The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-23
STATE FARMERS MEET.
Public Winter Meeting Of the State
Board of Agriculture.
f0RIY-FIVE WERE PRESENT.
Addresses By Prof w. II. Brewer OF
Yale and Prof James Law of Cornell
Interesting Discussion of Many I'm
portant Agricultural Subjects.

The public winter meeting Of the state
boa.N of agriculture was held today in
Blackstone Hall. Gov. Brown presi ded
and made short opening address. He
defined the outlook of the farmer in
these words:
"When some twenty-five years ago, as
a scEoolboy, i WORKED on my fathers
farm during my spare moments, i had no
thought that it would ever be my great
privilege TO preside over u meeting in the
interest of agriculture, and to introduce
one of the most valuable friends OF the
farmers OF tiis country Although
switched off into another occupation, and
have probably been more successful In IL,
than should have been handling the hoe
and tending the live stock, / have always
been thankful that my early days were
spent on farm. The sturdy life
it endon ed me with, has been a
great blessing, aud my boy
hood experience with the characteristics
of your noble calling. has given me a
fellow feeling which makes the work OF
my present position particularly inter
esting end enjoyable to me. | am there
fore, here today not as a practical farmer,
but as chairman of your state board of
Agriculture. an Organization which / can
assure you Is sparing no time or effort
in advancing your interest so far as the
means dt lts uiSpOSdl Will ptTDull.
II am not one VINO believes that the
cry Of distress thai is goins up from the
farmers throughout the land today has
no foundation, or that they as a class are
responsible for the depressed col dition
Of the agricultural interests. The report
of our census bureau, or TO coIle nearer
nome the information of our commits
sioner Of industrial statistics with re-
gard to abandoned farms, tells a tale
that needs no exaggeratlon to make IL
forcibie. With some OF you IL is perhaps q
difficult matter TO make a decent living
from your farms, TO say nothing OF
profit. 1t is true that Instances can be
cited where men by adapting themselves
TO special branches OF agriculture and by
worKing upon an extensive sca,e. nave
foun1 lucrative occupation, but these
ins ances are rare. Now and then there
is bright CLEAN of hope.
Il believe that brighter days are dawn
ing for the farmer. believe the trouble
II that he has not been able TO auapt hluI-
self quickly enough TO the changing con-
ditions of life around him, but year after
year the nation and state are coming 10
his aid in channels uudreamt OF gener-
alton ago, and he will soou be brought
in line. 1t seems to me tnat the
hope OF resurrectng agricultural
prosperity will lind fulfilment by the
education of the farmer. l mean his
special education in the mysi cries of his
CHOSEN work. An education that will
tell him how to get the best out OF the
soil, what crops he can cultivate with
the most profit and in general; how to
chain the forces of nature to his purpose,
and by SO doing to bring wealth from the
source OF all wealth, the earth.
"Wha noble work these institutes
are doing in the direction of education.
Through lectures such as you viii! hear
today you are enabled to keep abreast of
the times. while the experiment stations
are pouring out IA food OF valuable
knowledge for your use. And for the
rising generation agricultural colleges
are springing up all over the land where
young men and women may CLEAN
the fullest scientific knowledge
and become acquainted with
the latest and most improved
methods of culture. Our own agricul-
tural college at South Kings Oh, endowed
with added strength oy the last General
Assembly, Is justifying the hopes of It's
promoters. Last year out of ninety-fiv
pupils in attendance ninety were from
the towns, a fact which iuG icates that the
sons aud daughters of our farmers are
taking advantage of the opportunities il
affords.
In the movement for improved coun-
try roads, which is contined not alone TO
this state, L think there is another force
at work for the benefit of the farmer"
Prof. Brewer spoke on "lhe Relation
of the Farm to the Public Health"
AT the afternoon session Prof. James
Law of Cornell University spoke at
length upon tuberculosis In CATTLE"
presenting very able and exhaustive ex-
position of this most fatal OF maladies.
About forty-fve delegates, represent
ing all sections of the state were present
at the meeting and marked interest was
taken In all OF the exercises