PUBLIC WINTER MEETING OF THE BOARD, 



AT SPENCER. 



By invitation of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Association 

 of Spencer the stated annual winter meeting of the Board 

 was held in the town hall of that busy and prosperous place, 

 beginning on Tuesday, December 6, and continuing through 

 the two following days. The attendance was quite large at 

 the opening session, and a lively interest was manifested 

 in the papers which were read and the discussions which 

 followed them from the beoinnino; until the close of the 

 meeting. 



Shortly before 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning, Secretary 

 Sessions called the meetinij to order and said : — 



The hour has passed at which this meeting was to con- 

 vene, and it is best not to wait lono;er. We are favored 

 with a pleasant mornmg, and I hope the meeting may 

 be a success. I have no doulrt it will be. For thirty 

 years the Board of Agriculture has had a public winter 

 meeting of this character, and the results have been such as 

 to lead the Board to continue in its former practice. I have 

 no doubt that this meeting will be one of the l)est. 



But it is not my business to make a speech to you. The 

 meeting will be opened by prayer, and Mr. Avery will wel- 

 come you here in behalf of the Spencer Farmers' and 

 Mechanics' Association and of the people of the town. The 

 Hon. James S. Grinnell, our senior member, will respond 

 for the Board and preside this morning. The Rev. Thomas 

 O. Marvin will oifer prayer. 



Prayer having been offered, John G. Avert, Esq., of 

 Spencer, addressed the audience as follows : — 



