290 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



comes. When farmers fairly conquer the land, they may 

 rule it,' but never until then. I want this compensation and 

 recognition to come also from the community in which the 

 farmer lives ; and I believe this, too, will come when fairly 

 conquered. When, therefore, I assume that the farmer of 

 to-day is without the compensation and recognition he ought 

 to receive, I do so for the purpose of stirring him to action, 

 and not in the way of weak complaint against any other class. 

 Agriculture must fight its own battles, and conquer and hold 

 what is of right its own. And it must use in this strife the 

 agencies which are calculated to win. It must use the power 

 of association. It must not be deterred by the inevitable risk, 

 nor by the necessary cost, nor by trivial criticism of details of 

 organization. It must go forward, even at the cost of some 

 mistakes, some losses, some defeats. It is a campaign, and 

 perhaps a long one, for which the forces of agriculture have 

 enlisted ; but who doubts that it will issue in victory ? Not 

 he who is in his place and doing his work. 



I bring my discussion of the subject to a close at this 

 point, admonished as I am by these accumulating pages that 

 I have already overstepped the limit of time allotted me. 

 But, until now, I have seen no point at which I could stop 

 without very incomplete treatment of the theme. And I 

 am keenly aware that much might still be added, not only to 

 the extent but also to the force of my argument. But I do 

 not know that I care, even if it were possible, so to treat the 

 subject that nothing would remain to be said. I wish rather 

 to start trains of thought which you yourselves will conduct 

 to their right destination. I am not overmuch anxious that 

 you should agree to all that I have advanced. Not without 

 critical examination of it in the crucible of your own minds, 

 would I wish you to accept any of it. But if, after severe 

 tests, you do find that it contains the pure gold of truth, 

 rough and unsightly though the enclosing ore may be, then 

 I ask you to take that truth to your hearts ; let it work out 

 its appropriate fruit in your lives, and pervade with its 

 blessings all the communities in which you dwell. 



The Chairman. The subject is open for discussion, or for 

 questions to be asked. I see Mr. Ely of Holyoke is here ; 

 we would be pleased to hear from him. 



