FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 



405 



teem with a busy population, and by the side of every river and 

 stream, where now only the idle waters make idle music, ponder- 

 our wheels shall make the music of industry — an industry which 

 draws its vitality from fertile fields. From every hilltop the 

 farmer shall see signals warning him of approaching storms in 

 harvest ; and the telegraph, day by day, will acquaint him with 

 the prices in the great markets of the world. By the side of 

 every farmhouse in the land shall be seen delicate flowers — the 

 fairest things in God's lower creation — and their silent and blessed 

 influence shall be felt upon the hearts and minds of all. Neighbor 

 shall be at peace with neighbor, the plowshare and pruning hook 

 shall reigh triumphant, and in the delightful summer evenings the 

 farmer shall recline under the shade of the trees, and vines his own 

 hands have planted, and read with satisfaction his daily agricul- 

 tural paper. 



LAST DAY OF THE SESSION. 



The last day of the session was devoted to the subject of fruit. 

 It had previously been announced that the expediency of forming 

 a State association for the promotion of fruit culture would be 

 discussed at this time, and if thought best, a societj" might be 

 organized. Owing to the small attendance it was thought best, 

 after discussion, to leave the subject in the hands of a committee 

 and Messrs. Gilbert, Varney and Simpson were appointed as such 

 committee. 



A. L. Simpson of Bangor, presented the following paper on 



Fruits and Flowers. 



Gentlemen: — We are taught that in the days of antiquity, man 

 was innocent and good, and dwelt in a garden, the Garden of 

 Eden, — tha»t in it grew perennial fruit and ever blooming flowers, — 

 that in it grew no weeds, briars, thorns or thistles ; that in this 

 Garden he might have lived forever if he had not eaten of the 

 forbidden fruit, that he did eat thereof, and discovered his naked- 

 ness. We infer therefore that in those days, man possessed the 

 same selfish faculties that he does now, and that he permitted 

 those faculties to get dominion over him, and to retain it ; for this 

 cause he has lived for self and endeavored to appropriate every- 

 thing to himself, thereby continuing to eat the forbidden fruit. 

 For eating this fruit he is sent forth from the garden, "so he 



