No. 4.] TRUSTS AND THE FARMERS. 205 



agriculture for manufactures, trade, mining and transporta- 

 tion. But these fields of enterprise have for the most part 

 now been filled. Capital and captains of industry must seek 

 new opportunities ; they will find none better than American 

 agriculture. The culture of cereals, of tobacco, of cotton, 

 of fibre, of fruits, of flowers, of garden products ; the mul- 

 tiplication of flocks and herds ; the production of butter, 

 cheese, milk and cream, to say nothing of sugar cane, coflTee, 

 tea, valuable woods, rubber, which may be produced in our 

 new possessions in the islands of the tropic seas, under the 

 stars and stripes, ofier munificent rewards for the man of 

 brains and brawn, who shall organize corporations and di- 

 rect them wisely in the work. 



Let the farmers of Massachusetts combine their capital, 

 organize themselves into corporations, secure the best direc- 

 tors and managers, and so multiply their wealth thereby, 

 for the benefit not only of themselves, but also of all con- 

 cerned, — stockholders, managers, employees, consumers, 

 the community, the State. The world moves on. The agri- 

 culture of the twentieth century will be a great improve- 

 ment on that of the nineteenth, and the farmer of the new 

 era will surpass his brother of the olden time. 



Secretary Stockwell. I had hoped there would be an 

 opportunity to speak on the paper of the afternoon, but the 

 time has gone by. I hope, as you read it and as you think 

 upon it and as you study it when it comes out in the report, 

 it will have an influence to bring farmers together to realize 

 the importance to them of the trusts of the country as con- 

 ducted at the present time. Any of the farmers here in 

 Westfield who desire a copy of the report, if they will give 

 us their names we will be very glad to send them a copy. 



Adjourned at 4 p.m. 



