248 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



associations, civic clubs, and other organizations 

 interested in this purpose." 



The Massachusetts Agricultural College, in 

 celebrating the fortieth anniversary of its open 

 ing to students, October 2, 1907, held a four 

 days' conference on rural progress. The pro 

 gramme covered nearly the whole field of rural 

 development and was made possible by the co 

 operation of the State Board of Agriculture, the 

 State Grange, the Massachusetts Civic League, 

 the Connecticut Valley Congregational Club, 

 the State Committee of the Y. M. C. A., the 

 Western Massachusetts Library Club, and the 

 Head-Masters' Club of the Connecticut Valley. 

 No permanent organization was formed, but the 

 general idea of federation of rural social forces 

 was fully emphasized and thoroughly appre 

 ciated. 



An attempt was made in the spring of 1907 

 to bring together the various elements of rural 

 progress in all the New England states. Under 

 the initiative of the Massachusetts State Board 

 of Agriculture there was held in March, 1907, a 

 New England Conference on Rural Progress. 

 This meeting was held very largely for the pur 

 pose of discovering the sentiment among the 

 leaders of New England agriculture with re- 



