44 



Col. William S. Clark, President of the Massachusetts Agri- 

 cultural College, was the next speaker. He began b}' saying that 

 he was glad to have the opportunity- to sa}' a word in regard to 

 the excellence of the exhibition, particularly in the matter of fruit, 

 for which thanks were mainly due to Col. Wilder, whose name has 

 become known throughout the country as the prince of pomologists. 

 He had also become known throughout the country in every good 

 work which will benefit the people. Col. Wilder had said that he 

 would rather originate a new flower, or fruit, or vegetable, that 

 would hand down his name to posterity, than to receive any other 

 earthly honor. These, said the speaker, were eloquent words ; but 

 his fame was not perishable, for he would be remembered as the 

 founder of institutions that shall live forever, or as long as men 

 cultivate the earth. (Applause.) He would also be remembered 

 as the founder, originator and main spoke in the wheel of the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural College, which is called a failure. 

 (Laughter.) He has failed in this last grand eftbrt of his life, so 

 some would try to have us believe. He has in truth borne more 

 slander on this account than any man in Massachusetts. The 

 speaker was \evy sorry for him. He said he had stood by him 

 himself and borne a good deal of pounding. But he would not 

 defend the Agricultural College, for it neeiled no defence. He did 

 not believe the farmers of Norfolk County would decry an institu- 

 tion which was founded to promote the cause of agriculture — to 

 gather the wisdom of all countries and diffuse it throughout our 

 own. He would tell them in a word what they Avere doing at the 

 College. The}' had a ver}- beautiful property of aljout 400 acres, 

 and also property in buildings, money, &c., of more than 8500,000. 

 Able men were employed to instruct the pupils in the various 

 branches of scientiflc farming who were performing their dut}' with 

 great zeal. The institution was also full of students, and was 

 never before in so flourishing a condition. So much for the Col- 

 lege. The speaker then alluded to the requirements needed for a 

 farmer, and said it took a good and intelligent man to make a suc- 

 cess in this pursuit, as in other things. He had seen a great 

 many cases where the right kind of men had made a good thing in 

 farming. The speaker next pleasantly referred to a recent visit 

 he had made to Cul.Russel's farm in Milton, and to the operations 

 of that gentleman in fancy horse flesh. He then alluded to the 

 dairy business, and to what his College was doing in that line. 

 The results which had been achieved were enough to show that 

 intelligent farming pa^-s, and that it was the work of his College 

 to train intelligent farmers. Judge Hoar had recently stated that 

 the ideal of Harvard College was literary culture, but the ideal of 

 the Agricultural College was business. It taught boys how to 

 work. It took them when th^- had got through the three R's — 

 'rithmetic, reading and 'riting (laughter) — and put them right to 

 work upon the farm, and taught them in this practical way the 



