No. 4.] ADDRESS OF GOVEKXOK BATES. 163 



along the lines of the State highway's. These are to be 

 followed by more ; and it is believed in the course of time 

 that the growth of these trees will add very much to the 

 picturesque character of the highways of this Commonwealth. 

 Some of our roads are already famous because of their 

 beauty, due to the wide-spreading elms that were planted a 

 hundred years ago, and the shade of which we enjoy to-day. 



There has been an advance in some other directions, in 

 which the farmer is pai'ticularly interested. We are reclaim- 

 ing a thousand acres of land at Rutland by the labor of 

 prisoners. It is more or less an experiment. It has been 

 possible under the statute for years to make the attempt, but 

 no attempt has been made until the past year. A thousand 

 acres have been taken, and prisoners put to work. The 

 land, practically valueless when taken, is to be developed 

 so as to become valuable farm property, thereby not onl}'- 

 adding taxable value to the Commonwealth, but, as an 

 example, showing the way in Avhich other lands may be 

 similarly improved. 



I was greatly interested yesterday to read that portion of 

 the President's address to Confess in which he deals with 

 agriculture. Over a column of the morning newspaper, I 

 found, was devoted to that one subject. President Roose- 

 velt describes the "department of agriculture" as a great 

 educational institution, having over two thousand special- 

 ists, who are making researches in every known field of 

 agricultural interests. They arc examining the soil in the 

 various parts of the country. They are collecting grains 

 and fruits from all over the world, and making experiments 

 for their cultivation here. They are also endeavoring to 

 fight the enemies of the farm. They are meeting the de- 

 structive insect with the destructive insect. 



Six millions a year is expended by that department, and 

 over $10,000,000 a year for the agricultural colleges and 

 the various experiment stations, and the researches that are 

 being carried on by specialists. And all this is done be- 

 cause our people recognize the importance of the industry 

 which to-day engages one-half of the people of the Ameri- 

 can nation. 



