20 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



State as possible, so that every one interested may, as nearly 

 as may be, have an equal share of benefit. 



Of the forty-four public winter meetings held by the 

 Board, thirteen have been held in this valley, — tliree in 

 Springfield, including this one, tlu-ee in Greenfield, two in 

 Northampton, two in Amherst, two in Westfield, and one 

 in Easthampton ; five have been held in Berkshire County, 

 four in western Worcester County, five in the city of Worces- 

 ter, three in eastern Worcester County, six in Middlesex 

 County, three in Essex County, two in Plymouth County, 

 two in Bristol County and one in Boston. 



The one hundred and twenty-five farmers' institutes held 

 each season are held in all parts of the State, and in such 

 locations, it is believed, as to enable nearly every farmer in 

 the State to attend one or more of them. 



The publications of the Board, the annual volume " Agri- 

 culture of Massachusetts," the crop reports and the nature 

 leaflets are distributed with care, and effbrt is made to have 

 them placed in the hands of every one interested. 



But you are waiting for the lecture of the morning, and 1 

 will not detain you longer. Again for the Board of Agri- 

 culture thanking the Board of Trade for its invitation, and 

 you, Mr. President, for your cordial and eloquent welcome, 

 I will give way to weightier matters, and call upon the lec- 

 turer for the morning session. Prof. L. R. Jones, botanist 

 of the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station, who will 

 speak to us on the important subject of " Plant Diseases." 



