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 endowed by nature with the means of agricultural, manufacturing and mineral wealth, it offers homes of plenty and comfort to the many thousands of the sons of toil who annually land upon its shores. I well remember, now more than half a century ago, a mechanic with his family emigrating from my little picturesque native village in the south of England, to the western portion of the State of Illinois, which, at that day, was regarded as the "far west." It took him more time and trouble to get from New York to his destination than the whole ocean voyage, which, at that period, was a much more formidable undertaking than it is now. How stupendous the changes in the means of locomotion, as in many other things since then, supplied by the steamboat and the railroad, the latter now connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific! These are truly marvelous changes occurring within living memory, and their benefits, with yet still further developments, will be transmitted from sire to son, through all future generations.

It is now upwards of twenty years since I first had the pleasure of attending the New York State Agricultural show, and I have observed with much gratification and benefit the astonishing progress you have made. Many of the earlier members of this Society, who took a prominent part in its management, among whom I had the honor of including several esteemed personal friends, have been removed from this earthly scene. And I cannot allow the present opportunity to pass, without expressing my deepest sympathy with the members of this Society, for the recent loss of its late venerable, respected, and most efficient Secretary. Col. Johnson was no ordinary man, and he was known and esteemed far beyond the Society, which he so long and honorably served. He certainly had a British, if not a European reputation, and we, over in Canada, were accustomed to look upon him as one of ourselves. In common with you, we mourn his loss; many of his acts of kindly and courteous attention will be long and gratefully remembered by not a few of the members of our "Provincial Association ;" and now, that so good and true a man, full of years and honors, has been taken from us by the relentless hand of death, all I will further say is, what I am sure will honestly express the most sacred feelings of all your hearts: Requiescat in pace."

Only another word, and I have done. We meet on this occasion to promote the arts of peace and good will, the wealth, intelligence and

126 ANNUAL REPORT OF STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

happiness of Nations. As a British Canadian, I wish to express to you, and through you to the citizens of the United States generally, the cordial feeling of my people on the other side of the lakes, not only towards this Society, but for the peace and prosperity of your common country. We live, it is true, under different forms of government, but we speak a common language, and are proud of a common ancestry; and in fact we have so much in common that we regard as good and permanent, as will, I most devoutly trust, under the guidance and blessing of Divine Providence, lead to earnest and harmonious action in promoting the material development of our respective soils, and the peace, liberty, and happiness of the toiling millions of this vast continent.

IMPROVED CHESHIRE SOW, "LADY MOODY."-The property of CLARK & GREEN, Belleville, N. Y. Winner of the first prize at the New York State Agricultural Society's Fair, at Rochester, in 1868; also, of the first prize in her class, and, with "Ben Butler" and five of their pigs, of the PORK PACKERS' PRIZE of $500, at the great St. Louis Fair of 1870.

IMPROVED CHESHIRE BOAR, "BEN BUTLER."-The property of CLARK & GREEN, Belleville, N. Y. Winner of first prize at the Fair of the New York State Agricultural Society, at Buffalo, in 1867; also, with Lady Moody" and five of their pigs, of the PORK PACKERS' PRIZE of $500, at the great St. Louis Fair of 1870.