12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the line of mineralogy, eonchology, zoology, and, especially, 

 "bugology." He will be a poor observer if he does not rec- 

 ognize some friend and many enemies in the serried ranks of 

 this latter department. 



I haven't time to speak fittingly of all the points and places 

 of interest which surround us here, but you must understand 

 we all have a commendable pride in the city of our homes. 

 Why shouldn't we ? You must understand that in the lifetime 

 of the speaker, this place has grown from a town of 3,500 

 inhabitants to a city of more than 50,000 people, having a 

 permanent valuation of $50,000,000, and an annual product of 

 $20,000,000 more. You must remember all this is the result 

 of active industry in various directions ; a pushing, driving 

 energy in every business relation. 



You must remember that Worcester is, and has always 

 been, the head-centre for the manufacture of agricultural 

 implements. More practical inventions have, in this line, 

 emanated from her limits than, I had almost said, all the 

 world beside, — two hundred and twenty-five different kinds 

 of ploughs being made by one company within the past forty 

 years. 



Here the invention of the first planing-machine made a revo- 

 lution in the business of building, and the first machine for 

 the working of leather made our large boot manufactures 

 possible. I believe it has been said truly of our city, that 

 if a machine or implement of any kind, for any legitimate 

 purpose under heaven, is wanted, one need only apply to a 

 Worcester inventor and mechanic and it will be forthcoming. 

 We do not claim that Worcester is the centre of the universe, 

 though the sky does shut down so nicely all around her ; but 

 we may claim that she is the centre from which many interests 

 radiate, and to which many connecting interests point as to a 

 mechanical and agricultural Mecca. All acknowledge her as 

 the " heart of the Commonwealth," whose pulsations are 

 healthy and strong, whatever may have diseased the body 

 politic or the business energy of the land. 



The location of this city in the midst of an agricultural and 

 manufacturing region, with her system of railroads radiating 

 in every direction, has undoubtedly favored her growth aud 

 prosperity. And with her growth and prosperity have come 



