16 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



reason of his official position as president of the Middlesex 

 South Agricultural Society, and his great zeal in the pro- 

 motion of these meetings, might most properly speak these 

 words of Avelcome, and have come to me, an obscure and 

 unskilled farmer of Sherborn, and hav^e requested me to be 

 their spokesman, 



I presume the real reason for this selection is not any 

 special grace or dignity which they feel that I can assume in 

 extending the hospitality of Framingham, but the desire to 

 compliment me upon my recent calling. I have noticed 

 that whenever a professional man undertakes any farming 

 enterprise he is made the object of special congratulation. 

 He also seems to be a special cause of amusement, not only 

 to the professional men, but also to the farmers. I presume 

 that the people think that now he may begin to learn some- 

 thing, and it usually is true ; for I, for example, have learned 

 that it takes a pretty good la^v practice sometimes to carry 

 on a New England farm. 



In the judgment of these good Framingham friends of 

 mine, this occasion, I suppose, requires the peculiarly warm- 

 hearted and whole-souled welcome which only a farmer 

 knows how to give ; and so far as I can, therefore, I will 

 give you a farmer's welcome, although I hope no one of 

 you will judge me harshly if T betray a woeful ignorance of 

 just how to do it. 



The second distinctive characteristic of Framingham 

 people is their sincere and abundant hospitality. They are 

 ready at all times to welcome all good things and all good 

 people. The Chautauqua assembly, the Salvation Army, the 

 camp meeting promoter, — all have learned of the hospitality 

 of this town ; and our Commonwealth, too, has shared it 

 many times. Only a few years ago, when the troops of 

 Massachusetts came to Framingham, they read on the arch 

 that was placed over our principal street, "Welcome to 

 Massachusetts Volunteers ; " and as they departed, they read 

 the benediction, " God be with you till we meet again." 



This obligation to Avelcome all strangers is a part of the 

 heritage which came from old Governor Danforth, Avhen he 

 bequeathed the name of his former home in England to the 



