4 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Liiild lip otlier places. j\[aiiy a farm that tweuty-fivc years 

 ago was the home of a thrifty family is now marked Ly par- 

 tially mined buildings, or j)erhaps by the cellar hole, the 

 lilac bush, and in June by the red rose, which stays for so 

 many years after the owner has gone. Still, a drive among 

 our farms will show a prosperous peofjle, and at no time have 

 we farmers received so large a money return for our products. 

 " The cost of high living, not the high cost of living," to 

 quote James J. Hill, is responsible for much of the unrest 

 and migration from the farm, in the hope of finding some- 

 thing easier and better somewhere else. Free mail delivery, 

 telephone service, installation of heating and water service, 

 delivery of merchandise, use of automobiles, — all of which 

 are looked upon as necessities by our farmers to-day, — 

 would have appeared the height of luxury to any family 

 twenty-five years ago. If we farmers would be more thankful 

 for what we have and think less of what we would like to have 

 it might be better for us. Compare the increased knowledge 

 of practical agriculture, which will be shown in the addresses 

 and discussions of this meeting, with those of 1872 and 1886. 

 In our I'ament for the " good old times," — and our present 

 day life would be better for some of the self-denial of that 

 time, — let us sto]), think and realize the advanced thought 

 in practical agriculture. A glance at the programme and the 

 names of the speakers shows that your secretary has " made 

 good," and we members of the Worcester County West Agri- 

 cultural Society and citizens of Barre offer you a hearty 

 welcome and the freedom of our town. 



The chairman then introduced Secretary Ellsworth, who 

 made the following response, on behalf of the Board, to the 

 address of welcome : — 



RESPONSE FOR THE BOAlil), BY SECRETARY 

 ELLSWORTH. 



First Vice-President Bursley, who was to have responded 

 to the vei'v jdeasant words of welcome to which we have just 

 listened, is unable to be with us at this opening session, and 



