We have, indeed, the same landscape and the same natural 

 beauties of the earth as before, yet in those days the farms 

 crept up to the very feet of Boston, Where boys who are 

 now men gathered nuts and stole apples, are now to be seen 

 solid streets of stores and manufactories. You find that in 

 Dedham, and Canton, and Hyde Park and neighboring towns, 

 the requirements for building and manufacturing have raised 

 the land in value far beyond its worth for farming purposes. 

 Go back a few miles to the land that was so poor that it was 

 once considered to be worthless, and there now you will find 

 Hyde Park, which has grown up to be a handsome rural city. 

 We see what has been done during the past twenty-five years ; 

 what will be done during the next twenty-five .-' 



We talk of the progress which the world at large has made, 

 and often-times overlook what has been going on around our 

 own homes. We all understand and appreciate what has been 

 done in the business and manufacturing interests ; yet in the 

 domain of agriculture there have been improvements, which 

 are greater in the aggregate than all that have been accom- 

 plished in other fields of effort, and yet we find that they pass 

 almost unnoticed. Twenty-five years ago an ordinary cow, of 

 the native breed, only brought about ^25, and perhaps an 

 extraordinary animal might have cost $75. How little did 

 the people of those days imagine that a cow would ever bring 

 the enormous price which one was sold for the other day, for 

 the sum of $40,600 ! Such a thing, even now, will almost take 

 away one's breath. Such things as these have taught the most 

 reluctant men among the farmers the worth of improved 

 breeds of stock and of scientific farming. Years ago they would 

 not believe that foreign cattle could ever become acclimated in 

 this country, or secure the high prices which they cost, but 



