No. 4.] RURAL BETTER.MEXT. 13 



MATTERS OF IMPOETANCE IN RURAL BETTERMENT. 



HY EX.-UOV. N. J. liACHELDER, COXCORD, N. H. 



It is somewhat unusual for a citizen of New Hampshire to 

 attempt to instruct or entertain a Massachusetts audience 

 upon any subject whatever, for we have become accustomed 

 to look to Massachusetts as the fountain head of all that is 

 good in art, literature and refinement, and the source of all 

 that has actuated the formation of political parties and reli- 

 gious creeds. Why should we not look to Massachusetts for 

 all that is sound and reliable in agricultural teaching? I give 

 your State as nuich credit for leadership in agriculture as 

 in the other matters to Avhich I have referred, and it is with 

 nuich embarrassment that I attempt to say a word upon this 

 occasion. I lind some excuse for attempting it in the fact 

 that the lines se})arating the Ne\v P^ngland States are not 

 very broad or very high ; and while we are citizens of our 

 respective States, we are citizens of New England in a 

 fuller sense than ever before. Subdivisions of the town, 

 county, State and country have less significance than for- 

 merly, and our thoughts and interests should be broadened 

 in the same degree. The lines encircling the school district 

 seemed about as distant from the home of our grandparents 

 as do the lines bounding our country be>^ond the Philippines 

 to the present generation ; and our interest in rural better- 

 ment should be of a similar comprehensive natiu-e. We 

 should not inquire as the man prayed for blessings, upon 

 " me and my wife, my son John and his wife, us four and 

 no more," but as to how we can better the conditions of 

 agriculture in the nation, trusting toaour own eflbrts to reap 

 the benefits that will come to all engaged in it. Our aim is 

 not to improve conditions in our own town or our own State, 

 or even in our own industry, but to improve conditions every- 



