STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 45 



discuss the subject of fruit growing and bee-keeping in this way, 

 to much profit. 



While the growing of fruits and flowers has always possessed 

 much of interest to me, and I have received in the pleasure 

 derived from their culture, even in a small way and in a careless 

 manner, much more than the effort cost me, I am not able to cite 

 instances in my own experience in many cases but must depend 

 on those attained by others. 



While I feel as do most Aroostook people, I think, that my lot 

 has been cast "in pleasant places," in one of the best counties 

 in our peaceful nation, yet at times, yes, many times, I have felt 

 the call too strong almost to be resisted, to emigrate to central 

 or southern Maine or some other fruit belt and take up the 

 growing of fruit, in connection with bee-keeping, as a vocation. 

 I can hardly imagine an occupation that would return larger 

 profits in health and happiness, and insure, if managed in a 

 business-like manner, a comfortable income, at least. What 

 more could one desire than this? 



I want to digress from my subject a little, right here, to say 

 that it has seemed to me that the men in Maine outside of Aroos- 

 took county, who have good orchards or land suitable for or- 

 charding, and have neglected this branch of farming to take up 

 potato growing, are making a mistake. There are exceptions, of 

 course. The man who has no liking for an apple tree or bushes 

 that bear fruit, is doing right, I think, to leave their culture alone 

 and take up something more to his liking. But I believe this, — 

 that the same amount of eft'ort expended in growing and properly 

 marketing apples in Maine, outside of Aroostook, will bring 

 larger cash returns and much more in real pleasure and peace 

 of mind, than will the growing of potatoes. 



I realize that with the conditions existing this year, most of 

 you no doubt feel somewhat discouraged with apple growing, but 

 I can assure you there are few potato growers getting rich. I 

 am inclined to the belief that one of the great needs of the apple 

 grower in this state is better facilities for storing and holding 

 the crop and putting it on the market when it will bring paying 

 prices, rather than to be forced to market it in the fall or early 

 winter at a much less margin of profit. There will be many 

 barrels of apples in this state this year that will go to waste, 



