AGRICULTURE ON CLIMATE. 173 



Mr. West. I say that is the trouble in the Common- 

 wealth. 



Secretary Russell. I have found that the Selectmen 

 were on my side and on the side of the sheep when I have 

 called upon them. 



Mr. Taft. That is true in our county. 



Secretary Russell. Not only that, but I have found that 

 the Commissioners of Worcester County, whenever a matter 

 of this kind has been brought before them for adjustment, 

 were on the side of the .sheep. If a man is dissatisfied with 

 the award of the Selectmen he may appeal to the County 

 Commissioners. I might have got more money than I did if 

 I had made such appeal. I think there is no inclination on 

 the part of any of the public authorities to oppress the far- 

 mers in this respect. 



Adjourned to 1.30. 



Afternoon Session. 



The meeting was called to order at 1.30, Mr. Goddard in 

 the chair. The first speaker of the afternoon was Mr. M. 

 W. Bartlett of West Newbury, who read the following 

 paper on the Influence of Agriculture on Climate : — 



INFLUENCE OF AGRICULTURE ON CLIMATE. 



BY M. W. BARTLETT OP WEST NEWBUKT. 



According to the best lights we can get in regard to the 

 creation, this fair earth of ours has not always been "in 

 verdure clad." By the description given in Genesis we learn 

 that it was not until the third day that the grass and herb 

 yielding seed and fruit tree yielding fruit were brought 

 forth, and " earth smiled in all its vast attire." 



So far as the order of the six days' work of the creation is 

 concerned, the Mosaic account is confirmed by modern 

 science. By its light we go in geologic ages to a period 

 anterior to the creation of animal or vegetable life on this 

 earth, — to a time, indeed, in which so great was the heat on 



