COG STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



is as food to the body, while manufacture is the process by whicli the creative 

 may be changed into more desirable or necessary conditions, as the digestive 

 organs change food into blood, bone and muscle, while commerce sends the 

 products through tiie clianncls of trade to enrich and sustain the masses, as the 

 heart sends the life current tlirough arteries and veins, imparting liealth and 

 strength to the entire system. 



Agriculture is the great power of the government, the Corinthian pillar that 

 upholds the fabric — and to advance its interests and influence should be the 

 desire of every man who has the love of country at heart. Such, I believe, is 

 the desire of the society under whose auspices this assemblage has been called 

 together ; such will be its desire during succeeding years. 



There is no question as to tiie adaptability of sandy soil for fruit growing. 

 Our peaches, plums, apricots, crab-apples, etc., etc., will compare favorably 

 with fruit of these kinds raised in any part or the State. It seems to me that 

 enterprising capitalists could wisely invest iu the business of canning fruits and 

 vegetables on a large scale, in or near the city of Muskegon. An establishment 

 of that kind would give employment to a goodly number of people, and call 

 under care and culture a great deal of the land about us, which public opinion 

 pronounces as almost worthies. There seems to be a necessity for our joeople 

 to commence turning their attention to something beside lumber, against the 

 time, not distant, when the pineries shall cease to yield their rich harvests. 

 AVe cannot reasonably expect, judging from the wild butchery made upon the 

 forests for the past few years, they will continue available much longer. 



To forestall the possible disasters which will otherwise follow the leveling of the 

 once mighty forests of the north, is one of the prime objects of this agricultural 

 society, and, for one, I am hopeful in the belief that the dangers will be averted 

 if all who are interested in the future of this part of the State will encourage 

 efforts made and to he made by this society. I cannot imagine that with an 

 organization of this character, and with such determined and energetic men at 

 its head as this organization has, Muskegon need dread the coming years though 

 every pine be swept from earth, and every mill on our beautiful lake may fall 

 piecemeal upon its fair bosom. Sad, indeed, will be the day when the gang 

 and circular shall cease their motion ; when the cheery sparks that now fleck 

 the night with fire shall fade ; when the hearty sounds of good natured, though 

 grumbling old whistles shall die in echoes, and crashing, roaring, shrieking, 

 whirring machinery shall gather rust in silence and solitude. But the cheer- 

 ing promise as contained in holy writ, lights up the dreary scene as memory 

 lights the pictures that hang in the halls of the past. " The earth shall yield 

 her increase," comes welling up from ages buried in forgetfulness, carrying in 

 the assurance a hope akin to that which plumed its wing when : " Let there 

 be light," reverberated through the corridors of heaven, and a new born sun 

 chased the spirits of chaotic darkness away from infant earth as she lay cradled 

 in a hand of the Almighty. We are, I will assume, free moral agents, and 

 can, therefore, do as we please. If we choose to help ourselves who can doubt 

 that Providence is ready and willing to help us I The days of miracles are past 

 — we cannot command this tig tree to bear fruit, or that one to bear no fruit, 

 with any reasonable expectation that either tree will " care a fig " what we 

 command ; but we can use all means given us, and they are many, to improve, 

 cultivate and build up. If the support and countenance of the people at large 

 are turned from associations devoted to the interests of agriculture, and called 

 into existence by the exigencies of the times, we may as well get ready to tod- 



