MK. SALTONST.VLL's ADDRKS3. 23 



important than formerly, it is because the county associ- 

 ations have rendered the labor of the parent Society less 

 necessary. 



Gentlemen — Our association owes much of its early 

 success, if not its existence, to one, not less distinguish- 

 ed for the purity and elevation of his private character, 

 his public spii'it and patriotic services, than the brightest 

 names on a list which contains names as distinguished 

 as any which adorn the annals of Massachusetts* — 

 Samuel Adams, Christopher Gore, Benjamin Lincoln, 

 John (judge) Lowell, Thomas Russel, and not to be 

 forgotten in this place Samuel Phillips. The memory 

 of Timothy Pickering should be held in honored re- 

 membrance by this Society, by all farmers, and indeed 

 by the whole country. He who had served his country 

 bravely and faithfully during the revolutionary contest, 

 and with distinguished ability in the cabinet and the 

 councils of the nation, retired to his farm in the midst of 

 life, before his eye was dim or his natural strength abat- 

 ed, and devoted his time and the vigor of his mind, to 

 agriculture He was not ashamed to be called, and 

 to be, a farmer. He was the first, and for ten years, 

 President of this Society. As he never neglected any 

 duty, he attended all the meetings of the Society and of 

 its Trustees ; and it will excite no jealousy among the 

 associates of his honorable labors, to say, that it owed 

 its prosperity, mainly, to his example and his efforts. 

 He repeatedly addressed them on their anniversaries, 

 and he furnished many valuable communications, which 

 enrich their publications — for all the improvements 

 which adorned or benefitted his own farm, were recom- 

 mended to him, not only by the consideration of his 

 own interest, but by the higher motive of duty to his 

 country. 



The pursuits of agriculture furnished abundant em- 

 ployment to the mind of Timothy Pickering — Let no 

 one then shun them as dull or degraded. He continued 

 his interest in agriculture and in this association, while 



Named in the act incorporating tho iMassachusetls Agricultural Society. 



