PISCATAQUIS CENTRAL SOCIETY. 325 



at is one of the safest interests to be trusted. And while the western 

 States pour out their opulence of bread to feed Europe and bring 

 back money and manufactures in exchange, we ought to raise our 

 own bread out of our own soil, and retain for our home wants, and 

 to increase our wealth, the three millions of dollars which we annu- 

 ally send out of our State for bread. While we should not squander 

 our strength and resources in fruitless attempts to rival tropical 

 climates, we should always raise enough for our own use of every 

 thing indigenous to our climate and soil, and such exotics as there 

 is a reasonable chance of being successful with. It is easier to raise 

 ■enough for one's own consumption than to pay out money for it. 

 The farmer should divide his land between several species of bread- 

 etuffs — then if one fails, he has amply sufficient left for all his wants. 

 Every farmer should raise enough for his own use of the largest 

 practicable variety. Solomon, who well understood the requisites 

 to success in all departments of human interest, gives a direction 

 which, as pertinent to this topic, may be remembered with profit : 



"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not 

 thy hand, for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that, 

 or whether both shall be alike good." 



Here I will suggest, at the risk of being tedious, that corn, which 

 is a pretty sure crop in nearly all localities in this State, ought to 

 lenter more largely than it does into table uses. I know of no greater 

 luxury among the cereals than corn bread properly made. It is also 

 healthful and nutritious. It ought to be more largely substituted 

 for wheat, especially if wheat cannot be successfully raised among 

 us, and we are obliged to send our money abroad for it. 



The subject of fruit raising is especially important, and is, I am 

 happy to know, commanding increased attention. The apple is a 

 more valuable fruit than the orange, and like it, is becoming an 

 article of commerce. A western paper has a short article upon the 

 value of fruit, which is in the main adapted to this latitude, and as 

 it well expresses what I would like to say on this topic, you will 

 permit me to read it : 



" Fruit Instead of Medicine, There is no doubt but that the 

 free use of good fruit is highly conducive to health, and, indeed, 

 almost indispensable to it. Much of the sickness in the western 



