No. 4.] ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 19 



legislation, and, as lieutenant-governor of the Common- 

 wealth, was ex officio member of the Board. I am also proud 

 of the fact that my father, Rominor Smith, Esq., repre- 

 • sented the town of Colrain in the Legislature of Massachu- 

 setts that year, and exerted his influence in creating by law 

 the State Board of Agriculture. 



Nearly a half century has passed since its organization, 

 and during that long period with but a short interim your 

 chairman, the Hon. James S. Grinnell, has been an actite 

 member, whose wise counsel and earnest and zealous work 

 has done much to make your Board so eiEcient and of 

 national importance ; and, Mr. Chairman, to you personally 

 I extend, in behalf of the people of Franklin County, your 

 associate members, aye, all the citizens of the Common- 

 wealth, their gratitude for your devotion to the interests of 

 agriculture within her borders. The names of other distin- 

 guished men who have served this society and State faith- 

 fully as members of the Board from Franklin County are 

 Henry W. Clapp, Thomas J. Field, E. W. Stebbins, John 

 M. Smith, I. K. Brown, T. L. Allis, W. L. Warner, John 

 S. Anderson, John Buddington, Zeri Smith and J. C. New- 

 hall, while the Deerfield Valley Society has given to the 

 Board of her best talent in sending such men as Hon. Roger 

 H. Leavitt, E. C. Hawks, Otis J. Davenport, F. O. Howes, 

 J. D. Avery and Chas. E. Ward, all of whom, could they 

 address you on this occasion, would bid you a hearty wel- 

 come and God-speed in your noble work. 



Franklin County also gave one of her favorite sons, Hon. 

 John E. Russell, as secretary of the Board, whose execu- 

 tive ability, aided by his extensive travels and love for the 

 profession of agriculture, which he was able and willing to 

 defend at any and all times, commanded the admiration of 

 the whole people. You are welcome here, as in all other 

 places in the State where you meet, because your work is a 

 "labor of love." Your only recompense is the good you 

 are doing to those whom you represent. 



The farmers of Massachusetts " fired the first shot heard 

 round the world," and assisted largely in framing the Con- 

 stitution of the State, under which we live and prosper at 

 the present time, always ready to defend the honor and 



