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agricullural education.''^ Mark how at every step Norfolk takes 

 the lead I This convention was held in March, 1851, and the 

 gentleman whose name I have not mentioned was made its presid- 

 ing officer ! It was attended by about 200 delegates of societies, 

 and other prominent agriculturists, and resulted in the forma- 

 tion of the " Massachusetts Board of Agriculture " of which 

 the aforesaid unnamed gentleman was the first and the only 

 president till it became a department of State with the governor 

 for its head. In 1856, having failed to secure the college so 

 long labored for, an act of incorporation was obtained for the 

 " Massachusetts School of Agriculture," of which I leave you 

 to guess who was made the president ! This organization con- 

 tinued to prosecute its d.esign of an agricultural institution of 

 education, secured subscriptions to the amount of $25,000 

 towards it, had a farm and buildings granted to it by the city 

 of Springfield, but was arrested in its proceedings wlien the 

 large grant of land was made by Congress to the several States 

 for the purposes of agricultural education ; and then joined 

 with the Commonwealth to establish that noble monument of 

 Norfolk County forethought, persistency and enthusiasm, " The 

 Agricultural College at Amherst." And now, whatever may 

 be said one way or the other about your exhibitions here, is it 

 not honor enough for the Norfolk Society that from its brain 

 sprang the project of establishing the " Massachusetts State 

 Board of Agriculture " and " The Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College?" and it might be added also, the "United States 

 Agricultural Society," of which for six years the gentleman who 

 requested me not to mention his name was president? Who 

 was it that was said to be " as truly a benefactor as Columbus 

 or Newton, or Franklin or Fulton?" No matter. I say that 

 the man from whose brain these various organizations, all hav- 

 ing one beneficent end, sprang, is a greater benefactor to man- 

 kind than — I 'do not wish to be extravagant — than a great many 

 other folks ? 



It would be inexcusable in me if I failed in this connection 

 to mention with due honor the first Commencement of our 

 Agricultural College a few weeks ago, at which I had the great 

 satisfaction to be present. It was a busy, rainy, dirty, sun- 

 shiny, charming day ; with everything in the landscape to please 

 the eye, and everything in the exercises to gratify the mind. 



