48 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



hoped to make the college the home of all State farmers' associa- 

 tions, giving the members of the different associations an oppor- 

 tunity to meet and get acquainted with each other, as well as to 

 meet the members of the State Board of Agriculture and the facul- 

 ty of the Agricultural College, and to visit the State Experiment 

 Station and observe the experiments which are being carried on. 

 The State Corn Show has become a fixed feature of these conven- 

 tions, and at the last meeting prizes, aggregating nearly $1,000, 

 were given for the best exhibits of corn. The first State boy-s* 

 com growing contest was held this year, boys receiving prizes from 

 the State Board of Agriculture amounting to $200, and from the 

 Commercial Club of Columbia to the amount of about $150. The 

 boys' corn growing contest will be the principal feature of the 

 meeting to be held in 1908. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME ON BEHALF OF STATE UNIVER- 

 SITY. 



(Hon. Walter Williams, Member Board of Curators.) 



It is my pleasure, Mr. President and gentlemen, to add a word 

 to what the city government, through the president of the council, 

 has said to you in the way of welcome. 



I recognize the inability on my part to follow two Christian 

 preachers, and one a city councilman as well. I have always hesi- 

 tated in speaking to an audience of farmers. It would seem natural 

 that a man, after asking thirteen or fourteen or fifteen farmers 

 for their daughters, should get used to it. (Applause.) But the 

 first time he does a thing of that kind it is very embarrassing, and 

 he hesitates always thereafter when he speaks in the presence of 

 one or more farmers. , 



In the name of President Jesse, whose regrettable illness gives 

 me place here in his stead, in the name of the Board of Curators, 

 of the faculty and of the students, I bid you welcome. 



This is your University, if you are Missourians. It is here to 

 serve all the people of all the State, as that which Missouri builds 

 or bears or adopts should ever serve all the people of all the State. 

 If you will note, on yonder portico you will see as the central orna- 

 ment of this great building the central building of the University 

 quadrangle and campus, the great seal of the commonwealth, which 

 says to all Missourians that the welfare of the people is the su- 



