24 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



new interest in their calling. I have no doubt tliat before tlie 

 discussions close that will be the -case. 



The State Board of Agriculture of Massachusetts has a right 

 to look now, at the close of this year, with considerable gratifi- 

 cation upon the condition of agriculture in this State and in 

 New England. We have not been idle in this section of our 

 country. At no period, and in no year, have agricultural fairs 

 — those institutions which come directly under the cognizance 

 of the board — been sustained so well as during the last season. 

 The trials and distresses of the war being over, it seemed as if 

 the people took heart once more to assemble at agricultural 

 meetings, to congratulate themselves upon their success, and to 

 stimulate each other in their labors. 



Not only has the interest in these meetings increased, so far 

 as my observation goes, but the stock presented at the fairs has 

 greatly improved. The New England Society, which originated 

 with this board, and which has stimulated and roused the 

 farmers of New England to compare their experiences, and to 

 exhibit their flocks, and herds, and products, — that society, 

 which is the child of this board, — is doing the good service which 

 was expected of it. True, some little fault has been found 

 with US", because we congratulated ourselves upon our last 

 annual exhibition. Gentlemen who do not live within the 

 limits of the United States, took it upon themselves to say that 

 the officers of the society were rather extravagant in their 

 praises of it, and that with the exception of the exhibition of 

 agricultural machinery, the show was not quite up to the 

 standard established for us elsewhere. But when they remem- 

 ber that there were present, from the hard pastures of New 

 England, Shorthorn cattle of as pure blood and as approved 

 form as can be found among the best herds in England, and 

 which were presented in as good condition as can ho found 

 anywhere; and that there were Devons, and Jerseys, and 

 Ayrshires, of the highest quality, and that, too, in spite of the 

 fact that New England is not by any means a most salubrious 

 agricultural distict, they ought to allow us to be proud of that 

 spirit which has overcome all obstacles it has to contend with, 

 and furnished such animals as were exhibited there. We who 

 live here are reminded that it is the intelligence and skill of 

 New England agriculturists which furnished that exhibition, 



