id 



lieve, than a quarter of a century ago, the course 

 of this Society has been constantly onward, and 

 its intluence for good has been widely felt, not 

 only in this and neighl)oring States, but through- 

 out the Union and the Dominion of Canada. 

 Indeed its fame has extended to every country of 

 the civilized world. Its contributions to our 

 common agricultural literature, the researches it 

 has instituted into the nature and treatment of 

 new and mysterious forms of disease of a most 

 malignant character among the domesticated 

 animals, and the thorough, systematic trials of 

 farm implements and machines which it has on 

 several public occasions made, impart to your So- 

 ciety a very high character for energy and 

 usefulness. 



What a magnificent theatre does this great 

 country present for the working out of the en- 

 lightenment, freedom and happiness of our com- 

 mon humanity ? Extending east and west from 

 one ocean to another, and from the great lakes 

 in the north to the gulf of Mexico in the south, 

 comprising almost every climate, traversed by 

 rivers of unrivaled magnitude, and richly en- 

 dowed by nature with the means of agricultural, 

 manufacturing and mineral wealth, it offers homes 

 of plenty and comfort to the many thousands of 



