The record-union., 1891-09-11
OPENING ADDRESS.
Delivered at the Pavilion Last Even
ing by President Cox

D0l1VereO at Cne FaV1l1On Last EVEN
ing by President Cox.
Following is the full text of the open
ing address, delivered last evening by
President Frederick Cox of the State
Board of Agriculture. The newly
opened playground was used for the oc-
casion instead of the art gallery, as here
tofore, and proved to be much better
adapted for the purpose. A platform had
been erected for the speaker, who was
accompanied by the other members of
the board. Mr.. Cox said:
THE OPENING ADDRESS.
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Directors
have conferred on me the honor to ex-
tend to you welcome to this, the thirty
eighth annual Exposition of the State
Agricultural Society. I have the fond
ness Of an old settler in recalling the
past, and dwelling with happy thoughts
upon the achievements of those who
founded this State and opened up the
avenues of prosperity which we all enjoy.
think it a valuable lession to the young
occasionally to recount what their fathers
did. There is spark of heroism in
nearly every mans nature which obsta-
cles and opposition serve often to fan to a
flame. That flame glowed in the breasts
of those who thirty years ago laid
broad and deep the foundation of this So
city. AT that time mining was the prin-
cipal vocation of the early settlers and
the centers of the densest population of
the State were on the TANKS OF the Sierra
Nevada. That portion of our State whose
products now challenge the admiration of
the world and now represent millions of
dollars of value, was characterized con-
temptuously as the cow-country.
Agriculture, much less horticulture
was an unknown quantity. The men
who resisted the temptation to engage in
mining, and thought of agriculture were
met by conditions of climate and soil
culture to which they were strangers.
The burning sun of summer, the brassy
skies which denied the grateful and re-
viving showers of the East, seemed as a
forbidding spirit TO guard the secrets of
the earth. There was speculation and
bravery in the man who turned the first
furrow or planted the first tree.
What hope, what patience, what faith
he must have had! What an inspiring
example to the young men of this State
who are asking themselves, What shall
we do for a living? Go ask the hospitable
hills which have for centuries robbed the
high Sierra of the richest soil and treas
ured it for homes for intelligence and
skillful labor-hiils which are destined to
be covered with fruits and vines and
afford the widest field for horticultural
experimentation.
Young mani You were not born when
the secret of California tillage was dis
closed. Since your birth ali the orchards
and vineyards in the State have been
planted, new fruits introduced. the
adaptability of fruits to soil ascertained.
and the proper mode of culture determ-
lned. The book of knowledge has been
opened TO you by your father and the
paths of success trod by him. If you
stand whlmpering for fear, with the pres
ent aids to success, say to you go leave
n nTllN Tfaraf, nlNaV Yl.o~x 4
But digress. Let us refer for few
moments TO the beginning of this society.
In the Legislature of 1854 bill was in
troduced incorporating the State Agri-
cultural Society, and was referred to
committee. The Chairman, w. S. Ietcher.
reported the bill favorably, and said with
wise prescience, 'It is a bill, the pro-
visions of which will act upon every in
terest, affect all classes of our citizens
and touch with electric power every
branch ofindustry throughout the State"
Referring TO the necessity of encouraging
agriculture, he urged the fact THAT
within the past year there has been inn
ported into the State 100000 barrels of
Hour" The bill was approved May IA,
1884. The Act appropriated $4,000 year
and provided ''that the board may hold
four sections of land for the purpose of
establishing a model farm, and for the
exhibition of breeds of animals, the pro-
ductions of agriculture, and of mechan-
ical and domestic manufacture" The
first fair was held on October 4, 1854, at
San Francisco. The President was +.
w. Macondray; Directors, E. L. Beard. ].
X. Rose. ID. w. G. Thompson, c. J.
Hutchinson, ]. w. Osborne; Correspond
ing Secretary, j. l.. l.. +. Warren; Secre-
tary, {. V. Gillispie, and David Chamber
lain Treasurer.
Most of these pioneer farmers have been
garnered into the great storehouse above
The venerable Warren, one of the fathers
of agriculture in this State, still survives
to tell of his love for the farmers life and
to enjoy the felicity of troops of friends
who appreciate the value of his labor.
Long may he live.
The Sacramento UNION of that wear
merely gives a short notice of the fair.
There were two tables on the side fifty
feet long, one table in the center eighty
feet long. and two small oval tables on
the side for grains. and these held all the
exhibit.
On September "a, 1855, the fair was held
in the Assembly Chamber of the State
Capitol. At a meeting of citizens COM
mittee, of which Governor Bigler was
CHAIRMAN, was appointed TO welcome vis-
itors. The Sacramento UNION notes that
Durham bull had arrived from Sutter
County. Attention was called to apple
trees two years old from San Jose, two
tables of vegetables and bucket of
onions. To quote the reporter: Among
the pomoioglcal curiosities are two stems
of Spanish Mission pears and peaches"
1.-TWO seeding peaches from p. l.. VIM
mer of Coloma were special objects of
wonderment." "a great crowd was
grouped about little garden of straw
berries" In an essay published in the
proceedings of the society, General Hut
Gibson gave the expense of cultivating
kau acres of wheat at S264, and the yield,