A^IDDRESS. 



BY ELIPHALET STONE, OF DEDHAM. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 



It is pleasant to be here to-day, assembled with the farm- 

 ers of Norfolk, and to witness this glorious fruition of their 

 hopes and labors. It is truly the Farmers' Jubilee. To 

 them belong all the credit and glory of this Exhibition, but 

 the joy and felicity of it are shared alike hy all classes. Ar- 

 tisan, lawyer, merchant, clergyman, all are here to partici- 

 pate in the rich pleasures of this festival day. And as our 

 eyes rest with delight upon these varied displays of fruit and 

 flowers and other products of agricultural toil presented here 

 to-day, I am sure there is no heart that is not filled with iu- 

 creased respect for the dignity of labor, and Avith profound 

 gratitude for the bounties and favors of Almighty God. 



THE UNITY OF INTERESTS. 



Agriculture and civilization have walked the world to- 

 gether since the pastoral age ; and although agriculture lies 

 at the foundation of all our interests, still it never could 

 reach its highest usefulness without the stimulus of other 

 industries. A community of farmers isolated from other in- 

 fluences will naturally fall into a state of careless indolence, 

 and will cherish no desire beyond their most common 

 necessities. You propose to them to introduce other inter- 

 ests, and they will look upon it as an invasion of their rights. 



