28 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



means of greatly advancing the cause of agriculture. They 

 have been a source of instruction to the farmers throughout 

 the Commonwealth. 



I am happy to know that upon this platform is one of the 

 gentlemen who was first in suggesting the farmers' institutes. 

 He was then a member of the Board of Agriculture. Each 

 society is now required to hold three of these institutes 

 each year. 1 am happy to know that Mr. Hadwen was one 

 of the members of the Board who urged and pushed this 

 matter forward, to have the farmers' institutes held through- 

 out the Commonwealth. I know these institutes have 

 accomplished much good. I think that the papers of infor- 

 mation that have been presented at these institutes have 

 been the means of making better farmers in Massachusetts. 



Another source of great good, I must say, to the agri- 

 culture of Massachusetts is the college. The valuable liter- 

 ature that is sent out each year and the competent instractors 

 who come from the college each year to instruct the farmers 

 have accomplished much. 



I think, with all these helps, with all this source of in- 

 struction which we now have, that, as the mayor has told 

 us this morning, the future is bright, that the agriculture of 

 the future will advance. It does seem to me it cannot help 

 it. We can with confidence look forward to a better state 

 of agriculture for the coming years. 



It is to be regretted that the young men during the past 

 few years do not enter the agricultural life as readily and 

 as freely as they do some other branch of life. They choose 

 some other means of support. I believe that there is a good 

 opening in agriculture. I believe the future of agriculture 

 is to be brighter for young men than the past. I think that 

 an agricultural life — and I speak from experience — is the 

 life for happiness and for health. If there is any better 

 life, I do not know it. Taking everything into considera- 

 tion, health and everything else, I do not believe there is 

 any better opening for a young man at the present time than 

 to seek an agricultural education and assume an agricultural 

 life. 



I thank you, Mr. President, for the cordial welcome you 

 have extended to the members of the Board of Agriculture 



