40 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



Albany on the east, to and beyond Buffalo on the 

 west, and from the Great Lakes to the northern 

 line of Pennsylvania, was situated a domain of 

 unbounded agricultural capabilities. It was known 

 as the " Lake Country " and it was then considered 

 the garden spot of the New world. It embraced 

 the valley of the Genesee river which at that time 

 was the center of American wheat culture. 



It was a region of extraordinary abundance. 

 Noble trees covered the land: oaks, sugar-maples, 

 beeches and a variety of other woods, but the most 

 loved of all in my boyhood was the tall, straight 

 liberty pole, the white ash. A score of lakes 

 diversified the landscape and stored the clear 

 waters of spring and brook and tumbling rivers, 

 not yet contaminated with the sewage of cities. 

 In their clear waters frolicked myriads of edible 

 fish, waiting only for the farmer's boy to come and 

 catch them. The land was overrun with wild ani- 

 mals and with birds while lake and stream 

 swarmed with water-fowl. The soil was full of 

 humus, nitrogen, potash and phosphates of lime; 

 and the larder and storehouse and cellar were filled 

 with abundant and varied food supplies. 



I will jot down an incomplete list of the food 

 supplies: on our homestead, for instance, there 



