STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 87 



Dnrinsr the last autumn I saw a snail in the midst of a wooded 

 swamp on my farm, where the muck is some eight feet in depth. 

 Its thin shell was composed of lime. I do not believe there is a 

 chemist living who could detect a particle of lime in that soil, yet 

 that snail had succeeded in extracting enough lime from that muck 

 to cover his body. We are placed on the soil like so many snails, 

 to learn as far as possible all the secret processes by which its 

 mineral treasures can be unlocked and made useful. 



The Present an Age of Progress. 

 The age in which we live is an age of progress. Science has 

 made wonderful strides since we were born. Science and art 

 have revolutionized every occupation in our laud, aud he who 

 does not adapt his business to this new order of things will starve. 

 It will not do to shut our eyes to the changes that are going on 

 in the science and art of agriculture. Since I was a resident of 

 this town, the mowing and reaping machine have been invented. 

 The sewing machine has found its way into almost every house- 

 hold, while the rail cars go and carry us everywhere, and the 

 lightning acts as our mail carrier. A flying machine seems all 

 that is necessary to make the list complete, which it is hoped 

 some enterprising genius may yet invent. No man is so stupid 

 as wholly to shut his eyes to the wonderful achievements of 

 science and art. Shall we, too, not make equally wonderful dis- 

 coveries in our appeal to mother earth, that she may yield up her 

 hidden treasures for our profit and pleasure ? 



Conclusion. 



Now, gentlemen, while I have set before you a very high 

 standard, I have endeavored not to be unreasonable, or suggest 

 what is beyond the ability of any one to carry out. What I have 

 said, I wish you to regard as hints and suggestions, rather than 

 as positive commands. A long series of years in trying to raise 

 an orchard, has made me very modest in my expectations, but I 

 trust the combined experience of those who have been successful, 

 will be 80 developed by this convention, that good orchards rather 

 than poor ones shall be the rule, and not the exception in the 

 State of Maine. 



There are some men who take great pleasure in looking at the 



■patient ox, or a beautiful horse. I quarrel not with such. But 



there is something pleasing at the sight of the man whose delight 



