78 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



in every plant out of all these useful plants to man, — 

 the power of constant variation. Let it be remembered, that 

 although we may have the most beautiful rose, or the most 

 beautiful flower here, next year some one may produce, by 

 virtue of this law of which I have spoken, a still more 

 beautiful one ; that although you may have the most delicious 

 grapes, strawberries, oranges, peaches, pears, next year some 

 one may have something better than those. That is, in all 

 these plants that we have for beauty and for utilit}^, there is 

 lodged a principle that is exactly in keeping with the nature 

 of that mind which God has given us. He has given us a 

 mind that is capable of indefinite improvement. There is 

 no end to the knowledge that man may gather and use ; and 

 in the nature of the plants with which tliis earth is clothed 

 we have the same law. They may go on improving indefi- 

 nitely. No man can place a limit to the improvement of 

 fruits and flowers. There is no limit to the operation of that 

 law placed in them, of indefinite improvement, corresponding 

 exactly to the law which God has given our minds, that we 

 may improve indefinitely. And it is here, in my judgment, 

 that we have the best pay that we possibly can have, as we 

 go on from day to day earning our living from the soil, — 

 that we can use these grand laws which God has impressed 

 upon the plants we cultivate, to increase their beauty for our 

 delight, as well as their utility for our comfort and support. 

 The enjoyment that comes from the contemplation of such 

 laws and such results is a rich reward for a rational being. 



Major Phinney of Barnstable. I feel that it is but due 

 to Professor Chadbourne to say that he has always been 

 prompt to respond to every call of the Board of Agriculture, 

 as he has done in this emergency. I would move that a 

 vote of thanks be tendered to him for his useful, interesting, 

 and instructive lecture this evening. 



This motion was carried unanimously, and the Board ad- 

 journed to Wednesday morning at half-past nine o'clock. 



