The Portland daily press., 1895-08-28

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horses were being led about by their
grooms, from the large poultry tent
near the entrance came the cackling and
csowing of the prize specimens of the
barnyard fowl a chorus not unlike that
of the growing of the fakirs announcing
the marvels and wonders in the tents on
the Midway Plaisance just beyond
There were not a great many people in
attendance in the early hours of the day,
but the number was augmented by fresh
arrivals as the day grew older. Presi-
dent Appleton and the members Of the
official board of the fair managem ent
were early on hand and were as busy as
bees. The pulling matches between the
great oxen, the judging of the fancy
horses, and the afternoon trOtting were
all interesting and all drew crowds of
spectators.
( President Appleton said last evening
that the attendance was very favorable
for the first day.
1t has been the time honored custom
to open the New England Fair with a
speech delivered by the president OF the
society, and President Appleton had
prepared an address for this occasion.
This is the speech which President Ap-
pleton had prepared:
PRESIDENT APPLETON'S AD-
DRESS.
Fellow Citizens of New England:
(ra+J I, ~, 10 fI1n
hospitable invitation of the citizens of
Portland, and of the owners of the excel
lent grounds, buildings and accessories of
Rigby Park, it becomes my privilege and
pleasure to welcome you to this, the 32nd
annual Fair of the New England Agri-
cultural Society; and wish in behalf of
the society's management and it's members
| to express the hope that all possible bene-
| fit shall come to our people and their
| AGRICULTURAL interests from this weeks
meeting here.
We, of New England, cordially welcome
those who are With us from other terri
tory, who shall share with us the benefits
to be here gained.
| It is our object to aid our citizens by
promoting occupations which, in varied
FORMS will give profit to our people and
advance especially that foundation in
dustry, agriculture
| 1t is for our interest, as far as possible,
to promote all commercial, mechanical,
on other enterprises which in their ac-
tivity increase the purchasing ability of
the people, and give larger markets and
greater demand for the products of the
| farm and garden.
| No business requires the exercise of
more professional and scientific talent to
protect and advance it's general welfare
| than does the business of agriculture
which this society was established to en-
courage.
| The early efforts of our prominent citi-
zens to advance agriculture by organiza-
| tion were probably in large measure due
| to the influence Of Washington, aided by
his correspondence with Sir John Sin
clare, of England, upon the subject.
| The patriotic citizens who were WASH
| ington's supporters throughout he young
nation, joined him in his efforts and we
| find agricultural societies existing as
early as 1885 to 1895 in South Carolina,
| Pennsylvania, New York and Massachu
setts; followed later by others the Tore
runners of those that exist today.
| The writings of Che leading men in
those earliest organizations, which were
then frequent and earnest, are interesting
reading today
| The growth and development of our
country finds greater need today for Or
ganized effort to keep our agriculture
up to high standard in practice and
|
ter, than in those earlier days.
| In this nation our representatives in
the national and State governments have
| done much, by appropriations of money
to establish agricultural experiment
stations, agricultural colleges and boards
of agriculture, and to endow them, as
we'll as to establish the department. of
Agriculture at Washington.
The experiment stations, by their
boards of directors and officers throughout
New England, have been invited to con-
vene here during this fair in the hope
that mutual good will result from the
meeting together of those gentlemen I'M
| der our auspices.
| The value of the presence of men so con-
nected with the advancement Of our agri-
culture Of today, at Our evening meeting
at City Hall, together with our Cattle
and Forestry Commissioners, cannot fail
to be recognized and to be useful Like
meetings on our fair grounds at any hour
cannot fail to be Of value
| A most cordial invitation was extended
to the President of the United States to
visit the fair, and Lam sure that warm
greeting would have awaited him. but it
was not possible for Alr. Cleveland to
visit us.
1t was impossible for the Secretary of
the National Department. Of Agriculture
| to accept our invitation to visit US here
but part of our food and portion of
our fertilizers come from the sea, upon
| whose surface our new power of prOtec-
tion floats with such grace, coupled with
stern severity, and we are glad that we
can welcome the Secretary of the Navy,
and the North Atlantic Squadron to this
neighborhood.
We have as cordially hoped for the pres
ence of all New England's governors, as
| well as the governors of some of the ad
joining States and the Queens represen-
tative in Canada, and we welcome all OF
those who shall honor us by their pres
| enoe.
We are glad to welcome to our enclos
ures all those who have been hidden and
who can find value and interest to them
in this grand display of agricultural
products, from the highest Official and