IN MEMORIAM. 



LYMAN F. ABBOTT. 



The death of Lyman F. Abbott, which occurred at his home in Lewis- 

 ton, March 3c, 1900, removes from our society one of its most reHable 

 and valuable officers, and demands from us more than a passing notice. 



From his boyhood Mr. Abbott had been closely connected with the 

 farm and interested in everything that pertained to it ; few men in the 

 State were bettej known and more thoroughly trusted by the farmers. 



He was the son of Nathaniel and Mary vStockbridge Abbott, and was 

 born in Andover in 1830. Here he lived, engaged in farming till he was 

 thirty-four years old, when he removed to Wilton. He remained in 

 Wilton seventeen years, occupied in trade and farming. During his resi- 

 dence in Andover he began writing for the agricultural columns of the 

 Oxford Democrat, and other papers. 



In 1882 he became agricultural editor of the Lewiston Journal, which 

 position he held until his death, and in addition to his editorial duties he 

 frequently contributed to the leading agricultural papers, and also to the 

 annual reports of the State department of agriculture. These articles 

 covered a wide range of topics, for his interest was not limited to a few 

 subjects. He was an enthusiastic entomologist, acquainted with the 

 farmer's insect friends and enemies, following their life history through 

 all its changes, and knowing when to check and when to encourage them. 



Bee-keeping was a constant and fascinatiiig study to him. and his 

 papers on this subject were delightful reading. He was also greatly 

 interested in stock-breeding, in the introduction of new breeds, and the 

 improvemenL of the old standards by the infusion of new blood. Still 

 another interest brought him in touch with our work. He was long a 

 cultivator of flowers, and especially enjoyed the development of our 

 beautiful native shrubs under his own care ; the cultivation of small fruits 

 was a pastime and a pleasure, while the larger problems of orchard 

 managemem, pruning, fertilizing and tillage, presented an ever changing 

 and widening lield for study. 



As an officer of the Pomological Society his unfailing kindliness and 

 courtesy rendered him especially acceptable, while his devotion to its 

 interests, his eager welcome of new and improved methods, and his con- 

 stant efforts to enlarge its sphere of usefulness and influence, made him 

 invaluable. 



But his was an instance where the sum of his work was far below the 

 measure of the man. Added to his intelligent mind and persevering 

 industry was a personal affection, a sympathy that reached out to all 

 humanity in its struggles and sufferings, the close, warm, human touch 

 that uplifts and strengthens. Of a modest and retiring disposition, a 

 strong religious faith and a singularly pure, upright life, all things beauti- 

 ful in the natural world and all the sweetness, purity and nobility of 

 human life touched in him a responsive chord. 



To every appeal for sympathy and encouragement he gave of his best — 

 himself — unselfishly and unsparingly, and was ever, in the highest sense 

 of the word, a benefactor. 



