12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



honorable body, and it seems that throughout the Common- 

 wealth there is an increasing demand for improved roads. 

 Spencer has made a commencement which is worthy of your 

 inspection. It is nothing new, but the macadam system has 

 been adopted, and it has demonstrated what can be done in 

 towns where there is plenty of proper material. 



I should be remiss in my duty did I not call your attention 

 to our churches, — models of the architects' and artists' skill, 

 with their towering spires beckoning us to a higher and more 

 exalted sphere. 



Gentlemen of the State Board of Agriculture, in behalf 

 of our citizens I welcome you to our town and all its attrac- 

 tions, and may your deliberations prove of incalculal>le ben- 

 efit to our farmers and citizens, and add further laurels to 

 those already won by the honorable State Board of Agri- 

 culture. 



KESPONSE ON BEHALF OF THE BOAED. 



BY HON. JAMES S. GRINNELL. 



The committee of arranoements for this meetinc: have 

 requested me to briefly return the thanks of the Board of 

 Agriculture to the people of this town for the opportunity 

 to visit this part of Worcester County and to make a partial 

 acquaintance with its farmers. The credit of this is largely 

 due to the energetic and persuasive efibrts of the recent 

 earnest and efl^ective member of our Board from this society, 

 — John G. Avery, Esq. 



The Board of Agriculture, composed as it is of delegates 

 from every incorporated agricultural society in the Com- 

 monwealth, has now held thirty winter meetings in the dif- 

 ferent parts of the State, but none I believe in this immediate 

 locality. The Board was induced to accept your invitation 

 partly on this account and also because this is the centre 

 of a large and thriving agricultural district. This has been a 

 prosperous community for a hundred and fifty years. It 

 was prosperous long before the influx of the active manufact- 

 uring industries which have made it so conspicuous and 

 wealthy. Here were enterprising and prosperous farmers, 

 with abounding crops and profitable dairies, and here many 



