VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 55 



also the greatness of large foreign cities like London. Ger- 

 many, too, is rapidly changing from an agricultural to an in- 

 dustrial state and is looking to this country for the food nec- 

 essary for her own existence and development. 



Seeing that competition is constantly growing more keen 

 and may be expected to increase in the twentieth century, our 

 Government has within the last few years sent experts abroad 

 to study agricultural conditions in foreign lands, to protect 

 our exports, to find new markets, to procure new seeds and to 

 act as scientific assistants in the diplomatic corps. 



AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS. 



Agriculture has been greatly stimulated in every way 

 during the past twenty or thirty years by the earnest work of 

 Granges, Farmers' Institutes and agricultural associations, 

 such as the present assembly, and I believe that we should 

 endeavor in every way to increase the organization of such 

 associations. 



The agricultural interests can not be entirely separated 

 from the other great interests of our country ; there is a mu- 

 tual dependence. When Labor and Capital are fully em- 

 ployed and prosperous, Agriculture will be more progressive 

 than when opposite conditions prevail. 



We must not, however, lose sight of the fact that we 

 must give especial attention to our own interests. Some of 

 the methods and demands of both Labor and Capital are inim- 

 ical to the interests of Agriculture, and the farmers must 

 make their power available for self-preservation. We must 

 recognize the fact that neither organized Labor nor Capital 

 can be depended upon to guard our interests. The time for 

 intelligent, united action on the part of farmers is upon us. 

 If we are neglectful or cowardly, if we hesitate to act prompt- 

 ly in our own interests, we shall not escape the penalty. We 

 must deal with all questions, all parties and all men in a way 

 that will show to all that intelligent farmers know their 

 rights and have the courage and ability to maintain them. 

 There are many existing inequalities and abuses that need 

 our immediate attention, but I shall not take time to enumer- 

 ate them. Every intelligent man knows of their existence 

 and also knows that the farmers have the power to correct 

 them if it is only made available. I am one of those who 

 have always believed that the Agricultural Giant would some 

 day realize his power and make such use of it that all would 

 learn to respect his rights and join with him in efforts to se- 

 cure to all a fair reward for honest toil. I am not discour- 

 aged, but I am just a little impatient. If we would continue 



