FRUIT-CULTURE. 275 



the platform, and said, " Ladies and gentlemen, I now have 

 the pleasure of introducing to you Capt. Moore of Concord, 

 who will address you on fruit-culture." 



Capt. Moore. Ladies and gentlemen, I have always 

 been abused in this way. I never sat down in a good com- 

 fortable seat that somebody did not rout me out of it. I 

 think that you have not discussed this subject enough ; and 

 Mr. Slade, who has investigated it, ought to talk to you 

 about it. I do not know any thing about it, and do not pre- 

 tend to. 



If this room were full of ladies, I should enjoy talking to 

 them upon the cultivation of flowers in the house, and at the 

 same time I should take occasion to talk to the men for their 

 neglect to keep the young men at home. I believe it is the 

 fault of the farmers themselves that their sons do not stay 

 on the farm, and it is a serious fact that the young men go 

 away. It is the fault of the farmers to a large extent. Far- 

 mers, as a class, accumulate their money slowly ; and they 

 had rather put it into the bank than spend it in making their 

 homes what they should be, — making their homes places 

 where the young men would be happier than anywhere else 

 in the world. When they do that, the young men will stay on 

 the farm. I always take occasion, when I have an opportunity, 

 to say this to the farmers. When a farmer improves his farm, 

 makes his house pleasant, lets his son have a good horse and 

 carriage if he wants them, gives his daughters a piano, sends 

 them to school, gives them the best education he can, fills his 

 house with books that are proper for them to read, he will 

 make his house a place that the young man will be glad to 

 return to. I have seen the evil that has resulted from the 

 neglect of these things. I have had many men who were 

 advanced in years come to me, and say, " What shall I do to 

 keep my sons at home ? " Well, they had run their places in 

 this sort of way : instead of letting the boys go off to ride, 

 to singing-school, or take other pleasures, they have kept them 

 hard at work all the time. I always remember the singing- 

 school with the greatest pleasure. I never could sing; but 

 I always went to singing-school, and carried a book under 

 my arm, and went home with the girls afterwards. I tn-ust 

 you will all remember this, if you have any sons whom you 

 want to keep at home. Make that home a place where the 



