6 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



wells became unusually low, causing great and wide-spread 

 inconvenience and anxiety for the approaching winter. 



The societies throughout the State have, with few excep- 

 tions, been active and successful in their efforts to promote 

 the cause of agriculture, and the public exhibitions have 

 generally been well attended. 



A disease, commonly called the Texas cattle fever, has 

 created some excitement in certain localities in the Common- 

 wealth, but the losses arising from it have not proved very 

 serious. The details with regard to it will be found in the 

 Report of the Commissioners on the Diseases of Cattle, on a 

 subsequent page. 



PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOAKD, 



At WESTFIELD. 



The country meeting of the State Board of Agriculture was 

 held at the Music Hall in Westfield, on the first, second and 

 third days of December, 1874, and was very largely attended 

 by the members of the Board, and by farmers and others 

 interested in the progress of agriculture, from the different 

 parts of the State. The meeting was called to order on 

 Tuesday, the first of December, at two o'clock, by Mr. 

 Franklin C. Knox of Blandford, chairman of the com- 

 mittee of arrangements, who suggested the name of Hon. 

 Marshall P. Wilder as chairman for the day, and he was 

 accordingly elected. 



OPENING REMARKS OF HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 



I am very unexpectedly called upon to occupy this position, 

 gentlemen. I beg you to understand that I do not accept it, 

 great as the privilege and honor are, with any idea that I« 

 possess any superiority of ability, or superiority of age. 

 But, gentlemen, to be serious, I am very happy to perform 

 any service which I am able to discharge, and I congratulate 

 you most sincerely on the large and full attendance of the 

 members of the Board, and especially on the presence of so 

 many distinguished leaders in the great cause of agriculture, 

 who have come up to cooperate with us, and I doubt not that 



