STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 67 



SOME ORNAMENTAL PLANTS FOR MAINE. 

 W. AL ^NluxsoN, L'niversity of Maine. 



(Abstract.) 



One of the most striking traits of the American people is the 

 spirit of unrest. It is the element which leads us to clear the 

 forests and settle new states. It is the spirit which drove the 

 emigrant's wagon across the desert to California, w'hich leads 

 men to forsake the classroom, the coimting house and the pulpit 

 and risk life and limb in the gold fields of Alaska ; which over- 

 runs and takes possession of an empire while the cabmets of 

 more conservative nations are considering whether or not it is 

 necessary to interfere and restore the balance of power. 



On the other hand, the spirit of unrest followed into society 

 and the home makes of man a feverish being in whose Tantalus' 

 cup repose is the unattainable drop. L'nable to take root any- 

 where, he leads, socially, and physically, the uncertain life of a 

 tree transplanted from place to place and shifted to a different 

 soil every season. 



American people are specially fond of the word settle. Every 

 year large numbers of our young men and women go west to 

 settle, while those already west move to new parts to settle again. 

 So truly national is the term, that all business transactions of 

 the country, from state debts to farm produce, are closed only 

 by being settled. 



Yet, as a people, we are never settled. In this country a man 

 builds a house to spend his later years in and sells it before the 

 roof is on ; he brings a field into tillage, and leaves other men 

 to gather the crops ; he embraces a profession and gives it up ; 

 he "settles" in a given place and soon after leaves in order to 

 carry his longing for change elsewhere. If his private affairs 

 leave him any leisure, he plunges into politics. If, perchance, 

 he has a few days vacation he will travel hundreds of miles to 

 shake off his happiness. Much as w-e admire the quality of 

 energy, the love of order, obedience to law, the love of home 

 and of particular localities endeared by birth or association are 

 no less valuable and are in a measure antagonistic qualities. 

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