28 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the same breed. From these two nTiportations were derived a 

 great proportion of the improved stock in Plymouth County. 

 There was for a time quite an opposition to this breed on the 

 part of the farmers : but in 1865 there were at least nineteen 

 Jersey bulls in the county ; and now every farmer is proud of 

 having, at least, some Jersey blood in his herd. 



In June last Mr. Warren A. Howard of Brockton pur- 

 chased six heifers and a bull of the Holstein breed. What 

 effect this may have on our future stock we cannot foretell. 



We ought not to close without alluding to an enterprise, 

 started a few years ago among farmers in this county, for 

 disposing of their milk in Boston. 



In the fall of 1877 a company was formed, under the title 

 of the " Old Colony Milk Producers' Association," for the 

 purpose of forwarding their milk to Boston by rail, in care 

 of a messenger employed by them to take charge of it on the 

 train, and to dispose of it in the city. Their aim has been 

 to supply the consumers directly from the farm, without the 

 intervention of either contractors or peddlers. As yet, how- 

 ever, they are selling mostly to the peddlers. 



This is the pioneer movement in this direction in the 

 State, and as such deserves the encouragement of all inter- 

 ested in benefiting the condition of the farmer. 



The nearer it is practicable for the producer to get to the 

 consumer, the more of the profits will reach the pocket of the 

 former, and, I think we may safely add (so far as milk is 

 concerned, at least), the better it will be for the consumer. 

 This company has fought its way against opposition and 

 discouragements of various kinds, until, at the present time, 

 it is unable to supply the demands made for milk, and is 

 desirous of increasing its membership and the number of its 

 cans. Great credit is due to the officers of this association, 

 who have devoted much time and attention gratuitously in 

 establishing and sustaining this organization. 



And now, gentlemen of the Board, in yielding the floor to 

 you, let us close by thanking you for appointing this winter 

 meeting in our town. 



When our president invited you here, he was influenced 

 by a somewhat selfish motive. Being a frank man, he freely 

 confessed it. His hopes and expectations were, that by 

 coming here you Avould help the cause of agriculture in 



