20 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, [Jan., 



have another disting-uished citizen of New Haven, the Gover- 

 nor-elect of Connecticut, who will respond on behalf of His 

 Excellency Governor Roberts to the address of welcome which 

 was to be given by his Honor, Mayor Studley. 



I have great pleasure in introducing the Governor-elect, 

 Honorable Rollin S. Woodruff of New Haven. (Applause.) 



Hon. Rollin S. Woodruff. In the absence of His Excel- 

 lency, Governor Roberts, I have been asked, sir, to respond to 

 your generous welcome of the State Board of Agriculture in 

 the city of New Haven. 



The matters represented by this board are of such magni- 

 tude and consequence to Connecticut that every assistance and 

 encouragement should be given its work. 



The things over which this board has supervision are a 

 vital part of our civilization, the very nourishment upon which 

 it feeds — in fact, the mainstay and bulwark of a successful 

 people, without which there can be no progress and no con- 

 tentment. 



The agricultural interest of Connecticut, approximating 

 an annual production of thirty miUion dollars, entitle this 

 question to a respectful consideration. A large percentage of 

 Connecticut farms are operated by their owners. They repre- 

 sent hay and grain, vegetables, fruits, Hve stock, dairy produce, 

 tobacco, plants and flowers, nursery products and miscella- 

 neous crops. 



The manufacturing interests of Connecticut are important 

 and unusually large, when compared with the population, but 

 all of these things depend upon a flourishing state of agri- 

 culture. 



The food-producng forces underlie everything else in life 

 and should always be given a first consideration ; our State is 

 in a flourishing condition and its future is assured so long as 

 the rights and responsibilities of all the people are the chief 



