10 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



young city will be extended to you by its chief magistrate, 

 Hon. Amasa Norcross, whom I now have the honor and 

 pleasure to present to you. 



ADDRESS OF MAYOR NORCROSS. 



Gentlemen of the Board of Agriculture: — Our friend Capt. 

 Miles, a member of your Board, knowing with what pleasure 

 the people of Fitchburg have anticipated this meeting, has 

 arranged to have me speak a word of welcome in their behalf. 

 I could wish, gentlemen, that your coming had fallen in a 

 diflerent season of the year. We are not without a pardon- 

 able pride in the beauties of our natural scenery, and would 

 gladly challenge your admiration for it, as seen under 

 summer skies ; but the fuller attendance upon your instruc- 

 tions at this season is an ample compensation for such loss. 

 As it is, gentlemen, permit me to extend in behalf of the 

 citizens of our city a cordial welcome to the hospitalities of 

 their homes. 



There are abundant reasons why the people of this city 

 should welcome you. The desire for further light, for further 

 knowledge upon subjects pertaining to agriculture, is a strong 

 one in the minds of those engaged in its pursuits, but he 

 makes a grave mistake who thinks that a manufacturing popu- 

 lation like our own, has no interest in the matters that you ' 

 have come to discuss. Many of us who have no share in 

 your pursuits, read with deep interest the proceedings of this 

 Board, knowing that improvement in agriculture is an advan- 

 tage to manufacturers ; that their interests are so interwoven, 

 that though our people are chiefly devoted to other avocations, 

 I think your presence could not give greater satisfaction to a 

 community composed wholly of farmers. Moreover, the 

 instruction gained here will be communicated l)y hundreds of 

 persons in this vicinity, at meetings of the loctil societies j the 

 local press will extend it, and thus its influence will be 

 widely disseminated. In behalf of the citizens of Fitchburg, 

 and for myself as well, I thank you for your coming, and 

 again extend a most hearty welcome, hoping that the time 

 here spent may prove as agreeable to you as it will be 

 instructive to us. 



