PUBLIC WINTER MEETING OF THE BOARD, 

 AT worcestp:r. 



The annual public winter meeting of the Board for lectures 

 and discussions was held in Horticultural Hall, Worces- 

 ter, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, December 4, 

 5 and 6. The weather conditions were unfavorable the first 

 two days, but the meeting was generally considered a very 

 profitable one. 



The opening session was called to order by Secretary 

 Stock well, who said : The hour to which this meeting was 

 called has arrived. Prayer will be oflered by Rev. Dr. 

 Scott. 



Prayer by Dr. Scott. 



Secretary Stockwell. I now have the honor of intro- 

 ducing to you a farmer bo}^ from Charlton, the mayor of 

 this city of Worcester. His Honor Mayor Dodge will give 

 an address of welcome to this city for our annual meeting. 



Mayor Dodge. As I am called upon to address the 

 various bodies which meet within the borders of our city, 

 one of the first things I have to do is to find some apology 

 for addressing the body of people. I cannot, perhaps, claim 

 any distinctive right to talk to the farming interests, but I 

 can console myself with the fact that I have as good a right 

 to be here as Dr. Scott. I am as good a farmer as he is, I 

 can hold a plow as well as he can, and I think I can pitch 

 more hay. I had years ago some little genuine claim, per- 

 haps. I began my career in Worcester by driving a milk 

 wagon from beyond Tatnuck into the city, and I would like 

 to call your attention to the difference between the standard 

 then and that of the present time. In those days there was 

 no question about the standard of the milk. We had six 

 or seven Jersey cows at the farm where I lived. I would 

 not vouch for their pedigree, but at least I know we sold 



