46 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



no doubt, that could be marketed if the proper machinery could 

 be set in motion to reach the would-be consumer. 



In my own county there is nearly always a surplus of fall 

 varieties of apples. Some years barrels of them decay on the 

 ground, but it will not be very long, even this year, before we will 

 be paying live cents apiece for apples grown on the Pacific coast, 

 that are not a whit better, if as good, as a properly grown Maine 

 Baldwin, Northern Spy, Black Oxford, Nodhead or several 

 other varieties that could be mentioned. 



I only speak of these things at this time, or of this side of the 

 question, to encourage you and possibly to enthuse some of you 

 to reach out after better things that are within your reach; and 

 to possess a confidence in the business of fruit growing. 



Possibly many of the apple growers of this state might learn 

 a profitable lesson from the Aroostook potato grower. They are 

 looking ahead through the coming years, expecting to grow pota- 

 toes and planning how they may grow better potatoes and grow 

 them more cheaply. Dififerent political parties may overhaul the 

 tarifif, or other issues may arise, but the average potato grower 

 maintains or increases his acreage. But gradually the potato 

 grower is realizing that he is neglecting the vital end of the 

 business, the marketing of the crop when grown. And I am 

 inclined to the view that the apple grower could profitably pay 

 more attention to the marketing of his crop. 



But I am getting away from my text, "The Honey Bee and Its 

 Relation to Fruit Growing." 



When first we are told that flowers are of two kinds, the stam- 

 inate and pistilate, or male and female flowers, and that the 

 pollen, the fine flour-like substance clinging to the blossoms, is 

 the fecundating or life-giving properties of plants and must be 

 carried from one flower to the other by some agency, before the 

 plant or tree can fruit or bear seed with which to reproduce 

 itself, we are filled with a feeling of awe and admiration for the 

 Great Creator's handiwork. 



When we partake of the sweets which the industry of the 

 honey bee, coupled with our own care and planning, has made 

 possible, we are apt to lose sight of the prime purpose of the 

 creation, no doubt, the fertilizing of fruits and flowers. 



There are other agencies beside the honey bees which carry 

 out this end, or at least play an important part. The wind is an 



