208 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



are asked, I would like to say a few words. Some twenty- 

 three years ago, when this college w^as in its infancy, I was 

 a member of the committee on agriculture in the Legislature 

 of Massachusetts. The college then had only been in a 

 working condition some two or three years. The committee 

 on agriculture were invited up there to see the grounds and 

 the college, through president Clark, and I wish to endorse 

 every word that has been said here of his enthusiasm in 

 starting this college. We were invited up there as a com- 

 mittee of the Legislature, to look over the ground and pre- 

 sent the case to the Massachusetts Legislature. The college 

 had asked for an appropriation of $50,000, and at that visit 

 I was much pleased with what I saw ; and when we 

 came back to Boston, accompanied by President Clark and 

 Col. Walter Stone of Dedham, I won't tell you how much 

 opposition there was. The members said that these young 

 men who were brought up there would never make farmers, 

 and it was useless to undertake any such scheme ; and 

 it was ridiculed liy members of the Massachusetts Legis- 

 lature, — the idea of an appropriation of $50,000 for this 

 institution. But through the energy and influence of such 

 men as have been alluded to here. President Clark, Professor 

 Stockbridge, Col. Marshal P. AVilder, Colonel Stone of Ded- 

 ham, and others, this $50,000 appropriation was granted ; 

 and, as I visited those grounds last year and year before 

 last, I could hardly realize that I was in the same place. It 

 seemed to me that there had been a work of progress going 

 on there that fully justified every dollar that has ever been 

 expended there, and that it was a work that was going to be 

 for the irreat c^ood of the farming communitv of this State. 

 I believe to-day that it is one of the best institutions that the 

 State of Massachusetts has, and I ho})e it may be encouraged 

 by every farmer, in every way, and that it may progress for 

 the next twenty-three years as rapidly as it has for the last 

 twenty-three. 



Secretary Sessions. I want to make a suggestion, in 

 view of the fact that we have two other })a})ers this forenoon, 

 that suggestions should be given rather for the guidance of 

 the faculty of the college than for your information upon 

 specific sul)jects. If you have questions for information 



