44 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



done a good work. The lecturer has been for years the 

 secretary of the Board of Agriculture in New Hampshire, 

 and has been closely connected with the grange, and he 

 speaks from experience. I believe that the important thing 

 is to show the advantages of our business, not wholly from 

 a commercial stand-point, but from the point of making 

 stronger and better men, and that there is a better side to 

 agriculture than mere drudgery. I believe we should do 

 that which wc enjoy, and then we shall have the greatest 

 success. We shall be broader and better men. There is 

 much in the different branches that is enjoyable, and it is 

 the purpose and the privilege of the boards of agriculture 

 to develop these things. It seems to me that is one of the 

 missions of the Board. The inspiration that came to me 

 from an address given us by a lady, on "Farmers, open 

 your eyes," has been more valuable to me than any other 

 one thing that I ever got out of any board of agriculture, 

 and I have attended the meetings of boards of agriculture 

 from my boyhood days, when I had to borrow money to 

 get there. It was money well invested. I am glad to hear 

 such inspiring talks as Brother Bachelder has given us, and 

 the cheering words from our chairman. 



Mr. Geo. M. Whitaker (of Boston). Mr. Chairman 

 and gentlemen : I want to call attention to one thing that I 

 think has been overlooked. I agree with everything that 

 has been said in regard to the importance of studying agri- 

 culture in the public schools, but I am a little sorry that it 

 has taken the form of criticism of our educators. I believe 

 that the best educators of to-day believe in the importance 

 of science studies, and are practising their beliefs so far as 

 they have money to do so. In order to teach these 

 sciences, we must have competent teachers. Our country 

 towns, with diminishing population and increasing taxation, 

 are finding it hard to support the public schools, even as at 

 present conducted ; and one practical question it seems to 

 me in connection with the work of the boards of agriculture 

 is : How shall Ave aid the country towns so that they may 

 have money enough to employ competent teachers to carry 

 out the ideas of the secretary of the State Board of Educa- 



