PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOARD 



AT FITCHBURG. 



The regular winter meetino; of the Massachusetts Board 

 of Agriculture was held at the City Hall in Fitchburg, on 

 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 3, 4 and 5, 1889. 

 The weather on the morning of the 3d was not such as to 

 tempt people from their homes, as snow was falling ; but 

 the attendance during the day was exceptionally large, and 

 the audience manifested a very intelligent and lively interest 

 in all the proceedings. 



The meeting was called to order at ten o'clock by Secre- 

 tary Sessions, who introduced Mr. George Cruickshanks of 

 Fitchburg as the gentleman selected by the committee of 

 arrangements to preside. 



The Chairman. It is fitting that we should follow the 

 custom which has prevailed for several years at the com- 

 mencement of these meetings, and I will therefore invite the 

 Rev. Frank Rector of Fitchburg to oifer prayer. 



The divine blessing and guidance having been invoked, 

 the Chairman said : — 



At the last annual meeting of the Worcester North Agri- 

 cultural Society, a unanimous vote was passed to invite 

 the State Board of Agriculture to hold its next winter meet- 

 ing in Fitchburg. You have honored us by accepting that 

 invitation. In behalf of that society I extend to you now a 

 most cordial welcome. We welcome you as representing in 

 the highest and best sense the agricultural welfare of this old 

 Commonwealth. A welcome to the hospitalities of our city 

 will be extended to you by its chief magistrate in his official 

 capacity. I now have the pleasure of introducing to you the 

 Hon. Eli Culley, mayor of Fitchburg. 



ADDRESS OF MAYOR CULLEY. 



Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen or the State Board 

 OF Agriculture : — My medical adviser, who, in this in- 

 stance at least, is my wife, said that, instead of coming out 



