No. 4.] FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. 45 



resolutions embodying its adverse feeling ; and again in 

 1881 it was the Board that directed its secretary to petition 

 the Legislature to establish an experiment station at the 

 college. In short, wherever we look we find the Board of 

 Agriculture at the front, moulding public opinion and lead- 

 ing the way. For what it has purposed and tried to do, 

 for what it has done in the past, for what it will do in the 

 future, permit me, in the name of the college I represent, 

 to express my grateful appreciation. With the Board for 

 its councillors and overseers, its future is secured.* 



The Chair. Every person present would have been 

 delighted to welcome the second secretary of the Board, 

 John E. Russell, and to have listened to his eloquent words. 

 His health is such that he is unable to be present, but he has 

 sent us a letter, Avith his greeting and some reminiscences, 

 which Secretary Stock well will read. 



Letter of Ex-Secretary John E. Russell. 



Leicester, July 20, lfl02. 

 Hon. J. W. Stockwell, Secretary. 



My Dear Sir: — I am much interested in the celebration of the 

 fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Board of Agricul- 

 ture, and it would |^e a great pleasure to meet the members, but 

 my health will not permit me to appear in public. 



The happiest and most useful years of my life were passed in 

 the service of the farmers of the Commonwealth, and I look back 

 with feelings of gratitude for their appreciation of my efforts and 

 for the help they gave me. It is nearly twenty-two years since I 

 was elected secretary, to succeed Mr. Flint, who had been the 

 executive officer of the Board from the beginning ; and of the 

 members who assisted at my election but three are now in the ser- 

 vice, — Mr. Hersey, Mr, Sessions and Mr. Smith. 



The oldest man on the Board at that time, and one of the 

 founders, was Marshall P. AVilder. I wish I could describe that 

 venerable man, as he appeared to me in what might well be called 

 the beauty of his age. His force was unabated and his enthusiasm 

 unchilled by the frosts of nearly four-score years. He was of 

 noble aud commanding presence, and had the dignity and courtly 



* For much of the data in this sketch I am greatly indebted to Mr. F. H. 

 Fowler, first clerk, ofidce State Board of Agriculture. 



