84 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The opening address, by Mr. C. H. Wines, was as follows : 



Ladies and Gentlemen : In behalf of the citizens of Chelsea and vicinity, 

 it is my pleasant duty to extend to you a hearty welcome to this institute. 

 The object of this meeting is to disseminate knowledge in science, and prac- 

 tice, through lectures, essays, and discussions on subjects relating to farm 

 interests. We live in a progressive age, hence, progress sliould le our motto, 

 For a moment let us compare the past with the present. As my eye passes 

 over this audience I see many who have bent the back, and tested the strength 

 of arm by swinging the scythe through the ripening grass and grain, then fol- 

 lowed with fork and rake to stir and gather, by this slow and tiresome pro- 

 cess, the ripening harvest. But to-day, thanks to the inventive genius and 

 spirit of the age in which we live, we have a new and better method for doing 

 this work. Now, the man or the boy, with horses attached to the mower, 

 tedder, or rake, without tiresome labor, accomplishes more and better work 

 than half a score of men by the old process. Again, the harvester, which is 

 of more modern date, what a wonderful change it has wrought. The team 

 is attached to it, the driver mounts his seat, and as he circuits round the 

 standing grain, as if by magic the rich laden sheaves fall to the ground ready 

 to be garnered into stack or barn to await the improved thresher. 



The progressive changes have come also to our wives and daughters, as the 

 products of the swift flying needle and shuttle found in every household will 

 attest. I might mention railroad, telegraph, and telephone, and various other 

 devices that conduce to comfort, convenience, and profit. Thus we are rapidly 

 advancing and developing our resources, etc. 



That we may better understand this rapid development, let me read from 

 Com. Loring's address before the National Grange, assembled at Washington, 

 at its last session : 



"The rapid growth of agriculture, and of every other industry in this 

 country, during the last twenty-five years, has filled the world with astonish- 

 ment. In agriculture especially the growth has been very surprising, and 

 accounts for that vast domestic and foreign commerce, out of which has grown 

 so much of our financial success. Taking the single decade between 1870 and 

 1880, we may learn what can be accomplished in that period of time by a 

 people constantly increasing in numbers and occupying new lands. In 1870 

 the amount of cotton produced was 4,353,000 bales; in 1880, more than 

 6,000,000 bales. In 1870 the amount of Indian corn raised was 760,000,000 

 bushels, and in 1880, 1,754,000,000 bushels. In 3 870 the wheat grown was 

 287,745,000 bushels, and in 1880, 459,667,000 bushels. In 1870 the oats pro- 

 duced amounted to 282,000,000 bushels, and in 1880, 407,859,000 bushels. 

 The increase in agricultural products was 100 per cent, in ten years; and 

 from 1870 to 1880, in addition to this vast increase, our cattle export rose from 

 §13,000,000 to $14,000,000; corn export from $43,000,000 to 850,000,000; 

 wheat from $167,000,000 to $190,000,000; flour from $35,000,000 to $45,000,000; 

 cotton from $209,852,000 to $245,534,000; beef from $7,000,000 to $12,000,- 

 000; lard from $28,000,000 to $35,000,000; and the growth of manufactures 

 in that time was equally astonishing." 



Fellow-farmers, I extend to you, and all, congratulations in living in this 

 wonderful period of time — this grand epoch of the age. All occupations and 

 vocations in life are made easier, and hence more pleasant, by these changes. 

 Truly the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places ; we have a goodly heritage. 

 Brother farmers, our occupation is among the most honorable. Let us strive 



