AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 265 



These annual volumes, embracing in all an issue of more 

 than two hundred and fifty thousand copies, have gone forth 

 not only to the farmers of this Commonwealth, but have 

 been distributed throughout our own and foreign lands. 

 They constitute a comprehensive library in themselves, 

 embracing essaj^s, reports, and discussions on almost every 

 subject in agriculture, and are eagerly sought for with every 

 issue. 



These reports have greatly promoted the objects for which 

 the Board was established, and extended its influence far 

 and wide. No similar publication, within my knowledge, 

 contains more practical and useful information for farmers. 

 Complete sets have already become valuable, and are more and 

 more appreciated. By these reports young men have been stim- 

 ulated to become farmers ; and by the example of the Board, 

 and the correspondence of its members, other States have been 

 led to establish State Boards of Agriculture on our plan. 



Nor must it be forgotten, that, from the first, the Massa- 

 chusetts State Board have been the firm friends of agricul- 

 tural education, and have always co-operated heartily for the 

 advancement and welfare of the agricultural college, whose 

 influence is now beginning to be felt, not only at home, but 

 in the far-off islands of Japan, where, to the honor of our 

 Commonwealth, William S. Clark, the president of her agri- 

 cultural college, has erected the first agricultural college 

 of Japan, and installed in its faculty (under the auspices 

 of that nation) a president and two professors, all of whom 

 were graduates of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. 



Gentlemen, I have spoken with freedom ; for I have 

 co-operated with this Board from its inception, and am 

 familiar with its operations. I have ever felt a deep interest 

 in the agriculture of Massachusetts, especially in the welfare 

 and usefulness of this department ; and I think facts fully 

 substantiate the statements I have made. I have therefore 

 thought it but just to submit to you my views in regard to 

 what it has accomplished in the first quarter of a century 

 of its existence. Tliis I have done, without any intention of 

 magnifying its importance, and only for the purpose of ren- 

 dering justice to those who assisted in laying its foundations, 

 and also to those who have labored with us for its advance- 

 ment. Most of its progenitors have been removed fi-om their 



34 



