You should have com- 

 manded and demanded this recognition. However, there are many things 

 you can do that would redound to your honor and the credit of the 

 State. 



I might suggest the offering of special premiums, the development of 

 extra interest along special lines of work in your several localities, a 

 bureau of promotion, and many other things that might suggest them- 

 selves to a State Agricultural Board. This could be done independently 

 or in co-operation with the commission, as you might determine. If you 

 decide that it is not advisable to hold a State Fair the coming season, 

 which in all probability will be the wise thing to do, your whole efforts 

 could be directed to this work. And as you have an annual appropria- 

 tion from the State to be used for the advancement of general agricul- 

 ture, why could you not use a portion of same for premiums and awards 

 to Indiana exhibitors at St. Louis who help to maintain our reputation 

 and build up our farming industries. A tree is known by its fruits, and 

 man, either individually or collectively, gains reputation and achieves 

 honor by his good works. We venture the assertion that there isn't an 

 enterprising taxpayer in the State who finds fault with the law appro- 



