No. 4.] ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 5 



I tbiiik it will be well for a moment to consider the methods 

 of the State Board of Agriculture. The State is divided up 

 into 32 districts, and each one of the districts has an agricul- 

 tural society holding a charter from the State. These soci- 

 eties hold annual fairs where the farmers compete with their 

 produce and with their stock, and where the farmers' wives 

 compete in the household arts. Each one of these societies 

 elects a delegate to the State Board of Agriculture, and the 

 man is invariably chosen who is best fitted, from his experi- 

 ence and interest in agriculture, to represent his district. 

 In addition to these men are three men appointed by the 

 Governor and Council, and this makes up the State Board of 

 Agriculture. In other words we see in the State Board the 

 very essence of the agricultural exertion and advancement of 

 the State, and all that is good for the welfare and advance- 

 ment of this important industry. 



A farmer, I think, has to be a little of everything; he has 

 to be a business man, a laborer, a mechanic, a carpenter ; he 

 has to know about gasoline engines ; he has to know elec- 

 tricity ; and there are times when he has to show the elements 

 of being a saint, and I think that is when he has trouble with 

 his help. A few months ago I had an awful time with labor, 

 and I remember one week in particular when I spent all my 

 time in various employment offices being told I was an im- 

 desirable man to work for, and I had nothing to say in return. 



Xow, I think the State Board is to be congratulated upon 

 the excellent program which they have arranged for this meet- 

 ing, for w^e have eminent lecturers from all over the country 

 who will cover the many different phases of agriculture. 



As a member of the board of selectmen of the town of 

 Framingham, as an officer in the agricultural society, and as 

 a farmer I wish to welcome the State Board of Agriculture 

 to Framingham with all my heart, and I hope that you will 

 have an unusually successful meeting. 



Secretary Ellsworth then introduced Mr. John Bursley of 

 West Barnstable, the first vice-president of the State Board 

 of Agriculture,' who delivered the response for the State 

 Board and presided during the remainder of the morning. 



