22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



plause.) I think I can safdy say on behalf of the Board of 

 Agriculture and the gentlemen present attending this session, 

 that they keenly appreciate the hearty welcome extended by 

 the reform mayor of Bridgeport. And I think I can as 

 safely say that while we are here we shall endeavor to do 

 nothing that will interfere with the continuation of his reform. 

 I think it will be easy for us to do this, for the propensities of 

 the farmer are always law-abiding. 



My subject is rather of an indefinite one, and is stated on 

 the program to be an introductory address. I shall feel, 

 therefore, free, for the few minutes that I occupy your atten- 

 tion, to discuss almost anything that I feel inclined to. I look 

 to this day in the Old Farmers' Almanac and I read that this 

 is the time of the year for inside work. I congratulate you 

 all upon having come together for a little inside work and en- 

 joyment: there is a time in every man's life when he likes 

 winter better than he does summer. That age usually runs, I 

 think, from four to fourteen. Then there is a time when he 

 likes the city better than he does the country. I think that, 

 in my case, ran from eighteen to thirty. Then there comes 

 again a time when he likes the summer better than the winter, 

 and the country better than he does the city. I think that is 

 about the age I am at now. I own a little piece of the country, 

 but I do not pretend to be a farmer, for I am not, and I do 

 not pretend to like farming, for I do not. My first ancestor 

 in Connecticut'is said to have owned a very large portion of 

 Windham county, which he exchanged very soon for a rifle 

 and a horse, his reason being that he would rather fight 

 Indians than farm it. I am afraid that I take after that an- 

 cestor. Still, I want you to understand that there is no reason 

 in the world why I should not sympathize with the farmers of 

 Connecticut, for I do. I know that their row is a hard one to 

 hoe, and many times a most discouraging one to dig, for 

 they find in some cases but little in the hill. I appreciate that 

 fact, and I want to say to you freely that there is not an in- 



