156 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



teachers, if they will, can also help it along ; and it will 

 be a good thing from every standpoint. 



Mr. Geo. M. AVhitaker (of Winthrop). I attended a 

 conference of teachers in nature study not long ago, and it 

 was actually surprising to note the advance that is being 

 made. Our city schools in Massachusetts are already doing 

 a great deal of very advanced work in nature study. 



Mr. James Draper (of Worcester). I think we sent 

 twelve or fifteen boys from Worcester to the Agricultural 

 College last year, and that speaks well for the city. 



Adjourned at 4 p.m. 



Evening Session. 



The evening session was called to order at 8 o'clock by 

 Secretary Ellsworth, who said : Ladies and gentlemen, this 

 evening was set apart for the citizens of Worcester to extend 

 to the Board and its speakers and invited guests a sort of 

 reception. It was expected that our Governor-elect would 

 grace the occasion with his presence, but he has informed 

 me that on account of illness he will l)e unable to be with 

 us. I know you will all unite with me in wishing Governor- 

 elect Guild a quick return to health. We have with us, 

 however, several gentlemen who have kindly consented to 

 make brief remarks. 



It is my pleasure to introduce to you Hon. Ledyard Bill, 

 president of the Worcester Agricultural Society, who will 

 be the first s})eaker of the evening, and who will })resi(le. 



REMARKS OF HON. LEDYARD BILL. 



Mr. Secretary, gentlemen, and shall I say fellow farmers? 

 The Worcester Agricultural Society has the largest member- 

 ship of any similar society within the borders of the State. 

 We have on our rolls nearly two thousand members in Worces- 

 ter and vicinity, in central Massachusetts. It is also one 

 of the oldest agricultural societies in the Commonwealth, 

 formed, as I learn, in the year 1818, and is one of the most 

 active societies in the State to-day. It is also, I suppose, 

 the wealthiest agricultural society. We are located in one 

 of the wealthiest farming districts not only in this State but 



