No. 4.] ADDRESS OF GOV. RUSSELL. 17 



has entrusted to it important duties and powers. With 

 generous appropriations, she has done something too for 

 those important agricultural societies which the members 

 of this Board represent, and through them has sought in 

 every community to encourage agriculture. She has sought 

 to make her farmers, in a spirit of friendly rivalry, do 

 their best, and by their labor, their ability, their skill and 

 patience, overcome whatever hard conditions nature has 

 imposed upon their industry. So, too, constantly by wise 

 and wholesome laws she has guarded agriculture against the 

 evils that have beset it, and striven to do all in her power 

 to promote the interests of her farmers. 



But I find I am rapidly drifting into a speech. I doubt if 

 this Board knew the risk they were running when they invited 

 me to speak to them. Perhaps they forgot that but a little 

 time has elapsed since I was in the active business of speech- 

 niaking, and that it only requires the slightest provocation 

 for me to drift back to my old work and weary your patience 

 and perhaps violate the generous courtesy that you have 

 extended to me. So I think I ought to end my welcome 

 here. But before doing so I wish to make two suggestions 

 to this Board. I do not profess that knowledge of agri- 

 culture which would permit me to deal with the matters that 

 come immediately under your supervision; but, from my 

 official knowledge of the work of this Board and of the 

 character and ability that are here represented, and from 

 what I have learned of its work and its membership, I am one 

 who firmly believes that greater power and greater respon- 

 sibility should be placed upon the Board of Agriculture 

 of Massachusetts. I believe that this Board comes closely in 

 touch with the agricultural interests. Of course I know 

 that each member of the Board has a personal interest in that 

 industry, but beyond that they represent those great societies 

 which come in touch with our agricultural communities. I 

 have felt throughout the year that there was open to this 

 Board by a determined effort a great opportunity to do 

 even more for agriculture. I believe that greater executive 

 powers should be given to this Board and be exercised by it. 

 I believe that this Board should become not merely a meet- 

 ing of members to discuss the special topics in which you are 



