No. 4.] FAEMERS' NATIONAL CONGRESS. 415 



by the warm welcome accorded to the farmers, and felt satis- 

 fied that their coming to Atlanta would be profitable and 

 pleasing to all the members. 



Governor Atkinson, on account of official business, was 

 unable to be present to welcome the Congress to Georgia 

 in person, but in that duty he was ably represented by 

 Dr. II. C. White, who did the honors on behalf of the State 

 of Georgia. He paid a tribute of praise to the farmers for 

 what they had achieved in agriculture ; he was glad they 

 came to Atlanta, and with warm expressions of welcome he 

 hoped that the members of the Congress would enjoy their 

 stay in Georgia's capital. 



On behalf of the Georgia Agricultural Society, Rev. J. B. 

 Hunnicutt spoke words of warm and cordial greeting to the 

 members of the Congress. 



In response, President Clayton made some pleasant and 

 happy remarks, expressive of how pleasing thus far the 

 reception to Atlanta had been, and, if such should continue, 

 he thought the Congress would feel prouder for their coming, 

 and greater in their love for Atlanta, the exposition, and the 

 people of the city and the State. 



President Clayton then delivered his annual address. He 

 gave a warm greeting to the members ; then called attention 

 to the magnitude of agricultural pursuits, their pre-eminent 

 importance to the comforts and the existence of the human 

 family, and the relations they sustain to all professions and 

 occupations. 



"Since the creation of man," said he, "when he was 

 placed in the garden of Eden, to dress and keep it, the 

 farmer, the tiller of the soil, has ever stood between the 

 world and want. The art of cultivating the ground and of 

 obtaining from it the products necessary to sustain anim ' 

 life was the first science in the development of the 

 valleys watered by the Euphrates, the Tigris and the Ni 



He then reviewed the history of agriculture I' » n i 

 ancient days of Egypt to the present time, showing 

 great strides in the present century. 



" Like the ancient settlers of the valley of the Nile, the 

 immigrant from all civilizations came to cultivate the rich 



