1883.] FARMEES' CONVENTION. 17 



support, thus, by developing a more intelligent agriculture, become 

 a material benefit and blessing to the State. 



The President. I would now request the Rev. Mr. Backus 

 to favor us with an address. 



Rev. Mr. Backus. — I hope no one will attach too much 

 importance to the word "Address," which our president has 

 used. This is the first instant I have thought of addressing 

 this convention. I should, however, feel very sorry not to be 

 able, on the instant, to say a word of welcome, which I know 

 the people of this valley feel towards this convention that is 

 now assembled here. 



I will say, Mr. President, that for a good many days* the 

 meeting of this board has been a subject of animated con- 

 versation ; for a good many days, the programme of life has 

 been subjected to some little modification in order to allow as 

 much time and opportunity as possible to attend these meet- 

 ings. The programme has been studied; the names of those 

 from whom we are to have addresses have attracted attention. 

 We are glad to see them — men representing important senti- 

 ments and interests in the State, and whose high standing 

 awakens so much expectation on the part of those who will 

 hear them. 



We are a manufacturing community, but we never forget how 

 entirely the manufacturing interests depend upon the farming 

 interest. I do not see myself, although I must speak on this 

 subject as a layman, why Ellington, and Tolland, and Vernon, 

 and the other towns around here, cannot send cucumbers, 

 and squashes, and fruits to the market here, and command as 

 good prices and as remunerative returns for their labor, as 

 can be commanded by those who raise those products in New 

 Jersey, or at a distance, and send them by the New York & 

 New England Railroad ; when, as it sometimes happens, they 

 suffer great damage before they get here, and sometimes fail 

 to reach here in time. It seems to me, sir, that as citizens 

 of a manufacturing town, it is the most natural thing in the 

 world that we should have a warm and earnest welcome for 

 the meeting of the State Board of Agriculture in this town 



