PUBLIC WINTER MEETING OF THE BOARD, 



AT D ALTON. 



The annual public winter meeting of the Board was held 

 in the Opera House, Dalton, beginning Tuesday, December 

 3, and continuing through the two following days. There 

 was a full attendance of the Board, and at most of the 

 meetings there was a good attendance of farmers from 

 Dalton and vicinity. 



The first session was called to order by Hon. James 

 S. Grlnnell, the first vice-president, who introduced Mr. 

 Henry A. Barton of Dalton as the presiding officer of the 

 day, and the gentleman selected by the citizens of Dalton to 

 welcome the Board of Agriculture to their town. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



BY MR. HENRY A. BARTON OF DALTON. 



Mr. Chairman, members of the Board of Agriculture and 

 friends : It is my privilege and great pleasure to extend to 

 you, in a few brief remarks, for the inhabitants of this town, 

 a most cordial welcome. Our town is nestled here among 

 the Berkshire hills and valleys, and, like many other towns 

 of this grand old Commonwealth, is the seat of varied 

 industries. For more than a hundred years our farmers 

 have faithfully followed the plough and tilled their farms, 

 and for nearly the same length of time the manufacturer 

 has been as faithful in his work. And side by side for this 

 hundred years they have prospered together, each desiring 

 to assist and to advance the welfare of the other. 



From the fruits of the labors of these many years we 

 rejoice as a town to-day in our free public schools and sub- 

 stantial school buildings, giving to our children those ad- 

 vantages which will fit them for the work of life equal in 



