FARM HUSBANDRY. 15 



time. Neither should we now have had them if it had not 

 been for this spirit of inquiry which actuated these men's 

 minds, this brain-work which showed the great necessity for 

 better tools and implej aents of husbandry as well as meth- 

 ods. And then, as soon as this want became known, it was 

 urged upon the inventors and mechanics, who have gradu- 

 ally made these great improvements in tools and all other 

 implements used by the farmers. This Board itself is but an 

 outgrowth of these and the other agricultural societies, made 

 up as it is by one delegate from each society, and three ap- 

 pointed at large by the governor, and a few others ex officio. 

 The necessity of fostering this great interest, upon which the 

 success of all manufactures and commerce depends, and 

 which lies at the foundation of this and all other nations' 

 prosperity, became so apparent to a few gentlemen, at the 

 head of whom was Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, the senior 

 member of this Board, that they applied to the Legislature, 

 which passed an Act establishing the State Board of Agricul- 

 ture, and giving it the general control of all agricultural 

 matters within the State. These meetings are one of the 

 methods adopted by the Board for aiding the farmers and 

 others interested in finding better, more economical and suc- 

 cessful methods of farm husbandry, and have become, under 

 this management, a part of the system of State agricultural 

 education. 



The Committee of Arrangements have procured lecturers 

 to open the subjects before this meeting; but we depend 

 upon all in attendance to discuss them in a spirit of fairness 

 and intelligence, and to give the results of their practical 

 experience, and to throw such light as they are able upon 

 the matters before the meeting. 



In the selection of subjects for the lectures and discus- 

 sions, we have followed the usual custom, and have selected 

 such as were somewhat adapted to the locality where the 

 meetings are held, as by so doing we should create a greater 

 interest in the immediate vicinity of the meeting. 



And now allow me to say a few words about the town of 

 Waltham, which, as many of you know, is located in the 

 immediate vicinity of the great market-garden interest of the 

 State. A ride of ten miles in almost any direction from 

 where we now are would take you through a section of 



