478 STATE BOARD OF AGKICULTURE. 



Yes, gentlemen, each time as I meet you, exchange greetings and listen to words that 

 are cheering and instructive, I am inspired with new zeal, and when I part with you 

 am better and wiser than before. 



Agricultural, mechanical, and industrial pursuits are tlie foundation of all human 

 life and prosperity. "Without them we could not maintain our individual or national 

 existence for a day. Thus you can see the importance of the work in which we are 

 engaged. Our mission as a society is to promote the best interests of our people by 

 an interchange of thought and practical experience and by our association and fairs 

 bring our iiiclustrial classes together, that they may become acquainted Avith each 

 other's mode of culture and products throughout our whole State, that they may have 

 the fullest benefit of its ample resources. 



Prior to the commencement of the present century there was but little agricultural 

 progress in the United States. The first settlers had many and great ditficulties to 

 encounter in clearing the land, in bringing it under cultivation and in defending 

 themselves against the encroachments of the Indians, besides the French and Revolu- 

 tionary wars very much interfered Avith the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, nor could 

 the people after peace was restored, burdened with debt, without money to pay their 

 taxes, witli no manufactories and no foreign demand for breadstuff's, be expected to 

 make much progress in tilling the soil. But a few j-ears ago the idea of scientific and 

 experimental agriculture was ridiculed. But now the ideas of men are changed, in- 

 ventions and experiences of thinking men are recognized and accepted as for our gen- 

 eral good. Great and manifold progress has been made. We have our Agricultural 

 College with its experimental farm. Its practical teachings fits the student for the 

 most enlarged and successful ideas of agriculture, and its influence is being felt and 

 appreciated by us all. We have our agricultural journal, the Michigan Farmer, which 

 should be read by every farmer in our whole country. We have had vast and wonder- 

 ful inventions of approved implements and machinery, which has very materially 

 lightened our burdens, and the rotation system of cropping and tile.drainage. Mr. John 

 Johnson, near Geneva, N. Y., who was at one time esteemed a fanatic by his neigh- 

 bors, has come of late years to be known as the father of tile drainage in America. 

 Fifty years ago Mr. Johnson came fi-om Scotland to this country, and planted himself 

 on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, with a determination of making agriculture the 

 end and aim of his life, and to use all the means in his power to promote its success. 

 He adopted a system of deep plowing, manuring and tile drainage which he resolved 

 to carry out according to his plan. At that time there were no machines for manu- 

 facturing the tile. Thej' had to be molded by hand and bent over a stick. This slow 

 process made them very expensive. Notwithstanding this he determined to use 

 them, his ditches were opened and his tile laid while his neighbors ridiculed him. — 

 thought him a poor deluded man. Some went and consulted with him, all the while 

 Avatching for signs of lunacy, and one and all said he was a consummate fool to put his 

 crockery under ground and bury his money so fruitlessly. Mr. Johnson saj^s he really 

 felt ashamed of himself, and Avas almost I'cady to conceal his crime. But Avhat Avas the 

 I'csult? That land that had been previously sodden Avith Avater and utterly unfruit- 

 ful in one season Avas covered Avith luxuriant crops, and the jeering skeptics Avere 

 utterly confounded, and as the fame of his success Avent forth one and another dupli- 

 cated his experiment and Avere rcAvarded according to their deserts, and Mr. Johnson 

 Avas extolled as a i^ublic benefactor. Such has come to be our remarkable facility for 

 adaptation to ncAV circumstances that the total loss of any product, however impor- 

 tant, Avill ever be compensated for by some ucav development of productive industry. 

 In the formation of a national education the country more than the city luust control. 

 While in the city the favored few enjoj'- superior facilities, and attain scholai-ly repu- 

 tation surpassing most people in the coun1;ry, they are but the few. There are sec- 

 tions of every city Avhich are nurseries of barbarism. These sections increase Avith 

 the growth of the cities, and I fear, also, as time advances, in proportion to the popu- 

 lation of our Avhole country. It is to be regretted that there has been for the past 

 fcAV years a growing desire among farmers to leave their farms and flock to the cities, 

 and Avhat can induce them to leave their beautiful farms, fields and herds, homes that 

 are embellished Avlth everything that can add a charm or comfort to life and crowd 

 into the dirt and bustle of the city is more than I am able to conceive. 



The exhibition at our fair of the present year, at SaginaAV, I am glad to be able to 

 say, was very creditable, surpassing in several of the departments any of our previous 

 fairs, and had it not been so materially interfered Avith by the excessive rains, I have 

 no doubt but our receipts AA'Ould have been ample to have paid tlie premiums and 

 annual expenses of our society and something more. But, notwithstanding Ave liave 

 been necessitated to draAv largely from our surplus, I am gratified to knoAV that the 

 financial condition of the society is still solvent. 



