No. 4.] RESPONSE, SECRETARY ELLSWORTH. 19 



was chairman of the committee of arrangements, and in his 

 address of Avelcome gave a word })ictur(! of the history and 

 agricnltnrc of Franklin Connty. The third of these meet- 

 ings was held in 18U(), being also called to order by Mr. 

 Grinnell. In connection with this meeting was a large and 

 interesting exhibit of butter. 



These Board meetings have been an annnal featnre from 

 the very first, the Board going from one jjortion of the State 

 to another, and thns coming in contact with the farmers. 

 Lecturers are provided by the Board for these meetings, and 

 an opportnnity is always given for discussion, so that by 

 (luestions 2)oints may be brought out which otherwise might 

 bc^ omitted. 



The agriculture of Massachusetts has not been neglected. 

 It has been fostered by the agricultural college, the exix?ri- 

 ment station and the work of the agricultural society and 

 farmer's club. The conditions have changed, and farmers 

 have changed their methods. Statistics just completed, 

 taken in 1905, give the value of the agricultural i)roducts of 

 the State as $73,110,490. The leading agricultural industry 

 in Franklin County is the dairy, — milk, cream and butter. 

 I have figures to show that agriculture is on the increase in 

 Massachusetts, not declining. 



I wish again, Mr. Chairman, to thank you for your very 

 kind welcome, and to assure you that we shall have an inter- 

 esting and instructive meeting. 



The CiiAiK. The lecture to be given this morning is by 

 Mr. L. B. Harris of Lyndonville, Vt. Mr. Harris has been 

 in the sheep business all his life, and I am sure will be able 

 to interest us on the subject of " The sheep industry in Mas- 

 sachusetts." 



