No. 4.] KEMAKKS OF HON. LEDYAKD BILL. 157 



in the country. As the mayor said yesterday morning, in 

 his words of welcome, Worcester has two sides, — one the 

 industrial, excelling in many respects any city of equal size 

 in the United States, while on the other hand its agfricul- 

 tural work is distinguished. Our society has given to the 

 people of Worcester and central Massachusetts some of the 

 best exhibits within the borders of the State, and I say this 

 advisedly, as I have visited about all the notable fairs Avithin 

 her borders. 



But we have heard yesterday and to-day of the importance 

 of scientific matters ; that a great change has come upon the 

 business of agriculture within a period of ten to twenty 

 years, by reason of the valuable influence of our colleges 

 and scientific investigations ; and undoubtedly this is true, 

 that they have advanced agriculture, have raised the busi- 

 ness to a dignified position. Many thanks to these investi- 

 gators and colleges, and I may also say to the State Board 

 of Agriculture, for its members have done much towards 

 promoting the hopes and higher interests of the farmers of 

 the State. 



There has been a great advancement in the value of lands 

 in our country within the last twelve months and within the 

 last decade. The lands of the west, which have been so open 

 and so free to settlers and to anybody who would go and 

 build a home by invitation of the government, are about all 

 absorbed, al)out all taken. The free acreage is gone, and 

 now the tide begins to set back to the older portion of the 

 country ; and the almndoned farm question is solved and the 

 price of lands increased. The time will be within the mem- 

 ory of those here now Avhen there will be a wider-felt immi- 

 gration from the west into New England, where the loveliest 

 land, I may say, on the face of the earth, exists, — loveliest 

 in its hills, beautiful in its valleys, health-giving in its 

 streams and springs, and with all the luxuries that come 

 with civilization. Massachusetts, though it has a some- 

 what sterile soil, yielding but little without severe labor 

 unless you use skill and judgment and scientific informa- 

 tion, is sure in its agricultural conditions to be vastly im- 

 proved in the near future. It excels already in many things 

 that go to make a home desirous. We have more colleges 



