52 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Mr. Geo. M. Whitaker, general agent of the Dairy 

 Bureau of the Board, was ealled as a representative of the 

 agricultural press. He spoke of the great growth of agri- 

 culture during the fifty years of the existence of the Board, 

 and of the scientific basis of its operations compared with 

 former years, and praised the successful work done by the 

 State Board for the advancement of agricultural interests. 



Prof. J. W. Sanborn of New Hampshire followed. Agri- 

 culture's great growth was his leading theme, and the future 

 of agriculture was regarded in a most hopeful light. He 

 thought that it would be one of the foremost of industries, 

 that the range of agricultural knowledge would be greatly 

 increased, and that New England would gain conspicuously 

 in comparison with other parts of the country in the relative 

 value of her agriculture. 



State Senator C. B. AYilliams of Wayland made the point 

 that whatever criticism of the Board was honest ouofht to 

 be met manfully. If it were well grounded, it would ,be 

 of benefit to the Board to pay attention to it ; if it were not 

 well grounded, it would fall of its own weight. 



Mr. George Cruickshanks of Lunenburg, presented as one 

 of the oldest ex-members of the Board, said that he con- 

 gratulated the Board upon its fiftieth anniversary, but he 

 did not come prepared to advise the Board. 



Mr. Geo. M. Baker of Marshfield, who was called as the 

 oldest ex-member of the Board, said that he looked upon 

 his connection Avith the Board as one of the pleasantest 

 memories of his life. 



Mr. F. L. Whitmore of Sunderland cautioned the farmers 

 against those who were engaged, not in farming the land, 

 but in farming the farmers. 



Prof. ^Vm. P. Brooks of the Agricultural College said 

 that the soil of Massachusetts is not declining, but it is a 

 hard soil to work. He spoke of the worth of the men who 

 are raised upon the farms of Massachusetts, and said that 

 our New England farms are a school for men. They are 

 trained for service, and service is the key-note of the gospel 

 which is preached to-day. It is true that he who makes 

 two blades of grass grow where only one grew before is a 



