PUBLIC MEETI:^^G OF THE BOARD, 



AT LOWELL. 



The country meeting of the Board for 1883, was held at 

 Mechanics' Hall, in Lowell, on the 4th, 5th and 6th of 

 December. John B. Moore of Concord, called the meet- 

 ing to order on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 11 o'clock, and said : — 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — The first matter for you to listen 

 to this morning is an address from A. C. Varnum of Lowell. 

 If you will give your attention, Mr. Yarnum will now ad- 

 dress you : — 



OPENING ADDRESS. 



BY A. C. VARNrM. 



Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the State Board of 

 Agriculture, — It atibrds me great pleasure to extend to you, 

 in behalf the citizens of Lowell and the surrounding towns, 

 a cordial welcome to this section of the Commonwealth. 

 We consider ourselves most fortunate in securing your pres- 

 ence with us, for the purpose to which you propose to devote 

 the exercises of this meeting. We have Ions: known the 

 importance of your great commission, and appreciate to 

 some extent your influence in bringing about the wonderful 

 changes that have been wrought in scientific agriculture since 

 the organization of your Board, under the laws of this Com- 

 monwealth. 



For more than thirty years, the State Board of Agricul- 

 ture, in pursuance of the duty for which it was established, 

 has been making earnest inquiry into the methods and re- 

 quirements of practical husbandry — ascertaining the adapta- 

 tion of agricultural products to soil, climate and market ; 



