46 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



inanuer of the old school. He was devoted to the interests of 

 agriculture, and his successes in practical horticulture Avere recog- 

 nized over seas. Mr. Flint had been permanent secretary, and 

 there was a natural feeling in the minds of the older members 

 that he was necessary to the life of the Board. No proper person 

 seemed to offer as his successor, and there was gloomy foreboding. 



At this time of misgiving Mr. Wilder sent for ]\Ir. O. B. Had- 

 wen, the delegate from the Worcester Society, then one of the 

 most efficient members of the Board, and asked him to find a can- 

 didate for Mr. Flint's place. . Mr. Iladwen, without consulting me, 

 proposed my name, which was unknown to Mr. Wilder. Then, 

 with my glad approval, the nomination was submitted to a full 

 meeting ; and, though a complete surprise to most of the, members, 

 who had never heard of the candidate, Mr. Iladwen's advocacy 

 was. so effective that the election was unanimous, but with the 

 understanding that in the future there should be an annual elec- 

 tion, — which was a strong hint that the Board was b}' no means 

 sure that the place was filled, and the new secretary was warned 

 that he was on apiirobatiou. Though the scope and influence of the 

 Board at that time was far less reaching than it is now, and its 

 functions undetermined, its membership was able. The three 

 members by appointment were Mr. Wilder, Dr. Nichols, eminent 

 as a chemist, author and lecturer, and James S. Grinuell, whose 

 doubts as to ni}' fitness for the secretaryship were a proof of his 

 superior judgment. 



At the head of the list of societies as it then stood was the " old " 

 Massachusetts, strongly represented by E. F. Bowditch, whose 

 example and social influence were of infinite value ; the Essex 

 came next, with Mr. Ware ; and the Middlesex followed, with 

 Captain Moore ; among the nearer and consequently more avail- 

 able members were Mr. Hadwen, Dr. Jewett, John Lane and 

 Mr. Hersey, who, I rejoice to see, is still a member of the Board. 

 The purpose of the members was to make the Board an active 

 power, to bring it nearer to the life of the farmers, to increase its 

 influence with the Legislature and to promote the welfare of the 

 Agricultural College. With this view the Board bad decreed the 

 holding of three institutes annually by each soclet}', and it was 

 expected that the secretary would attend and conduct at least one 

 of these. 



There was much opposition to this rule ; and to one distant and 

 important societj^ which strongly disapproved of the interference 

 of the Board, I made a journey in bitterly cold weather, and found 

 an institute of three ill-humored, nagging individuals ; and in the 

 evening, at a free lecture, which I had expected would be adver- 



