222 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



would set only a very few full berries on a bunch, some others being 

 only the size of shot, and seedless. After full trial, I discarded it 

 utterly, but meantime had sent vines to several parties — among 

 others to Mr. Chamberlain. Here it not only ripened earlier than 

 any other grape, but the bunches are full, in fact so crowded that 

 I observed some berries crushed by the pressure of those around 

 them. I found some yesterday (August) nearly ripe, in fact would 

 pass for fully ripe with many persons. On the whole, one which 

 was worthless with me, has proved the most desirable here of all 

 which have been tried. 



By carefully observing what you see, you may not only 

 strengthen habits of close observation and thits learn to see more 

 and more, but you will ascertain numberless facts of experience of 

 great local importance. You may avoid many errors in practice 

 and profit by the successes of others. 



The Chairman then introduced C. B. Stetson, Esq. of Lewiston, 

 who delivered the following lecture on road making : 



Mr. President and Gentlemen : — It is proper, perhaps, that I 

 should offer a word of explanation and apology at this time. I 

 worked in my boyhood more or less for a number of years upon 

 the roads in the State of Maine, like nearly all boys, but I cannot 

 call it a professional training or education iu that connection. I 

 am not an engineer, and have not made a study of roads in that 

 direction, so as to be able to speak as a scientific man. Never- 

 theless, I have had occasion to make a study of road building and 

 road transportation. For six or eight years, I was connected with 

 the newspaper press iu different parts of the country as editor, 

 and I have also had other relations to the newspaper press, which 

 have necessarily caused me to examine this matter, in connection 

 with a great many other things appertaining to the agricultural 

 interests of our State. I have had occasion, of course, as an 

 editor, to write more or less upon the subject. I cannot say that 

 I shall present anything new or instructive, unless you are wholly 

 unacquainted witli the subject, which of course is not true. My 

 design is not so much to instruct as to stimulate ; to create, if 

 possible, a determination to improve the common countr^'^ roads of 

 the State of Maine. What I have learned from observation and 

 from others I have for this occasion elaborated more fully than 

 ever before, and have committed to writing, in consecutive form. 

 I shall read what I have written, and endeavor to read it so that 

 you may understand mc. I am not accustomed to speak from 



