PENOBSCOT AND AKOOSTOOK UNION SOCIETY. 



Tbe Secretary writes me that the Society embraces 80 members. 

 Its Annual Exhibition was held at Patten on the 18th and 14th of 

 October, 1859. The first day was pleasant, and there was a larger 

 attendance than usual, and a fine display of animals. Mr. Cush- 

 man's full blood Durhams, lately introduced, and the cows of Messrs. 

 Twichell, Peake and Miles, excited much interest. The second day 

 was rainy, but did not debar the citizens from the satisfaction of 

 listening to an instructive Address from Mr. Cushman. 



AN ADDRESS 



Delivered at Patien, at the Annual Fair of the Penobscot and Aroostook Agricultural 

 Society, October 14, 1859, by Alfred Cushman, Esq. 



Ladies and Gentlemen: — Again, has ever rolling time, brought 

 another autumnal harvest. Again, are we assembled, as friends 

 and neighbors to give and receive the friendly hand ; and see what 

 improvement each other has made in the greatest of all pursuits, 

 that for which man was created, agriculture. Again can we bear 

 witness to the truth of the sacred promise, that seed time and har- 

 vest shall not fail. Although tilling the soil is the oldest of all 

 occupations and a very large majority of men are engaged in it — 

 although nearly every article of food and clothing consumed by the 

 1,000,000,000 of the human race are the direct productions of agri- 

 culture, yet very little improvement, in scientific knowledge has 

 been made in it in this country. Men have been content to do as 

 their fathers did, each succeeding generation following in the foot 

 steps of its predecessor, and thus, while the rest of the world 

 has been rapidly advancing, agriculture has stood nearly still. 

 While no other pursuit is so sure to produce happiness and com- 

 petence, none is so sure to produce morality and virtue. It is said 

 of the Reform Schools of Maine and Massachusetts, that no farmers 



