AIDS TO PROGRESS. 17 



the matter of public roads, which forms the topic of the lecture 

 of to-day. Embracing the suggestions made by Gov. Claflin in 

 his message to the legislature, on the subject of Public Roads, 

 the Board instituted committees and offered premiums for the 

 best essays, believing the subject to be one, not only of great 

 importance for the comfort and well-being of the community 

 generally, but as bearing directly on the interest and economy 

 of the farmer's calling. Much of this interest, now so general, 

 is justly due to tlie prompt action of this Board in creating, 

 through its members and discussions, a sentiment which we 

 believe will ere long revolutionize public opinion on the subject. 



But while we rejoice in the prosperity of this Board, we would 

 also recognize the many facilities which have so essentially aided 

 its progress and usefulness. Among these may be named the 

 cooperation of the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of 

 Agriculture, by the importation and distribution of pure-bred 

 cattle, horses, and agricultural seeds, — a society which has 

 always been represented in our councils from the first. Nor can 

 we omit the influence of the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 

 ciety, the second institution of the kind organized on this conti- 

 nent, but second to none in the power it has wielded in the 

 promotion of American Pomology, and from whence has ema- 

 nated, more than from any other source, the great interest in 

 fruit culture which has now spread throughout our whole land. 



The Board early recognized fruit culture as an important 

 branch of Massachusetts agriculture, and from the commence- 

 ment it has enrolled in its ranks gentlemen of large experience, 

 not only from this society but from the National Pomological 

 Society, and it may safely claim in the department of fruits, both 

 as it regards the nomenclature, recommendations, and improve- 

 ment, a rank not surpassed by any other State. These state- 

 ments are substantiated by the consideration that the cultivation 

 of fruit in this State, if not now the second or third in statistical 

 valuation, is destined soon to rival in importance the grain or 

 vegetable crops of the State. 



If there are any who doubt the usefulness and importance of 

 this Board, let them examine the reports of the Secretary for 

 the last twenty years, embodying, as they do, in addition to his 

 own essays, the results of the mature deliberations of the best 

 farmers and horticulturists from the various sections 'of the 

 3 



