No. 4.] FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. 51 



sented. His leading tliought was tlie great advancement in 

 agricultural methods during the fifty years of the life of the 

 Board. 



]\Ii\ C. K. Brewster of Worthington followed, whose 

 principal point was the value of the Agricultural College to 

 the farmers. 



Mr. Walton Hall of Marshfield, who lives on the farm for- 

 merly occupied by Daniel AVebster, spoke of the great prog- 

 ress Avliich is yet possible for the farjiiers, notwithstanding 

 all they have thus far accomplished, and said that farming 

 was never so prosperous as to-day. It is not only in manu- 

 facturing that Alassachusetts is prosperous, but she has abund- 

 ant reason for prosperity in her agricultural resources also. 



Mr. Augustus Pratt of North Middleborough was the next 

 speaker. He gave reminiscences of the introduction of the 

 mowing machine, and contrasted former farm conditions 

 with those of to-day, with improved inventions and better 

 times for labor. He saw great cause for congratulation in 

 the progress of the fifty years. 



Prof. F. W. Rane of the New Hampshire Experiment 

 Station praised the work of the State Board of Agriculture, 

 and told how well it was know» ; how it has caused enthusi- 

 asm to spread to other States, and how it made the future 

 of apiculture look brjo-ht. 



Mr. Geo. S. Ladd of Sturbridge, master of the State 

 Grange, referred to the fact that members of the Board are 

 members of the grange also, and that there is close identity 

 of interest between the two bodies, as well as identity of 

 membership in many instances. 



Mr. W. A. Kilbourn, representing the Worcester East 

 Agricultural Society, noted the vast improvement from the 

 sickle and scythe of his early days to the improved im- 

 plements of to-day. He thought his successors fifty years 

 hence would have other wonders to chronicle. 



Representative W. C. Jewett of Worcester referred to the 

 good work of the Board in the suppression of the gypsy 

 moth, and thought that it had given a good account of 

 itself. He thought that no other body could do the work 

 of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. 



