12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



withstanding the fact, that it was aside from the great lines 

 of railway, and consequently more inaccessible than many 

 other localities, the attendance was good throughout, and the 

 interest kept up to .the close. 



PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOAKD, 



At BARRE. 



The annual meeting of the State Board of Agriculture 

 was held at Barre, in the Town Hall, on Tuesday, Wednes- 

 day and Thursday, Dec. 3d, 4th and 5th. 



The Board was called to order at 2 o'clock on Tuesday, by 

 Thos. P. Root, Esq., of Barre, cliairman of the committee 

 on meetings, who delivered the following 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



Oentlemcn of the Board of Agriculture : 



It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this meeting. 



We have looked forward to this event with increased 

 interest, ever since it was decided that this should be the 

 place where you would meet the country farmers, face to 

 face, and discuss the various ways by which we turn field 

 and forest, hillside and meadow, rough in nature as they 

 may be, into the best fertility, or how we shall best manage all 

 the varied interests of the fai-m, whether it be the manipula- 

 tion of the soil, the interest in our domestic animals, the 

 raising of grain, vegetables or fruit. 



We prize your coming the more, because of the eflbrt and 

 self-sacrifice you have made, in turning aside from any of 

 the great thoroughfares of travel, and consenting to ride in a 

 country conveyance over a country road, some of you ten 

 and some twenty miles to reach us. 



At your meeting last winter in Boston, when you were 

 called upon to decide where should be the place of your 

 country gathering, the question arose. What are the facilities 

 for reaching Barre ? The past and jiresent members of the 

 Board from this district stated to you, that in all probability 

 you could reach us by rail. The event has proved that the 



