No. 4.] BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 395 



Massachusetts are not in any line a dependent class, but 

 strong in sturdy strength to cope with any other, and able 

 to care for their interests and maintain their rights as never 

 before in the history of the State. 



This Board was largely instrumental in establishing the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural College, and, when the United 

 States grant of land scrip was made, at once took hold ot 

 the task, and its influence was given to its establishment on 

 a firm basis. The Legislature recognized this work, and 

 made the Board of Agriculture overseers of the college, and 

 its committee is continued to the present time. 



In 1879 the Agricultural College would have been buried 

 in darkness and its funds merged in the Amherst College, 

 only for the indefatigable efforts of members of this Board. 

 I speak that I do know and testify that 1 have seen on this 

 matter. It was my fortune to serve in yonder Senate, and 

 to be chairman of the agricultural committee. Another 

 member of this Board is present here to-day who helped in 

 that struggle as chairman of the same committee on the 

 part of the House. We know the valuable work done by 

 this Board at that time, and the wisdom of counsel that 

 saved, when, could one straight blow have been struck, the 

 doom of that college had been sealed. "It was an hour of 

 fearful issues," and but for this Board all had been lost. 

 How careful our watch, how unwearied our work, how wise 

 our secret counsels, none will know ; but the college was 

 saved, — saved to its appreciated and useful present, and to 

 its enlarging, unfolding and glorious future, benefiting not 

 the State alone, but the nation and the world ; her gradu- 

 ates prominent in every department of agricultural science, 

 in college work successful, whether in our own country or 

 piercing the " light of Asia" with agricultural knowledge. 

 And, let me repeat, it was the influence of this Board, the 

 education emanating from this Board, the work of members 

 of this Board, that gave it lease of life in that trying hour. 

 And this should not be forgotten when you deal with its 

 past and try to measure its influence. 



Let me name only two or three of those members whose 

 work was unremitting and most effective. 



Hon. Marshal P. Wilder : how well I remember him, toil- 



