MR. COLT'S ADDRESS. 139 



is concerned. We should know how we are made, and should 

 be able to appreciate for ourselves what are the conditions of 

 life ; and these may best be learned from a living creature. 



The President. I know I do but express the feelings of this 

 assembly, when I say that the lecture to which we have just 

 listened has afforded delight and satisfaction to every one 

 present. 



Thomas Colt, of Pittsfield. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen 

 of the Board of Agriculture^ — The farmers of Berkshire and 

 the citizens of Pittsfield have listened with the greatest pleasure 

 and satisfaction to the addresses and discussions that have 

 taken place during the last two days. In their behalf and in 

 their name, I tender you, sir, and the gentlemen present, mem- 

 bers of the Board, their heartiest thanks. It is about sixty 

 years since the farmers of Berkshire became alive to the neces- 

 sity of improvements in agriculture. It was in this county and 

 in this town that they first formed themselves into an associa- 

 tion by which they hoped to improve agriculture by exhibitions 

 and competitive premiums. That society has gone on increas- 

 ing, from that day to the present, in strength and in success. 

 Every successive year has been its best, and at no time during 

 its existence has it been more prosperous, or more successful, 

 or more efficient in accomplishing its purpose, than at the pres- 

 ent time. The president of that society called them together 

 here to meet the Board on this occasion ; they have been pres- 

 ent, and have testified, by their attention to the lectures, by 

 their interest and participation in the debates, how much they 

 value the meetings of this Board. I have no doubt, sir, that 

 they will carry home with them what they have heard here, and 

 that the precious seed which you have so liberally scattered 

 will bring forth its fruit through the whole county. 



I regret, sir, that the Board has come here at a season of the 

 year unfavorable, somewhat, for getting a good opinion of the 

 county. I know that, by the rules of the Board, they meet 

 only in the winter ; but I desire such gentlemen as have not 

 been here before to know that under this blanket of snow lie 

 fertile fields, rich hillsides, fruitful mountain-tops, even ; and if 

 they could go through the barns of our farmers, they would 

 have evidence that the whole county is a fruitful garden ; not 



