64 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



while investigation and experiment are still being pushed with 

 such vigor as to promise far more profitable and tangible 

 results in the future. 



To this end the National Government has come to the aid 

 of the States in the establishment of agricultural colleges 

 where special attention may be given to the various sciences 

 which bear directly or indirectly upon practical agriculture. 

 All the States have now accepted the grant made hy Congress 

 in July, 1862, and, in more than half of them, such colleges 

 have been established and are actually in operation, in some 

 form or other. They will undoubtedly do a good work for 

 the rising generation ; but whatever results may flow from 

 them, they seem to indicate that the present is but the dawn 

 of a new era — an era of improvements of which we cannot 

 yet form an adequate conception. They show that a greater 

 application of mind to the labors of the hand is to distinguish 

 the future over all past generations, for the large numbers of 

 young men who will go forth every year from these institu- 

 tions, many of them thoroughly instructed in chemistry and 

 kindred sciences, will give us, at least, the conditions for new 

 discoveries which will open the way to higher triumphs, and 

 so lead on to the golden age of American agriculture. 



Afternoon Session. 



The Convention met at two o'clock. Col. Stone, of Dedham, 

 in the chair. 



The Chairman. It was once my privilege to listen to the 

 somewhat celebrated Josh Billings, and he announced as the 

 subject of his lecture " Milk " ; and he introduced himself by 

 turning out a goblet of milk from a pitcher, taking it up and 

 drinking oft' the top, at the same time saying, that ho thought 

 the best portion of milk was the cream. And that was all he 

 had to say on the subject of milk. Although he gave us a 

 long lecture, he never mentioned the Avord " milk " after- 

 wards. We are to have the milk question before us this af- 

 ternoon, and I have the satisfaction of believing that we shall 

 hear it ably discussed by a gentleman who will give us the 

 cream of the whole matter, and not only that, but he will 

 give us all the good ingredients of the milk. I have the 



