ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 61 



I attempted to cany out President Chadbourne's plan of 

 picking the bugs ; and I found it was not so much work as 

 some people thought it was, although it was considerable 

 work. I picked them ; and although I did not keep the vines 

 entirely clear, yet I kept them in such condition, that I got a 

 bountiful crop. 



Adjourned to half-past seven o'clock. 



EvENiKG Session. 



The meeting was called to order at half-past seven o'clock, 

 by Capt. Moore, who introduced President Chadbourne of 

 Williams College. 



ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 



BY HON. P. A. CHADBOURNE. 



Mr. Chairman^ Ladies and G-entlemen, — I appear before 

 you to perform a very unpleasant service ; and that is, to take 

 the place of the lecturer who has been advertised to speak 

 here to-night, — one who would have come prepared to give 

 you instruction in regard to a far-off land; in regard to a 

 people in whom we take a very great interest. I am sorry 

 to say that President Clark is entirely unable to be here 

 to-night. It is unpleasant at any time to take the place of 

 another lecturer, but especially such a lecturer as he is, 

 having such a subject as he proposed to present. Besides, 

 I feel in regard to this Board, having been called upon year 

 after year for so long a time, very much like the old minister 

 down in Maine, who came to a parish, and preached about 

 six months, and then told the people that he should have to 

 leave. "Why so?" — "Why," said he, "I have told you 

 all the stories I know, and, if I stay any longer, I shall have 

 to tell the same stories over again." But Mr. Flint tele- 

 graphed me, on hearing of President Clark's illness, to fill 

 his place, and I am here in obedience to that summons. 



It is understood, I believe, that I shall take some sort of 

 outside course whenever I appear as the lecturer of the 

 Board ; and I am going to commence far off, and work up to 



