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MEETINGS OF THE BOARD.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD.

A. M.

SPECIAL MEETING AT CONCORD.

A special meeting of the Board of Agriculture was held at the office of the secretary in Concord, May 4, 1887, at 11 o'clock Present: Messrs. Humphrey, Perry, Farnum, Whittemore, Carr, Lyman, Philbrick. The records of the special meeting were read and accepted. The secretary made a verbal report of the work of the office, and laid before the Board the plan of completing the report then in press, which was approved. By-laws governing the Board, in accordance with the act of organization, were adopted. On motion, the list of fertilizer companies licensed by the State for the sale of commercial fertilizers was ordered published for general information. The Hatch Experiment Station bill was read and discussed, but no action taken. On motion, voted to hold the annual fieldmeeting in August, the date and place to be arranged by the secretary.

The Board then adjourned.

ANNUAL FIELD-MEETING AT HAMPTON.

In accordance with previous announcement, the annual fieldmeeting of the Board of Agriculture was held at Boar's Head, Hampton Beach, on Tuesday, August 30, 1887. An informal meeting of the members of the Board was held on the previous evening for considering the time and place of holding the winter series of institutes, but final action was postponed until

the annual meeting on the 31st. The morning of August 30 was strongly indicative of rain, but before noon a fair day was assured, and a large crowd assembled. A large canvas had been provided by Col. S. H. Dumas, proprietor of the Boar's Head House, and was erected between the hotel and the ocean. This afforded an excellent auditorium for the meeting. Hon. Moses Humphrey, of Concord, president of the Board, called the meeting to order at 11 o'clock and delivered an address of welcome. He alluded to the time when he was a fisherman along this coast, more than sixty years ago, and reviewed some of the leading agricultural developments since that day. He closed by referring in a feeling manner to the late Secretary Adams.

Prof. G. H. Whitcher, of the Agricultural College, Hanover, was the first speaker, upon the subject of "Fertilizers." The address was practical, interesting, and held the close attention of the audience from the beginning to the close. It is published in full elsewhere in this report. After numerous questions on the subject, which were readily answered by the professor, recess was taken for dinner. This was an enjoyable part of the program, for, scattered about the extensive grounds in the vicinity of the hotel, were families, societies, and smaller picnic parties, all enjoying their out-door dinner in their own peculiar way, while the dining-rooms of the hospitable hotel were patronized to their fullest capacity. During the intermission, through the thoughtful courtesy of Colonel Dumas, the Mechanics Band, of Hampton, arrived, and gratuitously enlivened the occasion with musical selections.

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At the afternoon session a much larger audience had assembled, not only filling the large pavilion but the hotel piazzas and the grounds adjoining. It was estimated that one thousand people were in attendance during the afternoon. Hon. Joseph B. Walker, of Concord, was the first speaker, upon "The Progress of New England Agriculture during the Past Thirty Years.' Mr. Walker's address is printed in this volume, and is a valuable production of one of New Hampshire's ablest writers. It is needless to say it was accorded close attention and frequent applause. The secretary spoke upon the subject as applied to New Hampshire agriculture as follows:

Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen:

The advancement or decline of the agricultural interests of New Hampshire affords a broad and fertile field for discussion, and a subject peculiarly appropriate at this meeting, representing the various agricultural organizations of the State, on the work of which the success of agriculture largely depends.

Progress is continually being made in the arts, sciences, and professions, developing the resources and enhancing the prosperity of the State. Probably more advancement has been made in various directions, essential to the general development of our Commonwealth, within the past thirty years than in an equal period at any previous time. Has the science of agriculture kept pace in this advancement? The citizens of no country are credited with healthy advancement unless they have made improvement in all that tends to make an intelligent and prosperous people; and therefore no business or profession should be considered successful unless its prosperity reaches beyond the accumulation of wealth.

In considering the success our agriculture has attained, we should know the social and educational progress made as well as the financial. The time is passed when the success of a farmer was measured entirely by his bank account, and is fast being determined by his general intelligence and the advancement made in all that goes to make a thrifty and honored citizen of the State. It is time to get out of the old ruts. Consider for a moment the condition of the farmers of the State thirty years ago. There will come freshly to the minds of many present the honest, hard-working, plodding farmer, whose field of information and interest was limited by the boundary lines of his farm, and whose chief ambition seemed to be to bequeath a property to his descendants. In fact, there were no inducements offered for a broader life, and the social, educational, and political affairs of the State were entirely neglected, and controlled by other classes of people. Since that time a great change has taken place, and investigation proves that the present means of advancement offered the agricultural people of the State are not excelled by any class or profession.

The educational improvement has been brought about in

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